Getting around Everett with Community Transit
Community Transit is here to get you where you want to go. We are proud to be a part of the Everett community — we live here, ride here, and drive here. Wherever you need to go in Everett, feel good about how you get there.
About Everett
Transit options in Everett
Sound Transit, Everett Transit, and Community Transit offer public transit options in Everett. Community Transit provides its bus rapid transit system, Swift, with two lines that travel through the city: the Blue Line from Downtown Everett to Shoreline via State Route 99; and the Green Line, which connects the Boeing plant to Mill Creek and northern Bothell.
Everett Station is a multimodal train and bus station that is served by its three major public transit providers including the Sounder Commuter Train. Everett Station is also served by intercity buses from Greyhound Lines, BoltBus, and Northwestern Trailways, which connect Everett to cities in the Pacific Northwest.
Sound Transit plans to extend its Link light rail service to Downtown Everett in 2036, as part of the Sound Transit 3 plan passed by voters in 2016.
Everett has more than 40 parks, with Forest Park serving as the largest. Many of these parks offer hiking, biking, and walking trails. The city also provides a seasonal ferry giving access to Jetty Island from its waterfront. Everett was connected with Seattle by an interurban railway from 1910 to 1939, with the right-of-way now serving as the Interurban Trail for bikers and pedestrians.
Regional destinations in Everett
Everett is the largest city in Snohomish County, Washington and the seventh-largest in the state by population. Everett's airport, Paine Field, serves as a major regional destination for travelers.
Everett Community College and Washington State University Everett, City University, Everest College, Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University, and Columbia College at Naval Station Everett are just some of the higher education options and campuses in the area.
Major employers in the area include Boeing, Providence Medical Center, Naval Station Everett, The Everett Clinic, Everett School District, Amazon, FedEx, the Everett Mall, Fluke Corporation (Fortive), and more.
Popular Destinations
Prepping for the trip: A bus driver’s checklist before hitting the road
Pictured above: Community Transit driver David Nicholson checks the tires on his bus during a pre-trip inspection.
Did you know that Community Transit operates more than 1,200 trips each weekday? Over the weekend, this number drops to roughly 700 trips a day. While each trip starts at the first stop on the route for riders, the bus driver’s work starts well before that.
Safety starts at the beginning of a shift
Before our drivers embark on their workday, they educate themselves on any updates that may impact their route or riders. Here is a breakdown of what a driver might do before they head to their bus:
12:00 p.m. – Arrive at the bus base and clock in for their shift at the dispatch window. Drivers pick up forms they need, such as turn-by-turn maps, or read any notes left for them by their supervisor. Extra board drivers, who may drive a different route every shift, will check in to see what their route is.
12:05 p.m. – Read the information boards containing construction and route updates to stay informed about any changes that might affect their riders.
12:07 p.m. – Head to the “yard shack” to retrieve their assigned bus for the day. Buses are neatly organized by size: 30 ft, 40 ft, and 60 ft. At our Kasch Park base, they may be assigned a Double Tall bus.
12:10 p.m. - Perform a thorough 10-minute pre-trip inspection to ensure their assigned bus is ready to transport passengers to their destinations safely. Once this is done, the driver can get moving!
Pictured above: Heather Ratley, Assistant Manager of Transportation at Community Transit, demonstrates the construction and route information board our drivers review when they start a shift.
What happens during a pre-trip inspection?
A pre-trip inspection is a list of more than 50 tasks that Community Transit drivers complete before heading out for the day to make sure that their vehicle is safe and reliable. The tasks include:
- Checking that the horn, brakes, lights, and doors are working.
- Confirming the bus is fueled and all the fluids are at the correct levels.
- Checking the bus exterior for damage like flat tires, broken mirrors, cracked windows, or dents.
- Confirming that the wheelchair ramps and hydraulic systems are working.
- Making a test call to dispatch to ensure their radio system is working.
- Confirming all safety equipment is on board the vehicle.
Pictured above: Community Transit driver David Nicholson ensures his bike rack works during a pre-trip inspection.
If the driver finds something wrong during pre-trip, they will radio dispatch and be directed to report it to the maintenance shop. They will then be issued a new bus and perform another pre-trip inspection before heading out.
By dedicating time to checking for updates, performing pre-trip inspections, and promptly addressing any issues, our drivers play a crucial role in keeping our buses reliable and our riders safe!
