<< Previous   of   Next >> Enterprise/CHRIS GOODENOW  (click to enlarge) One of Community Transit's new Swift buses pulls up to a stop in the southbound lanes of Highway 99, just south of 196th Street Southwest in Lynnwood, during a demonstration run. Enterprise/CHRIS GOODENOW  (click to enlarge) One of Community Transit's new Swift buses crosses 196th Street Southwest in the southbound lanes of Highway 99 in Lynnwood during a demonstration run.

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CONTACT THE ENTERPRISE Jocelyn Robinson, News editor jrobinson@heraldnet.com

Swift station completed, testing starts

CT's rapid transit bus service on Highway 99 to start in November

By Mina Williams
Enterprise editor

Testing started on Community Transit's Swift rapid transit bus system Tuesday, Oct. 6. The testing will enable drivers to train with the 62-foot hybrid Swift buses, including precision docking at the stations' raised platforms. During the training period, up to nine buses are on the route corridor along Highway 99 between Everett Station and the Aurora Village Transit Center in Shoreline.

Throughout the summer Swift stations have been constructed. The first station, located in Lynnwood southbound on Highway 99 at 196th Street, was pronounced completed late last month. Swift stations will remain fenced off until service is inaugurated Nov. 29, a Sunday, with full service operating the following day.

Swift, the state's first bus rapid transit system, will provide 10-minute service on the Highway 99 corridor from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays, and 20-minute service at night and on weekends. The agency is working with residents and business along the corridor to encourage higher transit use for everyday trips once this transit improvement is in place.

Passengers will pay their fare at stations rather than on board the bus, eliminating lines and speeding service. Fewer stops, new technology and onboard bike racks are several other features that will make Swift swift.

Community Transit has partnered with six other transportation agencies to develop the ORCA smart card fare system. Call Community Transit at 425-353-RIDE or 800-562-1375 for bus information, or 888-814-1300 for carpool or vanpool information, or go to www.communitytransit.org.

To help the public keep track of when Swift service will begin, Community Transit has also added a Swift countdown clock to its Web site.