Swift Gold Line

Welcome

Welcome to Community Transit’s online open house for the Swift Gold Line project. Here you can find information about the the Swift Gold Line. Subscribe to the project by clicking the Follow button above to learn about additional opportunities for input in early 2025.

Thank you to all who participated in our first phase of engagement this summer. Learn more about what we heard and next steps on our blog.

Community Transit is preparing to dramatically improve transit service for Arlington, Marysville, and Everett by expanding the Swift bus rapid transit (BRT) network with the Swift Gold Line.

Map of Community Transit's Swift network from Shoreline and Bothell to Arlington, showing Swift's current and future bus rapid transit routes, Sound Transit's Link Light Rail current and future routes, and regional transit centers. — *Map of the Swift BRT network.*

How to use this online open house

Click on the tabs below:

BENEFITS Learn more about the Swift Gold Line
BRT DESIGN Learn how a higher level of investment in this corridor can attract more riders can create more benefits
ROUTE OPTIONS Learn about the three route options and give your input
MAP See an interactive map of the project and what people said about important community resources in the project corridor

BENEFITS AND NEED

Swift BRT will offer shorter waits between buses, faster and more reliable service, and connections to congestion-free travel across the region on the Link light rail that arrives in Lynnwood in August 2024 and Everett in the future.

Transit plays a big role in helping identify solutions so that growing communities have enough transportation capacity to get people from where they are to where they want to be. BRT service is particularly effective at creating economic and environmental benefits along with expanded travel options. We are exploring options for maximizing the benefits it will bring riders and community members.

Outline of a person boarding a bus More bus riders, taking cars off the road

Outline of a light rail train Connections to congestion-free light rail

Outline of a striped pedestrian crosswalk Improvements to sidewalks, making it easier to walk and use transit
Icon of map with roads and a key destination Easier access to jobs and businesses

Outline of bus with a clock icon Better traffic flow, moving buses and cars more efficiently

The cities of Everett, Marysville, and Arlington are planning for future population and job growth in their communities. By 2050, Snohomish County will see a 24% increase in population and a 19% increase in jobs.

Population and job forecasts in Snohomish County estimate that between 2017 to 2050, population will increase 24% and jobs will increase 19%.

BRT DESIGN

There are a few options for how a Swift line can operate. There are tradeoffs for each of these options that impact riders, drivers, and overall project costs. Community Transit’s existing Swift lines travel in the rightmost lane of traffic. These lines use a combination of transit signal priority (TSP) and business access and transit (BAT) lanes to keep the buses running…swiftly.

Transit Signal Priority

TSP uses technology to communicate with upcoming traffic signals to give the bus more green time and less red time. This results in Swift riders waiting at traffic lights less frequently and for less time.

Business Access and Transit Lanes

BAT lanes require all vehicles to turn right, except for buses. Vehicles other than transit may not continue through an intersection in this lane. BAT lanes can be found at the curbside/rightmost lane of traffic. BAT lanes currently exist on SR-99/Aurora Ave on the Swift Blue Line. Examples of BAT Lanes are included below.

A bus stopped at a traffic stoplight in a BAT lane in Portland, Oregon. The BAT lane is in the rightmost lane of traffic. The bus may continue through the intersection, but any other vehicle using the BAT lane at this intersection must turn right.

Example of a BAT Lane that allows right turns at an intersection in Portland, Oregon

Both of these options keep buses moving; however, these options maintain buses in the mixed traffic lanes and are susceptible to congestion as growth continues in our area. To provide highly reliable, fast transit service for years to come that would support planned growth in these communities, there are a few additional options to investigate. These options make buses operate more like light rail trains, separated from traffic. Those options include both One and Two Lane Center-Running Transit-Only Lanes. Details for each option are outlined in more detail below, including several examples of where these options exist throughout North America and a video that illustrates how they operate.

Center-Running Transit-Only Lanes

One Lane Center-Running Transit-Only Lanes

There is a separate lane in the center of the roadway that only Swift buses use. Buses travel in both directions in this lane and pass at stations. Features of one lane center-running transit-only lanes include:

Bus travels separated from regular roadway traffic, getting you where you are going faster and more reliably.
Can be implemented in areas where there is limited Right-of-Way available or a preference to maintain on-street parking.

