Community Transit has moved a step closer to making Swift II a reality. The Federal Transit Administration gave approval for the agency to move forward with project development on a second bus rapid transit line in Snohomish County that would travel between Canyon Park (Bothell) in the south and Paine Field-Boeing (Everett) at its north end.

Earlier this year, Community Transit received a $3.3 million grant to conduct sufficient design and environmental work for the Swift II project as a precursor for obtaining federal Small Starts funding.

The FTA approval allows Community Transit to begin spending its grant money to conduct the project development.

“This approval from the Federal Transit Administration is an exciting and important next step toward making Swift II a reality,” said U.S. Senator Patty Murray, Chair of the Senate Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee. “Snohomish County commuters, businesses and families have already seen the benefits of the first Swift line, and I will continue working with Community Transit and federal transportation officials to move this project forward.”

In addition to Sen. Murray, Sen. Maria Cantwell and Representatives Suzan DelBene and Rick Larsen have been supportive of Community Transit’s effort to secure federal funding for Swift II.

Community Transit has several hurdles left before Swift II can become a reality:
• Work with the state and county to develop traffic efficiency improvements across I-5 at 128th Street.
• Continue to work with partner cities on infrastructure improvements along the route.
• Secure FTA Small Starts funding for buses and stations.
• Get state authority and new funding to pay for Swift II operation.

If all of these items fall into place, it is possible that a Swift II line could be in service as early as 2018.