Swift Green Line
{{Short description|Bus rapid transit route in Snohomish County, Washington}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox bus line
|logo = Swift Green Line icon.svg
|logo_width = 40px
|name = Swift Green Line
|bgcolor = #{{CTSwift color|green}}
|titlecolor = white
|image = Swift Green Line at 3rd Avenue SE Station.jpg
|image_width =
|image_alt =
|caption = A southbound Green Line bus at 3rd Avenue SE
|system = Swift
|operator = Community Transit
|garage =
|vehicle =
|status = In service
|open = March 24, 2019
|predecessors = Community Transit route 105
|routetype = Bus rapid transit
|locale = Snohomish County
|communities = Everett, Mill Creek, Bothell
|start = Seaway Transit Center
|via = Airport Way,
State Route 527
|end = Canyon Park Park and Ride
|length = {{convert|12.5|mi|km}}
|stations = 32
|frequency = 10 minutes
|alt_frequency = 20 minutes
|transfers = Blue Line at Airport Road
Sound Transit Express at Canyon Park P&R
|map = {{Swift Green Line}}
|map_state = collapsed
|previous_line = {{rint|everett|blue}} Blue Line
|next_line = {{rint|everett|orange}} Orange Line
}}
The Swift Green Line is a bus rapid transit route in Snohomish County, Washington, United States, part of the Swift network operated by Community Transit. It was opened in 2019 and travels {{convert|12.5|mi|km}} along Airport Way and State Route 527, connecting 32 stations in the cities of Everett, Mill Creek, and Bothell. Its termini are at Seaway Transit Center, adjacent to the Boeing factory, and Canyon Park Park and Ride on Interstate 405; the Green Line also intersects the Blue Line in Everett and also serves Paine Field.
The Green Line was proposed in 2013 and began construction in July 2017. It cost $73 million to construct and opened on March 24, 2019. An extension into Downtown Bothell and to the city's University of Washington branch campus is planned to open by 2031.
History
Community Transit announced plans for a second Swift line in November 2013, tentatively named "Swift II", that would serve a {{convert|12.5|mi|km|adj=mid|-long}} corridor between the Boeing Everett Factory and Mill Creek.{{cite news |last=Munguia |first=Martin |date=November 8, 2013 |title=Special session: Don't forget Community Transit |url=http://communitytransit.blogspot.com/2013/11/special-session-dont-forget-community.html |work=Community Transit Blog |publisher=Community Transit |access-date=July 21, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150723110020/http://communitytransit.blogspot.com/2013/11/special-session-dont-forget-community.html |archive-date=July 23, 2015 }} The line was created out of two Transit Emphasis Corridors on Airport Road and State Route 527.{{cite report |date=May 5, 2016 |title=2016–2021 Transit Development Plan |url=http://www.commtrans.org/Programs/Documents/ADOPTED%202016-2021%20TDP%2005-05-2016.pdf |publisher=Community Transit |access-date=May 14, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160514235320/http://www.commtrans.org/Programs/Documents/ADOPTED%202016-2021%20TDP%2005-05-2016.pdf |archive-date=May 14, 2016 }}{{rp|59}} A study was partially funded by the state legislature in 2012 and was prepared by Parsons Brinckerhoff, determining that the project would cost $42–48 million to construct and attract 3,300 riders when it opened.{{cite report |author=Parsons Brinckerhoff |author-link=Parsons Brinckerhoff |date=August 2014 |title=Community Transit BRT Corridor Planning and Route Definition Study: Boeing to Canyon Park |chapter=Executive Summary |pages=1–5 |chapter-url=http://www.commtrans.org/Programs/Documents/FINAL%20REPORT%20-%202nd%20SWIFT%20-%20AUGUST%202014.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923210421/http://www.commtrans.org/Programs/Documents/FINAL%20REPORT%20-%202nd%20SWIFT%20-%20AUGUST%202014.pdf |archive-date=September 23, 2015 |publisher=Community Transit |access-date=July 21, 2015}}{{cite press release |author= |date=December 1, 2014 |title=Swift Bus Rapid Transit Turns 5! |url=http://www.communitytransit.org/newsrelease/1586 |location=Everett, Washington |publisher=Community Transit |access-date=July 21, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150714101322/http://www.communitytransit.org/newsrelease/1586 |archive-date=July 14, 2015 }}
The Federal Transit Administration approved project development in December 2014, a prerequisite to federal grants for capital construction and vehicle acquisition.{{cite press release |author= |date=December 23, 2014 |title=FTA Approves Project Development for Swift II |url=http://www.communitytransit.org/newsrelease/1591 |location=Everett, Washington |publisher=Community Transit |access-date=July 21, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150222050745/http://www.communitytransit.org/newsrelease/1591 |archive-date=February 22, 2015 }} During the 2015 session of the Washington State Legislature, Community Transit was granted the authority to increase sales taxes to fund operation of Swift II, pending voter approval via a ballot measure;{{cite press release |author= |date=July 16, 2015 |title=Community Transit Board Sends Sales Tax Measure to November Ballot |url=http://www.communitytransit.org/newsrelease/1616 |location=Everett, Washington |publisher=Community Transit |access-date=July 21, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150815001844/http://communitytransit.org/newsrelease/1616 |archive-date=August 15, 2015 }} the Washington State Department of Transportation also gave $6.8 million in funding to build the line's northern terminus at Seaway Transit Center. The ballot measure was approved by voters in November 2015, allowing for construction to begin sooner.{{cite press release |author= |date=November 10, 2015 |title=CEO Outlines "New Transit Legacy" for Snohomish County |url=https://communitytransit.org/newsrelease/1631 |location=Everett, Washington |publisher=Community Transit |access-date=November 25, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304185937/https://communitytransit.org/newsrelease/1631 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 }}
