Sixteen Years of Swift

For 16 years, Swift has helped people in Snohomish County get to work, school, health care, shopping, and light rail. On Nov. 30, 2025, Community Transit is celebrating the 16th anniversary of Swift, our bus rapid transit (BRT) service.

Swift started as a single bus line on Highway 99. Today, it’s a growing network that connects communities across the county and plays a big role in our plans for the future.

Swift Blue Line: Where It Started

The original Swift Line route map.

The first Swift bus leaves Everett Station on Nov. 30, 2009

Swift Blue Line launched in late 2009 as Washington’s first BRT line. Running along Highway 99 and Evergreen Way, it connected Everett Station with the south end of the route and introduced a faster, more reliable style of bus service.

Swift brought you:

• Frequent trips throughout the day
• Off-board fare payment and all-door boarding
• Fewer, larger stations designed for quick stops and fast travel

Over time, we added more stations in Everett and a stop at Edmonds College to serve students and staff better. As more Swift lines were planned, the original line was renamed Swift Blue Line, making way for future colors of lines to be added.

In 2024, Swift Blue Line service was extended to the Shoreline North/185th Link light rail station, giving you a direct connection between Snohomish County and light rail. Today, Swift Blue Line is our busiest route and a backbone for north–south travel in southwest Snohomish County.

Swift Green Line: Linking Jobs, Homes, and Campuses

A (free) ticket to ride: community members board a Swift Green Line bus on its first day of service on March 24, 2019.

On March 24, 2019, Swift Green Line joined the network. It runs between Seaway Transit Center in Everett, near major employers, and Canyon Park Park & Ride in Bothell.

Swift Green Line:

• Connects with Swift Blue Line near Airport Road
• Serves growing neighborhoods and job centers
• Provides an important north–south link in east Snohomish County

Swift Orange Line: A Stronger East–West Connection

On March 30, 2024, Swift Orange Line opened, giving you a frequent east–west way to travel across the county.

Swift Orange Line runs between Edmonds College in Lynnwood and McCollum Park Park & Ride in Mill Creek. Along the way, it serves:

• Lynnwood City Center Station, with direct Link light rail connections
• Alderwood Mall and nearby jobs and services
• Ash Way Park & Ride
• Mill Creek Town Center

Swift Orange Line ties the Swift network together by meeting Swift Blue Line in Lynnwood and sharing stations with Swift Green Line along Bothell-Everett Highway. This means fewer transfers and faster trips across the county.

Sixteen Years of Swift – and What Comes Next

A map showing proposed Swift Gold Line stations and bus lane options. Swift Gold Line is planned to begin service in 2031.

Swift began service in late November 2009. On Nov. 30, 2025, we celebrate 16 years of:

• Washington’s first BRT line
• Growth from one corridor to three Swift lines
• New connections to Link light rail and regional services

Swift is also a major part of Community Transit’s 2025–2030 Transit Development Plan. Key projects include:

• Swift Green Line Extension (planned for 2030): The extension will bring service into downtown Bothell and to UW Bothell/Cascadia College, with connections to Sound Transit’s future regional BRT. Service on the extension is planned for 2030. You can read about updates for this project on our website.
• Swift Gold Line (planned for 2031): A new north–south BRT line serving Everett, Marysville, and Arlington, including future light rail in Everett.

Along with Swift expansion, Community Transit is working on more frequent local routes, better bus–rail connections, upgraded stops and stations, and progress toward a zero-emission fleet.

What Swift Means for You

If you’re new to Swift, here’s what you can expect today:

• Frequent service throughout the day, including early mornings, evenings, and weekends
• Faster trips with off-board payment, all-door boarding, and features that help buses move through traffic more quickly
• Easy connections to local and regional bus routes, park-and-rides, and Link light rail in Lynnwood and Shoreline

As Swift continues to grow, more communities in Snohomish County will have access to fast, reliable BRT service. If you already ride Swift, you’re part of this story.

To learn more about Swift, see route maps, or plan your next ride, visit: communitytransit.org/swift.