Nearly four years ago Community Transit's Board of Directors gave approval for the agency to develop Washington's first bus rapid transit line. Now that vision has become reality.

"Transit service for Snohomish County residents will be a lot quicker with Swift," said Community Transit Vice Chair and County Councilmember Dave Gossett. "Swift is a key improvement to our region's transportation system that provides faster service and reduces greenhouse gases."   

Swift will operate on a 17-mile corridor between Everett Station and the Aurora Village Transit Center in Shoreline, primarily along Highway 99. Buses will run every 10 minutes from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays and every 20 minutes at night and on weekends. Swift service runs until midnight seven nights a week. Community Transit estimates the buses will cut what is typically a 50- to 70-minute trip for all 17 miles down to 40 to 55 minutes.

"Bus rapid transit offers the frequency and fast boarding of light rail with the flexibility of a bus system at a lower cost," commented Gossett. "Service is so frequent you don't even need a schedule because there will always be a bus in a few minutes."

Swift will stop at just 12 stations in each direction and riders will pay their fare at the stations, using ticket vending machines or ORCA smart cards. Onboard bike racks, transit signal priority to extend a green light, and transit access lanes in south Snohomish County are additional features to keep Swift buses moving.

Community Transit staff were on hand at each Swift station throughout the first few days of service to answer questions. The two issues that raised the most questions on the first day were how to pay for a ride (fares are paid at the stations, not on the bus) and whether Swift took transfers from other buses. Swift does not take transfers, nor is a Swift ticket good for a ride on another Community Transit bus.

"Riders must remember to pay their fare as soon as they get to the Swift station because the bus will not be stopped for long," said Gossett. "This is very different from the current way people ride buses, but it is essential to keep this service on time."

Riders paying with cash are encouraged to get an ORCA card that can work as a monthly unlimited pass or debit card, deducting fare for each ride. With an ORCA card, riders get a two-hour transfer to any bus or train in the Puget Sound region. Swift riders can purchase or reload an ORCA card at the ticket vending machines located at the bottom of the stairwell near the Swift station at Everett Station.

Ticket vending machines at each Swift station allow riders to pay with cash (exact change only) or Visa or Mastercard credit or debit cards. Those tickets are good for one ride on Swift.

"Swift is the only bus rapid transit line in Washington State and one of only 22 in the nation," said Gossett. "It is also the longest bus rapid transit route in the United States."

The Everett Chamber of Commerce honored Community Transit and Everett Transit at their annual banquet Wednesday night with the 2009 Business Innovation Award for the Swift project. The two agencies coordinated closely on Swift, sharing costs and coordinating efforts.

"This type of cooperation between different government agencies is what we need in tough economic times," noted Gossett. "The staff of both agencies deserve a lot of credit for creating a fast, convenient, and easy way to commute."