Murray: “Today we aren’t just cutting a ribbon, we are cutting down traffic, cutting down emissions, and making it easier and more affordable for so many people to get around our communities.”
Murray: “Whether through the American Rescue Plan or in writing our nation’s spending bill, I made certain the federal government made our local communities and the Swift Orange Line a priority.”
***PHOTOS OF MURRAY AT THE 2022 GROUNDBREAKING HERE***
(Lynnwood, WA) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement to celebrate Community Transit’s Swift Orange Line opening for operation at the Lynnwood City Center Station.
The total cost of the project was $80 million. Of that cost, federal funding for the project totaled nearly $68 million—which includes $37.1 million in a Small Starts Grant, $6.5 million in American Rescue Plan stimulus funds and other additional federal funding.
Small Starts is funded through the Capital Investment Grants Program (CIG), which Senator Murray funds each year through the appropriations process and has delivered major boosts in funding for over the years, including as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Administered by the Federal Transit Administration, the CIG program funds capital investments to expand public transit—including for bus rapid transit (BRT)—and is essential to meeting critical transportation infrastructure needs across Puget Sound.
“Today we aren’t just cutting a ribbon, we are cutting down traffic, cutting down emissions, and making it easier and more affordable for so many people to get around our communities.
“Public transit connects people— parents heading to work, adult students heading to classes, businesses who will be accessible to more customers, and so many other Snohomish County commuters. With the launch of the Swift Orange Line, we will finally be able to connect Snohomish communities to the Lynnwood light rail station opening later this year.
“When Community Transit came to me with this project, I knew this would be a gamechanger and I worked hard to secure nearly $68 million total in federal funding for this project—whether through the American Rescue Plan or in writing our nation’s spending bill, I made certain the federal government made our local communities and the Swift Orange Line a priority.
“I have always said that public transit is a great investment for Washington state—and I’m so pleased to see this investment opening up and paying off for families in a big way. Whether it’s a single parent who needs a reliable bus route to finish classes at Edmonds College or a young person who can use public transit to get a good job across town—more public transit means opening new opportunities for the entire community. And with the Swift Orange Line up and running, I can’t wait to see what’s next for Snohomish County.”
The Swift Orange Line, Community Transit’s third BRT line, will connect to the existing Swift Blue Line and Swift Green Line to provide a network of fast, frequent bus service along major corridors. The Swift Orange Line will travel between Edmonds College and Mill Creek. Notably, it will make a stop at Lynnwood Transit Center, allowing people to connect to Sound Transit’s Link light rail next fall. People will also be able to easily connect to rideshare services from the Swift Orange Line, including Zip Alderwood Shuttle and Vanpool.
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