Community Transit and partners celebrate start of Swift Orange Line construction

April 20, 2022

The 11-mile Swift Orange Line is Snohomish County’s third BRT line and it will connect Mill Creek and Lynnwood.

Community Transit staff and board members, federal and elected officials and community partners celebrated the kick-off of the construction of Swift Orange Line at Lynnwood Transit Center on April 19, 2022.

Federal and community partners joined Community Transit April 19 to break ground on the agency’s third bus rapid transit (BRT) line, the Swift Orange Line. The 11-mile Swift Orange Line will connect the McCollum Park Park & Ride in Mill Creek and Edmonds College in Lynnwood. While it’s the third BRT in the county the Swift Orange Line will be the first Snohomish County BRT project to connect with Sound Transit light rail when the Lynnwood station opens.

“Swift Orange Line represents a significant infrastructure investment in Snohomish County, one that will benefit generations to come,” said Community Transit CEO Ric Ilgenfritz. “Our elected leaders recognize the explosive growth in the county and we appreciate their support and partnership in developing transit service that will meet the evolving travel needs of people in the community.”

A map showing the route of the Swift Orange Line and its transit connections.

In addition to the Sound Transit light-rail connection, the Swift Orange Line will provide connections to the Swift Blue Line and Swift Green Line.

“Fast and frequent trips are what makes BRT a unique transit experience,” said Community Transit Board Chair and Mukilteo Mayor Joe Marine. “Swift Orange Line will improve the quality of life for people who travel in and around Snohomish County by providing increased access to school, jobs, medical care and other essential services.”

The project includes improvements to two existing transit centers/park and ride facilities, 13 vehicles, queue bypass lanes, transit signal priority and 19 stations with rain shelters. The service is planned to operate 19 hours per day, with buses every 10 minutes during weekdays and every 20 minutes in the evenings and on weekends.

The estimated $80.97 million project cost is being financed with state and local funds, as well as federal funds through Federal Highway Administration Flexible Funds, Federal Transit Administration (FTA) formula funds and a $37.15 million grant through the FTA’s Capital Investment Grants program.

Construction on the project is expected to be complete in 2024

About the Author

Mischa Wanek-Libman | Editor in Chief

Mischa Wanek-Libman serves as editor in chief of Mass Transit magazine. She is responsible for developing and maintaining the magazine’s editorial direction and is based in the western suburbs of Chicago.

Wanek-Libman has spent more than 20 years covering transportation issues including construction projects and engineering challenges for various commuter railroads and transit agencies. She has been recognized for editorial excellence through her individual work, as well as for collaborative content.

She is an active member of the American Public Transportation Association's Marketing and Communications Committee and serves as a Board Observer on the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) Board of Directors.

She is a graduate of Drake University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication with a major in magazine journalism and a minor in business management.