Bus Service to Northgate Station
New, Closer Light Rail Stations Open Oct. 2
Three new light rail stations — Northgate, Roosevelt and U District — are opening on October 2. With light rail closer than ever, Community Transit is here to get you there!
Discover new places to go and new ways to get there when you take the bus to the 1 Line (Link) light rail station at Northgate.
Fast, frequent service
Frequent buses and trains make for fast, easy connections.
Release stress and regain time
Spend less time driving and gain time for yourself for a more relaxing trip.
Get out of gridlock
Skip the worst traffic for a faster, more reliable ride.
Your fare can take you farther
Your bus fare gets you farther when you pay with ORCA and connect to light rail.
With light rail’s fast connections, you can ride from:
- Northgate to UW in 6 minutes
- Northgate to Westlake in 14 minutes
- Northgate to SeaTac in 49 minutes
Whether you are going to class at the UW, a job downtown, or to catch a flight at SeaTac Airport, taking the bus to light rail will mean frequent, easy connections and, in many cases, less travel time.
About Northgate Station
Northgate Station offers a park & ride, frequent bus connections, and a pedestrian and bike bridge between the light rail station and North Seattle College and Northwest Hospital.
Northgate will soon be home to Kraken Community Iceplex, the official training facility for the Seattle Kraken NHL team and a hub for ice sports.
People traveling to the 1 Line from Snohomish County will now have direct transit connections to many new locations for the first time — anywhere light rail travels.
Transit riders will also be able to catch a King County Metro bus connection to South Lake Union or First Hill from Northgate, bypassing a trip to downtown.
Heading to the U District? See the map of the new U District Station.
Getting to Northgate
Beginning Oct. 2, our services will be changing to connect you to Northgate Station. Some of the changes include:
- The 800-series bus routes will connect to the 1 Line at Northgate Station instead of going to the U District and University of Washington. See the map of the new U District Station.
- Route 855 has been replaced with additional service on route 821, which also serves the Lynnwood Transit Center.
- Sound Transit Routes 511, 512, and 513 — which currently run between Snohomish County and Seattle — will also connect to light rail at Northgate.
- Community Transit will add 48 trips from Northgate back to Snohomish County in the afternoon and evening. Each 800-series route will have a bus leaving Northgate every 15 minutes during the evening commute.
Learn more about Community Transit's Fall 2021 Service Change.
Bus Service from Snohomish County to Northgate Station
Community Transit
Route 810
with key stops at Mariner Park & Ride, Ash Way Park & Ride, Mountlake Terrace Transit Center
Route 821
with key stops at Cedar & Grove Park & Ride, Marysville I Park & Ride, Lynnwood Transit Center
Route 860
with key stops at Mariner Park & Ride, Ash Way Park & Ride
Route 871
with key stop at Mountlake Terrace Transit Center
Route 880
with key stops at Mukilteo Ferry Terminal, Mukilteo Station, Swamp Creek Park & Ride, Ash Way Park & Ride
Sound Transit
Route 511
with key stops at Lynnwood Transit Center, Mountlake Terrace Transit Center
Route 512
with key stops at South Everett Freeway Station, Ash Way Park & Ride, Lynnwood Transit Center, Mountlake Terrace Transit Center
Route 513
with key stops at Eastmont Park & Ride, Ash Way Park & Ride, Lynnwood Transit Center, Mountlake Terrace Transit Center
Riding light rail
How to pay for light rail
ORCA Card
Paying by ORCA card saves you money when you take the bus to light rail—your bus fare counts towards a light rail trip within two hours. You will still need to tap your ORCA card at the light rail station.
When arriving at the station, just find the closest ORCA Card reader and “tap on” by placing your card flat against it. One beep and a green light means you’re good to go.
When you reach your destination, tap your card on a reader again after you exit. Link light rail fares are distance-based, so if you forget to "tap off", you'll be charged the maximum fare.
Tickets & Day Passes
Buy Link tickets or day passes from the station ticket machine with cash, or most debit/credit cards.
Transit Go Ticket App
You can also pay your fare using your smartphone
and the Transit Go Ticket app. Learn more at transitgoticket.com.
Light rail fares
When you use your ORCA card to transfer from a bus to light rail, you don’t have to pay two full fares — your first-leg fare counts toward the second leg of your trip within a two-hour window.
Adult
(19 – 64)
$2.25 to $3.50*
Youth
(6 – 18)
$1.50
Reduced Fare
(Senior/Disabled/Medicare)
$1.00
ORCA
LIFT
$1.50
*One-way adult fares range from $2.25 to $3.50 depending on how far you travel.
Hours and schedules
Link light rail trains run every 8 mins. during peak hours and every 10 to 15 mins during non-peak hours.
Trains run from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. Monday through Saturday and from 6 a.m. to midnight
on Sunday and select holidays.
Visit soundtransit.org/schedules for schedule details.
Know before you go
- A service change is scheduled for October 2 – 3 for Community Transit, Sound Transit, and King County Metro. These changes will affect many routes. Learn more about the Community Transit's Fall 2021 Service Change.
- Currently, masks are required for all riders on Community Transit and Sound Transit buses and trains. Learn more about Community Transit's commitment to safety at communitytransit.org/ridesafely.
Future plans for bus and light rail connections
Community Transit's connections to Northgate are the first that will happen over the next several years. As light rail reaches Snohomish County, we will be seeking public input on how best to design our future transit services. These changes will make for faster local and regional connections for anyone taking transit.
- Starting in 2023, riders can travel directly from Northgate Station to Bellevue and the Microsoft campus. Learn more about Sound Transit's East Link Extension.
- Light rail will expand north to Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace and Shoreline starting in 2024. Learn more about Sound Transit's Lynnwood Link Extension.
- Community Transit's new Swift Orange line will launch in 2024 and connect with light rail at Lynnwood City Center Station. Learn more about Community Transit's Swift Orange line.