Community Transit

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.

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

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

• Public bus transit
• Bus rapid transit
• Paratransit services
• Microtransit shuttle
• Commuter vanpool

Headquarters

HQ city

Everett

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core 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

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Sound TransitcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSound 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 TransitcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner 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 TransitflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity 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 EverettminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPort of Everett completed $8.1 million Marina Fuel Dock project. Both entities serve Snohomish County and coordinate on regional transportation infrastructure.
• Washington State FerriesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWashington 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 TransitminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner agency in the ORCA regional fare system serving Kitsap County. Enables cross-county transit travel with unified fare payment.
• Pierce TransitminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner 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)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWSDOT 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 TribesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity 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

Direct 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

• Xx.com/MyCommTrans
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@communitytransit
• Facebookfacebook.com/communitytransit

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Community Transit