Gov. Inslee Wishes Community Transit a Happy 40th Anniversary

Gov. Jay Inslee yesterday joined Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers and a roomful of current and former elected officials to help celebrate Community Transit’s 40th anniversary.

Inslee talked about the importance of public transportation and specifically of Community Transit’s contribution to improving transportation options for Snohomish County residents. View video from the event.

Community Transit CEO Emmett Heath presented Inslee with a framed photo montage depicting various projects he has helped support as Governor and as a Congressman. Last year, Inslee championed the Connecting Washington transportation package that authorized Community Transit to seek local funding to expand transit service.

Also at the event, former State Senator and Community Transit Board Chair Gary Nelson recalled the political events of the early 1970’s that led to the creation of this agency. Community Transit’s first director, Vic Sood, and one of the agency’s inaugural drivers also told stories from the early days of Snohomish County transit service.

Candy and Coffee Make a Good Thank You

On Oct. 4, 1976, Community Transit (known then as the Snohomish County Public Transportation Benefit Area Corporation) began offering bus service in seven communities.

On Oct. 4, 2016, employees of the county-wide transit agency visited 20 park & rides and transit centers to thank customers with a candy bar and a smile! View the video of the event.

A week of celebrations marked the start of a fifth decade of service for Community Transit, home of the first bus rapid transit line in Washington State and second largest fleet of double decker buses in the U.S.

After Customer Appreciation Day on Tuesday, the agency thanked employees with coffee carts and cookies.

“Employees past and present brought Community Transit from its humble beginnings to the regional transportation partner we are today,” said CEO Emmett Heath. “We have a clear vision for the future and the means to build toward that vision.”

The route ahead for Community Transit is bright, following a successful ballot measure in 2015. Last month, the agency launched two new bus routes along Highway 9. Upcoming expansion will include the Swift Green Line, Seaway Transit Center and Next Generation ORCA. The new Long Range Transportation Plan to be updated in 2017 will include planning for a restructure of commuter service to Seattle, the Swift Orange Line and integration with Link light rail. Here’s to the next 40 years!

Responsive Website Allows
Better Trip Planning On the Go

Community Transit recently upgraded its website, removing old content, adding new photos and making the site mobile-friendly. The new “responsive” design allows the website to display content based on the users’ device – desktop computer, tablet or smartphone.

More than 60 percent of visitors to the agency website are on mobile devices, a worldwide trend. Responsive design increases the effectiveness of social media, as many Facebook and Twitter posts link back to the website. 

To get real-time bus information on the go, use BusFinder. By entering your bus stop number or using your smartphone’s location service, you can find out when your bus will be there in real time. BusFinder works for all Community Transit buses and Sound Transit buses that operate in Snohomish County.