In August 2016, Community Transit announced that the Swift II project would be known as the "Green Line", while the first line would become the "Blue Line", and that the line would open in 2019.{{cite press release |author= |date=August 12, 2016 |title=New Names: Swift Blue Line & Swift Green Line! |url=http://www.communitytransit.org/newsrelease/1663 |location=Everett, Washington |publisher=Community Transit |access-date=August 12, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160812222007/http://www.communitytransit.org/newsrelease/1663 |archive-date=August 12, 2016 }}{{cite news |last=Catchpole |first=Dan |date=August 13, 2016 |title=Community Transit honors Seahawks with 'Blue' and 'Green' names |url=http://www.heraldnet.com/news/community-transit-names-swift-bus-lines-in-honor-of-seahawks/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=August 13, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160813232159/http://www.heraldnet.com/news/community-transit-names-swift-bus-lines-in-honor-of-seahawks/ |archive-date=August 13, 2016 }} The $73 million cost of the Swift Green Line project was mostly covered by federal subsidies, including $43 million from a Federal Transit Administration "Small Starts" grant awarded in 2018.{{cite news |last=Gutman |first=David |date=April 9, 2018 |title=Snohomish County bus line secures federal funding despite Trump threats |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/snohomish-county-bus-line-secures-federal-funding-despite-trump-threats/ |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=April 9, 2018}} An additional $6.8 million grant from the Washington State Department of Transportation was used to build the line's northern terminus at Seaway Transit Center.
Construction on the Seaway Transit Center began in May 2017 and was scheduled to be finished by mid-2018.{{cite news |last=Slager |first=Melissa |date=May 8, 2017 |title=Community Transit starts Paine Field work for rapid bus line |url=http://www.heraldnet.com/news/community-transit-starts-work-on-new-bus-rapid-transit-line/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=May 8, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170508140358/http://www.heraldnet.com/news/community-transit-starts-work-on-new-bus-rapid-transit-line/ |archive-date=May 8, 2017 }} Construction on the rest of the stations and the 128th Street overpass began in November 2017.{{cite press release |date=November 15, 2017 |title=Construction Starts on Swift Green Line Stations |url=https://www.communitytransit.org/news/community-transit-news/2017/11/16/construction-starts-on-swift-green-line-stations |location=Everett, Washington |publisher=Community Transit |access-date=February 3, 2018}}{{cite news |last=Slager |first=Melissa |date=November 27, 2017 |title=Community Transit starts construction on Green Line stations |url=http://www.heraldnet.com/news/community-transit-starts-construction-on-green-line-stations/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=February 3, 2018}} The queue jump and bus lane on the west side of the 128th Street interchange was opened in January 2018.{{cite press release |date=January 17, 2018 |title=New Bus Lane Opens on 128th St & I-5 |url=https://www.communitytransit.org/news/community-transit-news/2018/01/17/new-bus-lane-opens-on-128th-st-i-5 |location=Everett, Washington |publisher=Community Transit |access-date=February 3, 2018}} Service began on March 24, 2019, a few weeks after the start of passenger flights to Paine Field.{{cite news |last=Haglund |first=Noah |date=December 25, 2018 |title=Green Line Swift buses get green light to start on March 24 |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/green-line-swift-buses-get-green-light-to-start-on-march-24/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=January 9, 2019}}
An extension into downtown Bothell and the University of Washington, Bothell campus is planned to between 2028 and 2031 following the completion of new lanes on Bothell Way.{{cite news |last=Hansen |first=Jordan |date=October 22, 2023 |title=Swift bus lines expanding in Bothell, Marysville, Arlington |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/swift-bus-lines-expanding-in-bothell-marysville-arlington/ |work=The Everett Herald |accessdate=November 2, 2023}}{{cite press release |last=Spain |first=Monica |date=October 16, 2023 |title=Locations considered for Swift Green Line stations in Bothell |url=https://www.communitytransit.org/news-and-events/article-detail/2023/10/17/locations-considered-for-swift-green-line-stations-in-bothell |publisher=Community Transit |accessdate=November 2, 2023}} Up to six new stations would be added south of Canyon Park, including two shared the Stride S3 Line, a bus rapid transit route operated by Sound Transit.{{cite web |title=Swift Green Line Extension |url=https://www.communitytransit.org/projects/swift-green-line-extension |publisher=Community Transit |accessdate=November 2, 2023}}
Stations
File:Swift Green Line - 196th Street SE Northbound Station.jpg
The Green Line serves 34 stations, grouped into 18 pairs with two terminals, in the cities of Everett, Mill Creek, and Bothell.{{cite news |last=Giordano |first=Lizz |date=March 25, 2019 |title=Swift Green Line starts rolling, from Bothell to Boeing |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/swift-green-line-starts-rolling-from-bothell-to-boeing/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=March 29, 2019}} Each station has a raised platform for level boarding, ticket vending machines, ORCA card readers, and real-time arrivals information.{{cite web |date=December 7, 2018 |title=Swift Network News Vol 2., Issue 62 |url=https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/WACOMMT/bulletins/2203946 |publisher=Community Transit |access-date=March 29, 2019}} The Blue Line intersects at the Highway 99 station, requiring a street crossing to complete the connection. The line also serves two park and ride lots at Mariner and McCollum Park.
