Stuck on Southbound I-5? Transit offers appealing alternatives to driving

With the I-5 Express Lanes running northbound only during Revive I-5 construction, southbound commuters have faced significant morning traffic delays this week. People traveling from Snohomish County to Seattle might want to consider taking transit to and from Seattle.

Taking a Community Transit or Sound Transit Express Bus to a Link light rail station can cut down on commute times and save the stress of driving in stop-and-go traffic. In addition, there are other transit alternatives to get to Seattle.

Bus & light rail

Community Transit operates 19 bus routes that connect to light rail stations, and Sound Transit has four routes connecting to light rail stations in Snohomish County. Parking garages at the light rail stations fill up early in the morning, but there is plenty of parking at other park and ride lots where you can catch a bus to get to light rail

Bus and bus & bus

There are two ST Express bus routes that travel directly to downtown Seattle, plus bus-to-bus connections that can get you there. ST Routes 510 and 515 travel directly between Snohomish County and downtown Seattle. By using HOV lanes, they provide some time savings from driving in a single-occupant vehicle.

Community Transit’s Swift Blue Line connects with King County Metro’s RapidRide E Line at Aurora Village Transit Center, offering a bus-to-bus rapid transit ride.

Sounder train

Commuters from Everett, Mukilteo, and Edmonds can take the Sounder train to downtown Seattle. The Sounder N Line provides four daily roundtrips, southbound in the morning and northbound in the afternoon/evening. Sounder provides a scenic ride along the coast, much more relaxing than the traffic scene on I-5.

In many cases, commuters can reduce time on their morning commute by taking transit. In all cases, commuters can use their time more productively than navigating their vehicle through traffic. Get some work done, read a book, or maybe just get some extra rest before you start your workday.

Parking at Lynnwood City Center Station fills up early in the morning, so you can’t always count finding a spot. Other Snohomish County park and rides have parking available and offer Community Transit bus connections to Link light rail at Lynnwood. Some park and rides to consider are Ash Way or Edmonds. For people in the Alderwood area, Zip Shuttle, an on-demand Community Transit rideshare service, is also an option to get to light rail.

And you’re not just saving your sanity by leaving your car at home. Save on gas and parking costs by taking public transit. You can use the ORCA card to pay fares and transfer seamlessly on buses, light rail, and Sounder. The ORCA card works like cash or a pass, automatically tracking the value of different fares and transfers so you don't have to.

Learn more about commuting from Snohomish County during summer construction season on That Transit Show, Community Transit’s monthly show about all things transit.