Community Transit
Community Transit is a public transit authority operating bus, Swift bus rapid transit, paratransit, vanpool, and microtransit services across Snohomish County, Washington, connecting riders to Sound Transit Link light rail and regional ferry and rail networks under a hybrid fare, sales-tax, and grant funding model.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1976
- HeadquartersEverett, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Community Transit does
Community Transit is a public transit authority created by Snohomish County government in 1974 and operating bus service since October 4, 1976, providing fixed-route local and express bus service, Swift bus rapid transit (Blue, Green, and Orange Lines), DART paratransit for riders with disabilities, a vanpool commuter program, and Zip Shuttle microtransit across Snohomish County, Washington, with connections to Sound Transit Link light rail, Sounder commuter rail, and Washington State Ferries. The agency is headquartered in Everett, Washington, employs 251-500 people, and operates from the Kasch Park Operating Base (capacity for 250 buses), the Merrill Creek Base (opened 1998), and a customer-facing Ride Store at Lynnwood City Center Station.
The underlying technology platform is built on industry-standard open data formats (GTFS, GTFS-RT, GTFS-Flex) that publish schedules, real-time arrival predictions, live vehicle positions, and service alerts to third-party developers and rider-facing apps including Google Maps, One Bus Away, and Transit App. Contactless payment is enabled via the ORCA regional fare card across seven Puget Sound transit agencies, with support for Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay. The fleet is in the early stages of a zero-emission transition, with the first battery-electric and hydrogen buses delivered in May 2024.
Community Transit is funded through a hybrid model combining per-ride fares (~$2.50), monthly passes, ORCA regional fare revenue, a voter-approved 0.3% sales tax within its Public Transportation Benefit Area, and federal and state grants (including over $50 million in federal transit grants to regional agencies for low-emission vehicles and a 2018 FTA grant of $43 million). Youth under 19 ride free via Youth ORCA cards funded by Washington's Climate Commitment Act. The agency is governed as an independent special-purpose district with its own board, is not owned by private shareholders, and is not an investable equity in the conventional sense. Customer segments are horizontally distributed across general public riders, youth, seniors, riders with disabilities, and regional commuters.
Community Transit firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Community Transit
- Legal name
- Community Transit
- Website
- https://communitytransit.org
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1976
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Community Transit is a public transit authority operating bus, Swift bus rapid transit, paratransit, vanpool, and microtransit services across Snohomish County, Washington, connecting riders to Sound Transit Link light rail and regional ferry and rail networks under a hybrid fare, sales-tax, and grant funding model.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Community Transit industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Transportation Services
- NAICS
- Bus and Other Motor Vehicle Transit Systems (485113), Special Needs Transportation (485991), Other Urban Transit Systems (485119), Other Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation (48599)
- SIC
- Local & Suburban Transit & Interurban Hwy Passenger Trans (4100), Transportation Services (4700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Transit Agencies (Bus, Rail, Metro, Paratransit) (BPAIALAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Integrated Multimodal Transit Agencies (Bus + Rail) (THAIAEAD), ADA/Accessible Paratransit (Complementary to Fixed-Route Transit) (THAIAHAA), Municipal/Transit-Agency Microtransit (First/Last-Mile Feeders) (TLAFAJAH), On-Demand Shared Shuttle / Vanpool (Dynamic Routing, Door-to-Door) (TLAFAJAB)
Keywords
Where Community Transit is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Everett
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Community Transit business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Passenger Fares: Community Transit generates revenue through passenger fares including cash fares (approximately $2.50 typical), ORCA card payments, and various passes (single day, monthly). Transfers are free when using ORCA card within two-hour window.
- Federal Transit Grants: Over $50 million in federal transit grants received by regional agencies for low-emission vehicles, representing significant government funding support for fleet modernization.