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Station
!class="unsortable"|Location !City !class="unsortable"|Notes |
|---|
| Seaway Transit Center
|Seaway Blvd. & 75th Street SW |Adjacent to Boeing Everett Factory |
| Kasch Park Road
|Airport Road & Kasch Park Road |Everett | |
| 100th Street SW
|Airport Road & 100th Street SW |Everett |Adjacent to Paine Field and passenger airline terminal |
| 112th Street SW
|Airport Road & 112th Street SW |Everett |Adjacent to Paine Field |
| Highway 99
|Airport Road & Highway 99 |Everett |Transfer to Blue Line |
| Gibson Road
|128th Street SW & Gibson Road |Everett | |
| 4th Avenue W
|128th Street SW & 4th Avenue W |Everett |Adjacent to Mariner Park and Ride |
| 3rd Avenue SE
|128th Street SE & 3rd Avenue SE |Everett |Adjacent to Interurban Trail |
| Dumas Road
|128th Street SE & Dumas Road |Adjacent to McCollum Park |
| 16th Avenue SE
|16th Avenue SE & 132nd Street SE |Mill Creek | |
| Trillium Boulevard
|Bothell-Everett Highway & Trillium Blvd. |Mill Creek |Station shared with Orange Line |
| 153rd Street SE
|Bothell-Everett Highway & 153rd Street SE |Mill Creek |Adjacent to Mill Creek Town Center |
| 164th Street SE
|Bothell-Everett Highway & 164th Street SE |Mill Creek |Adjacent to Mill Creek Town Center |
| 180th Street SE
|Bothell-Everett Highway & 180th Street SE | |
| 196th Street SE
|Bothell-Everett Highway & 196th Street SE |North Creek | |
| 208th Street SE
|Bothell-Everett Highway & 208th Street SE |North Creek | |
| 220th Street SE
|Bothell-Everett Highway & 220th Street SE |Northbound only |
| Canyon Park Park and Ride
|22400 17th Avenue SE |Bothell |Transfer to Sound Transit Express routes 532 and 535 |
Service
At its debut, the Green Line ran at a frequency of every 10 minutes on weekdays from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., and 20 minutes on weekends and early mornings and nights on weekdays. The earliest trips departed at 4:20 a.m. on weekdays, 6 a.m. on Saturdays, and 7 a.m. on Sundays. The last trips ended at 11 p.m. on weekdays, 10 p.m. on Saturdays, and 8:40 p.m. on Sundays. It takes approximately 36 to 39 minutes for buses to travel the entire length of the Green Line.
Service on the Green Line was reduced to every 15 minutes on weekdays in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite press release |date=March 26, 2020 |title=Temporary Service Reductions to Begin Monday, March 30 |url=https://www.communitytransit.org/news/community-transit-news/2020/03/26/service-reductions-to-begin-monday-march-30 |publisher=Community Transit |accessdate=February 28, 2022}} Fare collection was also suspended until June 1 to increase physical distancing between passengers, drivers, and fare ambassadors.{{cite news |last=Sanders |first=Julia-Grace |date=July 5, 2020 |title=Community Transit drivers: Too soon to open the front doors |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/community-transit-drivers-too-soon-to-open-the-front-doors/ |work=The Everett Herald |accessdate=February 28, 2022}} Full service was restored in September 2020,{{cite web |date=September 2, 2021 |title=2021–2026 Transit Development Plan |page=31 |url=https://www.communitytransit.org/docs/default-source/about-documents/community-transit_2021-transit-development-plan_adopted-9-2-21.pdf |publisher=Community Transit |accessdate=February 28, 2022}} but was reduced again to 12 minute weekday frequencies in March 2022 due to a lack of drivers.{{cite press release |date=February 23, 2022 |title=Community Transit targets improved reliability with spring service change |url=https://www.communitytransit.org/news/community-transit-news/2022/02/23/community-transit-targets-improved-reliability-with-spring-service-change |publisher=Community Transit |accessdate=February 28, 2022}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Attached KML|display=title,inline}}
- {{official website|http://www.communitytransit.org/swiftgreen/}}
{{Puget Sound Transit}}
Category:Bus rapid transit in Washington (state)
Category:Transportation in King County, Washington