Noting that a federal grant is paying more than half of the Swift Green Line’s $73 million cost, U.S. Senator Patty Murray said continued federal investment is important to ensuring strong public transportation.
Murray joined the Boeing Company’s top Everett executive and other dignitaries to break ground on Community Transit’s Swift Green Line.
The Swift Green Line will be the second bus rapid transit line (BRT) in Snohomish County when it opens in early 2019. Swift buses will run every 10 minutes between the Canyon Park Park & Ride in Bothell and the Seaway Transit Center near Boeing’s Everett plant.
“As a voice for our state in Congress, I'm proud to work with partners at the state and local level to connect our communities with safe and efficient transportation systems that meet the demands of a 21st century economy and address the ever-increasing congestion commuters are experiencing,” said Murray, who sits on the Senate Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Subcommittee.
“I applaud the vision and leadership that made this day possible, and I will keep fighting in Congress to make sure the federal government invests in our communities, workers and families.”
The Swift Green Line is Community Transit’s largest capital project in its 40-year history and the cornerstone of a major service expansion underway since Snohomish County voters approved a transit sales tax increase in 2015.
“Today’s event is a milestone in a grander vision, a vision of a high capacity transit network serving Snohomish County and connecting with other regional service, including Link light rail,” said Community Transit CEO Emmett Heath.
Community Transit plans to launch a third Swift line connecting residents of Edmonds, Lynnwood and Mill Creek to Link light rail when it reaches the Lynnwood Transit Center in 2023. Heath said frequent, easy-to-use transit service will help local residents stay connected as well as help strengthen the local economy.
The Swift Green Line will serve Snohomish County’s two largest job centers, the Paine Field manufacturing center in Everett and the high-tech and healthcare center at Canyon Park in Bothell.
“At Boeing, we look for innovative ways to find solutions,” said Boeing Vice President & General Manager, 777 Program and Everett Site, Elizabeth Lund. “The Seaway Transit Center and the Swift Green Line offer convenient alternatives for employees who otherwise would drive and park onsite. The Swift Green Line will deliver riders every 10 minutes to the Seaway Transit Center, making it very convenient for Boeing employees.”
Seaway Transit Center
Today’s groundbreaking event took place at the future site of the Seaway Transit Center. This facility will be the hub for Paine Field-area transit service when it opens in mid-to-late 2018, and will serve as the northern terminal for the Swift Green Line when that service starts in early 2019.
The Seaway Transit Center sits across the street from the main entrance to Boeing’s Everett manufacturing plant. Construction on this facility started in early May and will be completed by fall 2018.
Another phase of Swift Green Line construction started last week with the widening of 128th Street approaching the I-5 overpass in south Everett. That project will create one new lane on either side of the freeway overpass for buses and/or right turning traffic.
The final phase of Swift Green Line work will start later this year with construction of 34 Swift stations and several road improvements along the 12-mile corridor. This work will be done in late 2018.