- Sound Transit Property Tax: Sound Transit approved a 1% property tax increase to address up to $34.5 billion in cost overruns for expansion projects, indicating regional transit funding through taxation.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard Local Bus Fare |
| Freemium | Others | Youth Fare (18 and under) |
| Subscription | Monthly | ORCA Card Monthly Passes |
| Subscription | Monthly | Reduced Fare Programs |
| Subscription | Monthly | Vanpool Monthly Fare |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Zip Shuttle |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels8 records
Community Transit product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Community Transit is a public transit authority operating fixed-route local and express bus service, Swift bus rapid transit, DART paratransit for riders with disabilities, a commuter vanpool program, and Zip Shuttle on-demand microtransit throughout Snohomish County, Washington. Riders access services through the ORCA regional contactless fare card and digital tools such as Find My Bus real-time tracking, Plan My Trip journey planner, and an open GTFS data portal.
Product overview
Community Transit is a public transportation agency serving Snohomish County, Washington, offering a comprehensive multi-modal transit system. The core offering consists of fixed-route local and express bus service, supplemented by the Swift Bus Rapid Transit network (Blue, Green, Orange Lines with Gold Line and Green Line Extension planned). Additional services include DART Paratransit for qualified riders, Vanpool commuter vans, and Zip Shuttle microtransit. The portfolio includes customer-facing digital tools (Find My Bus real-time tracking, Plan My Trip, Open Data Portal with GTFS feeds), the ORCA regional fare card system, and physical infrastructure such as the Ride Store, Park & Ride facilities, and bike amenities. Youth riders under 19 ride free through the Youth Ride Free Program. The transit system connects to regional services including Sound Transit's Link light rail, Sounder trains, and Washington State Ferries.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Local and Express Bus Service Fixed-route local and express bus service operating throughout Snohomish County with commuter connections to Seattle, the University of Washington, and Bellevue, serving all residents and visitors needing public transportation.
- Swift Bus Rapid Transit
Quantifiable outcome
- 22,500 riders transported during single Seahawks Super Bowl parade event
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Community Transit
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Community Transit technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration11 records
Feature5 records
Community Transit partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- Sound TransitcoreSound Transit operates Link light rail and Stride BRT services. Community Transit routes connect to Sound Transit stations, including the 2021 expansion to Northgate Station and upcoming 2041 expansion to Everett with five stations. Community Transit operates Sound Transit routes under contract and receives federal grants through regional coordination.
- King County Metro TransitcorePartner agency in the ORCA regional fare system. ORCA card works across all seven major transit agencies in King, Kitsap, Pierce, and Snohomish counties including King County Metro, enabling seamless transfers and fare payments across regional services.
- Everett TransitflagshipCity of Everett's independent bus system being considered for consolidation into Community Transit. Mayor Cassie Franklin announced plans to merge Everett Transit with Community Transit by late May/early June 2026, motivated by Sound Transit's light rail expansion to Everett. Consolidation would end Everett's independent city bus system under 2025 state law changes.
- Port of EverettminorPort of Everett completed $8.1 million Marina Fuel Dock project. Both entities serve Snohomish County and coordinate on regional transportation infrastructure.
- Washington State FerriesminorWashington State Ferries awarded $714.5 million contract to Florida-based Eastern Shipbuilding Group for three hybrid-electric ferries. Community Transit provides bus connections to Mukilteo and Edmonds ferry terminals for regional travel.
- Kitsap TransitminorPartner agency in the ORCA regional fare system serving Kitsap County. Enables cross-county transit travel with unified fare payment.
- Pierce TransitminorPartner agency in the ORCA regional fare system serving Pierce County. Enables cross-county transit travel with unified fare payment.
- Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT)coreWSDOT is constructing the I-405/Brickyard to SR 527 Improvement Project affecting Canyon Park Park & Ride. Community Transit coordinates construction impacts and temporary service changes. WSDOT also coordinates on ferry terminal operations.
- Tulalip TribesminorCommunity Transit began service to Tulalip Tribes Reservation in September 1999 following successful annexation vote. Service continues to serve tribal community and nearby Tulalip/Quil Ceda Village area.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Community Transit competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- King County Metro Transit: The largest transit agency in the Puget Sound region and a co-member of the ORCA regional fare network. Operates bus, paratransit (Access), and vanpool services in King County, directly comparable to Community Transit's portfolio of fixed-route bus, DART paratransit, and vanpool offerings.
- Sound Transit: Regional transit authority operating Link light rail, Sounder commuter rail, and Stride BRT in the central Puget Sound. Community Transit operates some Sound Transit routes under contract and integrates with light rail at Lynnwood and Mountlake Terrace, making it a co-producer and feedering partner with directly overlapping service models.
