Transportation

Kylie Brown, 7, grabs onto the wheel of a Community Transit bus during a 'Transit Tales' event on Wednesday, Aug. 20 in Smokey Point, Washington. (Will Geschke / The Herald)

Children explore stories on a bus during ‘Transit Tales’

The partnership between Community Transit and Sno-Isle Libraries brings kids into a bus to listen to stories, sing and pretend to take the wheel.

 

More frequent service coming for Community Transit buses

As part of a regular update to its service hours, the agency will boost the frequencies of its Swift lines and other popular routes.

 

Sound Transit breaks ground on massive Bothell bus facility

The 360,000-square-foot, $274 million facility will serve as a hub for the agency’s new bus rapid transit network.

 

Everett

WSDOT to pause I-5 repairs in Everett due to weather

Construction — and the overnight lane closures that come with it — will resume on Sunday.

Everett
Community Transit CEO Ric Ilgenfritz, right, speaks with other Community Transit leaders during an interview with the Herald on a new electric bus Monday, May 13, 2024, at the Community Transit Operations Base in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Community Transit plan shows expanded service, electric buses coming soon

The transit agency approved an update to its six-year plan Thursday, paving the way for new improvements to its network.

Community Transit CEO Ric Ilgenfritz, right, speaks with other Community Transit leaders during an interview with the Herald on a new electric bus Monday, May 13, 2024, at the Community Transit Operations Base in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Traffic moves along Broadway in front of Compass Heath, one of the buildings that would fall under the no sit, not lie ordnance extension on Tuesday, April 18, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Paving work in north Everett will close Broadway overnight

The nighttime closures are expected to begin August 18. Construction is expected to be completed in the fall.

Traffic moves along Broadway in front of Compass Heath, one of the buildings that would fall under the no sit, not lie ordnance extension on Tuesday, April 18, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Ferries pass on a crossing between Mukilteo and Whidbey Island. (Andy Bronson / Herald file)

State commission approves rate hike for ferry trips

Ticket prices are set to rise about 6% over the next two years.

Ferries pass on a crossing between Mukilteo and Whidbey Island. (Andy Bronson / Herald file)
Traffic moves northbound in a new HOV lane on I-5 between Everett and Marysville on Monday, Aug. 19, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Fiber optic repairs halt I-5 traffic data north of Marysville

The cables were damaged by rodents, the department said. Real-time data will be offline between Marysville and the Canadian border Thursday while crews make repairs.

Traffic moves northbound in a new HOV lane on I-5 between Everett and Marysville on Monday, Aug. 19, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Two Swift Orange Line buses waits at the Edmonds College Transit Center on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Community Transit shares more details on upcoming Gold Line

The agency still needs to decide on a final route and whether to implement bus lanes. It plans to ask for more public input in September.

Two Swift Orange Line buses waits at the Edmonds College Transit Center on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edgewater Bridge construction workers talk as demolition continues on the bridge on Friday, May 9, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Crews complete demolition of Edgewater Bridge

City engineers say work is still on pace to open the vital connection between Everett and Mukilteo in early 2026.

Edgewater Bridge construction workers talk as demolition continues on the bridge on Friday, May 9, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Traffic moves around parts of the roundabout at the new I-5/SR529 interchange on Tuesday, July 22, 2025 in Marysville, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

New interchange, ramps, set to open in Marysville

After more than a decade of planning and construction, the new ramps and roundabout connecting I-5 to Highway 529 are set to open in mid-August.

Traffic moves around parts of the roundabout at the new I-5/SR529 interchange on Tuesday, July 22, 2025 in Marysville, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
A BNSF train crosses Grove St/72nd St, NE in Marysville, Washington on March 17, 2022. Marysville recently got funding for design work for an overcrossing at the intersection. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Snohomish County gets funding boost for $35M rail project

A $2 million federal grant will go toward improvements to a rail yard in north Everett. The upgrades will help waste management and passenger trains, officials said.

A BNSF train crosses Grove St/72nd St, NE in Marysville, Washington on March 17, 2022. Marysville recently got funding for design work for an overcrossing at the intersection. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Traffic slows as it moves around the bend of northbound I-5 through north Everett on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Paving project will close I-5 lanes in Everett

Crews will close up to 4 lanes overnight for weeks to complete the $8.1 million repairs.

Traffic slows as it moves around the bend of northbound I-5 through north Everett on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Community Transit saw a 17% jump in ridership from 2023 to 2024. Photo courtesy of Community Transit.

Snohomish County transit agencies seeking comments on planning docs

Community Transit and Everett Transit are preparing documents that lay out a path for future service and infrastructure improvments.

Community Transit saw a 17% jump in ridership from 2023 to 2024. Photo courtesy of Community Transit.
A sign alerting people to “no swimming/jumping/diving” hangs off to the left of the pier on Thursday, June 26, 2025 in Mukilteo, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Officials: Too many people are diving off the Mukilteo Pier

Swimming in the water near ferry traffic can cause delays and put yourself in danger, police and transportation officials say.

A sign alerting people to “no swimming/jumping/diving” hangs off to the left of the pier on Thursday, June 26, 2025 in Mukilteo, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Olivia Vanni / The Herald 
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County.
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Mukilteo mayor vetoes council-approved sales tax

The tax would have helped pay for transportation infrastructure, but was also set to give Mukilteo the highest sales tax rate in the state.

Olivia Vanni / The Herald 
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County.
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
People board the Mukilteo ferry in Mukilteo, Washington on Monday, June 3, 2024. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

Mukilteo-Clinton ferry service to pause for maintenance Tuesday evening

Service will resume Wednesday morning with the 4:40 a.m. ferry to Mukilteo and the 5:05 a.m. ferry to Clinton.

People board the Mukilteo ferry in Mukilteo, Washington on Monday, June 3, 2024. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Traffic moves northbound in a new HOV lane on I-5 between Everett and Marysville on Monday, Aug. 19, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

WSP to perform emphasis patrols along I-5 in Snohomish County

State agencies will study data from the patrols to better understand high-risk driving behavior and the impacts of emphasis enforcement.

Traffic moves northbound in a new HOV lane on I-5 between Everett and Marysville on Monday, Aug. 19, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Traffic moves north and south along I-5 through Everett on Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Snohomish County saw increase in traffic deaths in 2024

Even though fatalities fell statewide, 64 people died in Snohomish County traffic incidents in 2024, the most in nine years.

Traffic moves north and south along I-5 through Everett on Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Traffic slows as it moves around the bend of northbound I-5 through north Everett on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Officials: SnoCo commuters should prep for major I-5 construction

Starting in June, a significant repair project in Seattle will close northbound I-5 for days and reduce the number of open lanes for weeks.

Traffic slows as it moves around the bend of northbound I-5 through north Everett on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)