An intersection in the middle of a typical roadway configuration highlights a one lane, center-running transit-only lane. A station on one side of the intersection splits the single bus lane into two, to allow the buses to pass one another, before the lan — *Illustration of typical roadway configuration and BRT operations within a one lane center-running transit-only environment.*

Examples of One Lane Center-Running Transit-Only Lanes are shown below:

A bus in Indianapolis, Indiana traveling along a center-running bus lane approaches a station in the middle of the roadway. The station splits the center-running lane into two, so that BRT lanes exist on both sides of the station.

Example of bus approaching a station in a single center-running transit-only lane on IndyGo's Red Line BRT in Indianapolis, Indiana

Two Lane Center-Running Transit-Only Lanes

There are two separate lanes in the center of that roadway that only Swift buses use. Features of two lane center-running transit-only lanes include:

Bus travels separated from regular roadway traffic, getting you where you’re going faster and more reliably.
Allows access for all transit and emergency vehicles.
Requires more roadway space and may limit the ability to maintain on-street parking.

An intersection in the middle of a typical roadway configuration highlights center-running bus rapid transit operating on two lanes. Each lane has its own station on either side of the intersection providing access in the middle of the roadway. — *Illustration of a typical roadway configuration and BRT operations within a two lane center-running transit-only lanes environment*

Examples of Two Lane Center-Running Transit-Only Lanes:

Two lanes painted red with the lettering

Example of two center-running transit-only lanes in San Francisco, California

ROUTE OPTIONS

There are three route options for the Swift Gold Line. All options follow a shared path from downtown Everett to Grove St in downtown Marysville and then from 136th St NE along 51st Ave NE and 172nd St NE before ending at Smokey Point Transit Center. In the middle between Grove St and 136th St NE, the routes take different paths:

Option A: Travels up State Ave and Smokey Point Blvd, turning on 136th St NE, and then reconnecting with the shared path on 51st Ave NE.
Option B: Travels up Stave Ave, turns onto Shoultes Rd, and continues on 51st Ave NE.
Option C: Turns on Grove St and then turns on 51st Ave NE.

The project team reviewed existing and future conditions along the Swift Gold Line corridor and conducted an analysis to determine these potential route options. We considered:

Ridership potential (population and employment)
Connections for people biking and walking
Ongoing, planned development, and other land uses
Key travel destinations
Connections to other transit services
Cost to construct and operate the Swift service
Transit travel time to ensure a fast, reliable ride for Swift riders

Please review the benefits and disadvantages for each route option. From July 11 to Aug. 7, community members had the opportunity to give input on the route options in a survey.

Option A would travel along Smokey Point Boulevard to 136th Street NE to 51st Avenue NE in Marysville.

Benefits of Option A include:

Access to jobs and businesses along Smokey Point Boulevard, particularly around 116th St NE
Connections to other transit services

Disadvantages of Option A include:

Limited travel time savings compared to Route 201/202
Limited and/or costly station options next to railroad

Option B would travel along State Avenue to Shoultes Road to 51st Avenue NE in Marysville.

Benefits of Option B include:

High ridership expected due to access to businesses and residences
Travel time savings compared to Route 201/202
Connections to other transit services

Disadvantages of Option B include:

Limited bike lanes / sidewalks in the northern portion of corridor
Northern portion of corridor would be operating in two lane road

Option C would travel along 72nd Street NE/Grove Street to 51st Avenue NE in Marysville.

Benefits of Option C include:

High ridership expected due to access to residences
Longer route length, meaning more potential access points for riders, but also longer overall travel times
Serves Pinewood and Cascade Elementary Schools
Moderate travel time savings compared to Route 201/202

Disadvantages of Option C include:

Limited bike lanes / sidewalks in the northern portion of corridor
This route would not travel along the majority of State Ave and Smokey Point Boulevard, which is a main commercial corridor in Marysville with planned future commercial and residential growth
Few connections to other transit services

ACTIVITY MAP

Información sobre la Swift Gold Line en español

Bienvenido a la jornada de puertas abiertas en línea de Community Transit para el proyecto de Swift Gold Line. Aquí puede encontrar información sobre el proyecto. En la esquina superior derecha, haga clic en el menú desplegable debajo de Seleccionar idioma y elija español o llame al (800) 562-1375 para hablar con alguien sobre la Swift Gold Line en español.

Phase 1 Webinar Recording

July 23, 2024 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm

Webinar: Presentation and Q&A

Watch a recording of the webinar where you can learn more about the project and hear our answers to questions from the community.