- Pierce Transit: Public transit agency serving Pierce County with fixed-route bus, paratransit (SHUTTLE), and vanpool services. Co-member of the ORCA regional fare system, directly comparable in service portfolio and county-level scope to Community Transit.
- Everett Transit: City of Everett's municipal bus system, currently operating as a peer of Community Transit in overlapping service areas and slated for consolidation into Community Transit by 2026. Operates fixed-route bus service in Everett and is an ORCA co-member.
- Kitsap Transit: Public transit agency in Kitsap County operating bus, paratransit (Access), vanpool, and ferry services. Co-member of the ORCA regional fare system, directly comparable to Community Transit's multi-modal portfolio.
- Intercity Transit: Public transit authority serving Thurston County (Olympia area) with fixed-route bus, paratransit (Dial-A-Lift), and vanpool. Comparable in size, structure, and service mix to Community Transit as a mid-sized Washington state public transit agency.
- C-TRAN: Clark County Public Transportation Benefit Area Authority operating fixed-route bus, paratransit (C-VAN), and the Vine BRT in the Vancouver, Washington metro. Direct peer as a Washington-state BRT-and-bus transit authority with a similar funding structure.
- Ben Franklin Transit: Public Transportation Benefit Area serving the Tri-Cities (Benton and Franklin counties) with fixed-route bus, paratransit, and vanpool. Comparable peer in service scope and Washington PTBA governance structure.
Broad incumbents
- TriMet: Major regional transit agency serving the Portland, Oregon metro with bus, light rail (MAX), commuter rail (WES), and paratransit (LIFT). Comparable as a multi-modal Pacific Northwest transit authority, though significantly larger in scale and offering light rail as a directly-operated mode.
Regional players
- Washington State Ferries: Washington state-operated ferry system connecting Puget Sound communities. Community Transit provides bus connections to Mukilteo and Edmonds ferry terminals, making it an integrated feeder to WSF rather than a direct competitor.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Community Transit social profiles
Digital presenceCommunity Transit financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Community Transit leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Community Transit funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Community Transit M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Community Transit
What does Community Transit do?
Community Transit is a public transit authority operating fixed-route local and express bus service, Swift bus rapid transit, DART paratransit for riders with disabilities, a commuter vanpool program, and Zip Shuttle on-demand microtransit throughout Snohomish County, Washington. Riders access services through the ORCA regional contactless fare card and digital tools such as Find My Bus real-time tracking, Plan My Trip journey planner, and an open GTFS data portal.
Is Community Transit a public or private company?
Community Transit is a public company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Community Transit founded?
Community Transit was founded in 1976. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Community Transit based?
Community Transit is headquartered in Everett, United States, in the North America region.
How does Community Transit make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Passenger Fares are the primary driver. The others are federal Transit Grants and sound Transit Property Tax.
Who are Community Transit's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are King County Metro Transit, Sound Transit, Pierce Transit, Everett Transit, Kitsap Transit, Intercity Transit, C-TRAN and Ben Franklin Transit. TriMet is listed as a broad incumbent. Washington State Ferries is listed as a regional player.
Does Community Transit have an API?
Yes. Community Transit provides open transit data through GTFS (General Transit Feed Specification), GTFS-RT (Real-Time), and GTFS-Flex formats. These are industry-standard data formats used by developers and third-party applications for schedule data, real-time arrival predictions, vehicle locations, and service alerts. The GTFS-RT feeds include Trip Updates (predicted arrival/departure times), Vehicle Positions (live vehicle locations), and Service Alerts (disruption information). GTFS-Flex covers on-demand services like dial-a-ride and paratransit. The data is available for download via S3 URLs and is updated periodically with four service changes per year. Developer documentation is at www.communitytransit.org/open-data.
What industry is Community Transit in?
Community Transit's product category is Public Transportation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIALAB, Public Transit Agencies (Bus, Rail, Metro, Paratransit), with a secondary code of THAIAEAD, Integrated Multimodal Transit Agencies (Bus + Rail). Its NAICS code is 485113 and its SIC code is 4100.