Getting around Mountlake Terrace with Community Transit
Community Transit is here to get you where you want to go. We are proud to be a part of the Mountlake Terrace community — we live here, ride here, and drive here. Wherever you need to go in Mountlake Terrace, feel good about how you get there.
About Mountlake Terrace
Mountlake Terrace lies on the southern border of the county, adjacent to Shoreline and Lynnwood, and is 13 miles north of Seattle. The city had a population of 21,315 people counted in the 2020 census.
Some of its most popular destinations include its various neighborhoods — Town Center, Cedar Terrace, Lake Ballinger, Gateway, Cascade View, and Melody Hill.
Major employers in the city include health insurance firm Premera Blue Cross, Umpqua Bank, and the many retailers throughout the city.
People traveling to and from the area can take bus routes provided by both Community Transit and Sound Transit. Mountlake Terrace Transit Center is a major hub for many of these regional transit options. The transit center is also served by a King County Metro route that connects Mountlake Terrace to Shoreline and Northgate Mall in Seattle. Other options include DART paratransit service and Vanpool. Many of its 18 public parks also offer nearby options for pedestrians and bikers, including Ballinger Park which is adjacent to the Interurban Trail. The Interurban Trail is an inter-city hiking and cycling trail developed in the late 1990s that travels between Seattle and Everett on the former interurban railway route.
Ride our connections to light rail
Updated bus service brings you connections to light rail stations in Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace, and Shoreline.
Popular Destinations
Light rail connections, bus restructure in Community Transit's Six-Year Plan
Snohomish County, Wash. – Over the next six years, Community Transit is planning to deliver the most significant changes to its transit system in decades. With light rail coming to Snohomish County in 2024, there is a unique opportunity to reimagine bus service in a way that expands local service and connects people to frequent transit services throughout the county and the region.
The agency’s Draft 2023-2028 Transit Development Plan (TDP) outlines these changes and previews other future changes already in planning. The Draft TDP is available online for public comment through August 3.
Key initiatives
Expanding Service: The opening of Lynnwood Link light rail in 2024 will change how people travel in Snohomish County and the entire region. This once-in-a-generation opportunity is prompting Community Transit to redesign Snohomish County’s bus system so that riders have:
- Frequent, all-day local service in their community and throughout the county, and
- Easy access to destinations in King County, including Northgate, UW, downtown Seattle, Sea-Tac Airport, and the Eastside via light rail connections.
Next year will also include expansion of the agency's bus rapid transit (BRT) network with the launch of the Swift Orange Line and the extension of the Swift Blue Line. The agency is planning for future BRT expansion with the Swift Green Line extension in Bothell, and construction of the Swift Gold Line in north Snohomish County, both of which are currently in planning stages.
Increased Security: Community Transit is emphasizing security on buses and at facilities to maintain a safe and welcoming environment for riders and employees. The agency recently initiated a Transit Security Officer (TSO) program and is hiring a total of 18 TSOs this year. TSOs help uphold Community Transit’s Rules of Conduct, working closely with Transit Deputies, Field Supervisors, Service Ambassadors, and a social worker who is contracted through Snohomish County to work exclusively on transit.
Investment in Innovative Services: The agency is investing in innovative transit services like the Zip Alderwood Shuttle in Lynnwood that provide flexible and affordable solutions that connect people with regular transit services and popular destinations in their communities. Additional pilot programs are planned for Arlington, Darrington, and Lake Stevens.
Zero Emissions Study: Community Transit is conducting a Zero Emissions Feasibility Study to determine the right vehicle and fueling technologies to sustainably serve customers and further reduce carbon emissions in the region. The study is the first step in a years-long process to evaluate and develop a sustainability strategy to transition to a zero-emissions bus fleet.
Draft TDP public comment period
The TDP is a state-mandated report that forecasts revenue and service levels for the next six years and is updated each year.
The Draft 2023-2028 TDP is available for review online; public comment is welcome through Aug. 3.
Comments can be sent in several ways:
- Email: PlanUpdate@commtrans.org
- Phone: (425) 353-7433 (RIDE)
- Social Media: Facebook.com/communitytransit or @MyCommTrans on Twitter (Use #CTTDP)
- Mail: Community Transit, Attn: Transit Development Plan 2312 W. Casino Road, Everett, WA 98204
- Public hearing: 3 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 3. For details, go to communitytransit.org/board-of-directors and click on Upcoming Meetings.
