This week, the Federal Transit Administration released funds for 2017 Small Starts projects, which means the check has been officially cut for the $43.1 million in federal funds that Community Transit will receive for the Swift Green Line.

That news came as U.S. Senator Patty Murray and Boeing Vice President Elizabeth Lund helped break ground on the Green Line at the future site of its northern terminal, the Seaway Transit Center Thursday morning.

“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,” Murray said.

Construction on the Seaway Transit Center started in May, and work to widen 128th Street near the I-5 overpass in south Everett started in late June. The final phase of construction, the 34 Swift stations and several road improvements along the route, will begin later this year.

See video clips from the event:

• Senator Patty Murray
• Boeing Vice President Elizabeth Lund

For more information, visit www.communitytransit.org/SwiftGreen

Rep. Pramila Jayapal Rides
Swift Blue Line

Another favorable voice for transit in Congress, U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, visited Community Transit this week and took a ride on the Swift Blue Line.

Jayapal represents Washington’s 7th District, which includes Seattle and parts of south Snohomish County. She told the Community Transit Board of Directors that “The Green Line is incredibly important to our whole region, and certainly to the 7th Congressional District.”

Jayapal then caught a Swift Blue Line bus at the southbound Casino Road Station and rode to the Aurora Village Transit Center, talking with passengers and getting familiar with the bus rapid transit line.

July 12 Job Fair at Community Transit Base

Community Transit is expanding bus service and is looking to hire new drivers, mechanics and other positions.

According to the agency’s draft six-year plan, Community Transit will need more than 200 additional employees, mostly drivers, in order to meet its goal of increasing service nearly 40 percent by 2022.

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 12, Community Transit invites prospective job candidates to meet with staff, learn about the agency and check out a bus. People are encouraged to bring their resumes for HR staff to review and offer tips for completing a successful application.

All Community Transit job applications must be submitted online. Visit www.communitytransit.org/jobs to see what jobs are open and apply.

The Job Fair will be held at the Community Transit Merrill Creek Base at 7100 Hardeson Road in Everett.

135 Years of Service Honored at Board Meeting

Five longtime employees were honored at the July 6 Community Transit Board of Directors meeting. Among them, they have 135 years of service at the agency.

These employees include: Trent Botham (Transportation Supervisor, 25 years); Barb Christenson (Dispatcher, 30 years); Suzy Embree (Operations Supervisor, 30 years); James Horton (Coach Operator, 25 years); and Rakesh Sud (Coach Operator, 25 years).

Pictured: Trent Botham (left) was recognized for 25 years of service by CEO Emmett Heath.

Driver Hits 2 Million Mile Mark; 9 Drivers Achieve 1 Million Miles

To some people, driving two million miles might seem impossible. It’s the equivalent of driving from Seattle to Miami more than 600 times.

In the world of a Community Transit coach operator, it equates to about 25 years of daily driving. But here’s the catch: To get the National Safety Council Million Mile Driver honor, you must not have a preventable accident that entire time.

Last month, Community Transit honored Sukhbir Sangha, a Two Million Mile driver, along with nine One Million Mile drivers.

Sangha has been driving Snohomish County roads for Community Transit since 1990 and reached his Million Mile status back in 2004. Sangha has had multiple commendations and letters of appreciation from customers throughout his career behind the wheel. He is currently a report driver, which means he gets to drive a different route every day.

You could go to the moon and back twice before you hit a million miles, but nine coach operators at Community Transit achieved this well within Earth’s atmosphere. Driving 12.5 years without a preventable accident, the agency’s newest Million Mile Drivers are: Garry Baker, Eugene Greeley, Nick Johal, Darrell Johnson, Gene King, Ashwani Kumar, Eric Sullivan, Curtis Wright and Tadesse Yeglatu.

View The Daily Herald story.