Timeline

Timeline item 1 - active

Scoping Study: 2022-2025
- Phase 1 Community Engagement (July 11 – Aug. 7, 2024): Learn about the benefits and vision for the route, and review route options for the Swift Gold Line.
- Phase 2 Community Engagement (Winter 2025): Give input on route and lane options and station locations.
- Phase 3 Community Engagement (Spring/Summer 2025): Give input on the locally preferred alternative.
- Phase 4 Communications (Summer 2025): Review final locally preferred alternative.
Timeline item 2 - incomplete

Environmental Review & Design: 2025-2027
Timeline item 3 - incomplete

Construction: 2027-2029
Timeline item 4 - incomplete

Swift Gold Line service begins: 2029

Documents

FAQs

Swift is Community Transit’s bus rapid transit (BRT) service. Everything about Swift – the buses, stations, routes, and the way you pay – makes getting around Snohomish County faster and easier. Swift connects you with regional transit options, getting you farther faster. Swift buses arrive every 10-12 minutes on weekdays, and every 15-20 minutes during early mornings, evenings, and weekends, meaning you do not even need to check a schedule. Swift meets community needs for transportation options in the corridor by promoting transit ridership. Community Transit’s Swift Blue, Swift Green, and Swift Orange Lines have the most riders in our system.

Currently, you can ride:

Swift Blue Line along Hwy 99 between Aurora Village Transit Center and Everett Station.
Swift Green Line along Hwy 527, 128th St SW, and Airport Rd between Canyon Park Park & Ride and Seaway Transit Center.
Swift Orange Line along the Bothell-Everett Hwy, 164th St SE, 36th Ave W, Alderwood Mall Blvd, and 196th St SW between McCollum Park Park & Ride and Edmonds College.

Community Transit is expanding our Swift network. In addition to the Swift Gold Line, we are:

Building the Swift Blue Line Extension from Aurora Village Transit Center to the Shoreline North/185th Light Rail Station. We plan to open the Swift Blue Line Extension when Sound Transit opens light rail service to Shoreline, Mountlake Terrace, and Lynnwood.
Planning for the Swift Green Line Extension to add up to six new pairs of stations between Canyon Park Park & Ride and UW Bothell/Cascadia College. We expect to open the Swift Green Line Extension between 2028 and 2031.

Every time you ride transit instead of driving a car, you are making the planet greener. At Community Transit, we’ve prioritized sustainability, and we’re going one step further to preserve our beautiful environment in Snohomish County by transitioning to zero-emissions buses. As part of that transition, there will be new buses, including Swift buses. Visit our website to learn more about our zero emissions fleet transition or send us your input at engage@commtrans.org.

The number of stations will vary based on the selected route option, technical analysis, and future input received from the community. We anticipate having between 20-27 station pairs. Stations will be roughly every 1/3 of a mile in denser areas of Everett and Marysville, and around 1/2 mile in less dense areas. You’ll have the opportunity to learn more about proposed station locations during Phase 2 community engagement later this year.

Contact Us

Have questions about the project?

Use our contact form to share your input,
call 425-353-7433, or email engage@commtrans.org.
Sign up for our Swift Network News to stay up to date on the project.

Share Your Input

Phone	(425) 353-7433
Email	engage@commtrans.org
Website	www.communitytransit.org

Swift Gold Line

Welcome

How to use this online open house

BENEFITS AND NEED

BRT DESIGN

Transit Signal Priority

Business Access and Transit Lanes

Center-Running Transit-Only Lanes

One Lane Center-Running Transit-Only Lanes

Two Lane Center-Running Transit-Only Lanes

ROUTE OPTIONS

ACTIVITY MAP

Instructions

View a Comment

Add a Comment

SURVEY

Chelsea Ongaro

Community Engagement Manager

Christina Strand

Community Engagement Specialist

Contact Us

Swift Gold Line

Welcome

How to use this online open house

BENEFITS AND NEED

BRT DESIGN

Transit Signal Priority

Business Access and Transit Lanes

Center-Running Transit-Only Lanes

One Lane Center-Running Transit-Only Lanes

Two Lane Center-Running Transit-Only Lanes

ROUTE OPTIONS

Option A

Option B

Option C

ACTIVITY MAP

Basemaps

Categories

Layers

Instructions

View a Comment

Add a Comment

SURVEY

Chelsea Ongaro

Community Engagement Manager

Christina Strand

Community Engagement Specialist

Contact Us