Ride Swift to get to great community eats!

Our communities are filled with delicious and diverse places to eat. Being a new transit industry employee, who also enjoys exploring local food options, I wanted to explore what routes would get customers to some local highly-rated food options!

Since November marks the 10-year anniversary of Community Transit’s Swift Bus Rapid Transit service, I focused on the Swift Blue and Green lines, which currently serve six different cities in Snohomish County.

Check out my list of restaurants, cafes, and quick dining options below! Every location is within a 10-minute walk (approximately a half mile) of a Swift station.

Did I miss one of your favorite local spots? Please leave me a comment and I’ll update this post!

An interactive map is available here.

Swift Blue – South of Airport Rd. 

Hosoonyi Korean: Award-winning food writer and radio personality Nancy Leson, also a Snohomish County resident, has been eating here for 20 years! Serves Korean BBQ, soups, rice bowls and stir fries. Located next to the 238th St stations. 

Dick's Drive-In: The only Dick's location outside of King County is in Edmonds, just south of Swift Blue Line's 216th St SW stop. Deluxe, fries, and a chocolate shake, please! 

Chug’s Root Beer: If you love root beer, like REALLY love, then Chug's is for you: over 100 brands of root beer and 300 types of soda. A 5-minute walk from the southbound College (204^th Street SW) station. 

Tubs Subs: Hearty sandwiches on thick bread that include the classics as well as new creations. A 10-minute walk from the Cherry Hill and International stations at 176^th St SW. 

Swift Blue line passing Dick's in Edmonds

Swift Blue – North of Airport Rd. 

Yummy Bahn Mi: Highly-rated Vietnamese sandwiches, pho, and bubble tea! A 4-minute walk from the Colby Ave and Wetmore Ave stations. https://yummy-banh-mi.business.site/

Gyros Plus: Greek and Middle Eastern cuisine just north of the Casino Rd stations. 

Nick's Jr: Creative burgers and sides a 4-minute walk from Pecks Dr southbound station, or 10 minutes from Madison St northbound station. 

Bento Factory: Wide-ranging Japanese menu including sushi and a few Korean dishes. A 5-minute walk from the Colby Ave and Wetmore Ave stations. 

A Pizza House: Serving pizza, pasta, salads and calzone for more than 15 years in downtown Everett. Just 9 minutes north of the Colby Ave and Wetmore Ave stations. 

Botan Ramen: Variety of ramen and Japanese options, including combos and lunch specials. A 6-minute walk from the Colby Ave and Wetmore Ave stations. 

Narrative Coffee Co.: Delicious coffee creations and brunch food just a 3-minute walk from the Colby Ave and Wetmore Ave stations. 

Cafe Wylde: Vegan food with a juice and smoothie bar! A 5-minute walk from the Colby Ave and Wetmore Ave stations. 

French Toast at Narrative Coffee Co.

Swift Green South – South of 132^nd

Sushi Zen: 40 different types of creative sushi rolls as well as more traditional Japanese offerings. Located next to the 16^th Ave SE station. 

McMenamins: Their northern-most location is next to the 16^th Ave SE station. If you're trying to collect passport stamps, don't forget that Swift Lines have bike racks!  

BMG Thai: Extensive Thai and Southeast Asian menu featuring noodle, rice, soup, salad, and curry dishes. A 5-minute walk from the 164th St SE stations. 

Azul: Latin American bistro that also is open for brunch on the weekends. A 4-minute walk from the 153rd St SE stations. 

Ezell's Famous Chicken: Classic house-made fried chicken, comfort-food sides, and desserts. Located 1-minute south of the 180th St SE stations. 

Samburna: Authentic south Indian cuisine located next to the 208th St SE stations. 

Swift Green North – North of 132^nd 

Katya's Bakery: Sweets, baked goods, coffee, and custom cakes. A 4-minute walk from the 4th Ave W station. 

Shawn O’Donnel’s American Grill Irish Pub: Locally-owned and serving burgers, sandwiches and wraps, salads, as well as traditional Irish mains and sides. A 2-minute walk from the 3^rd Ave SE stations. 

La Palmera: A variety of Mexican food options with lunch specials from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Accessible from both the Swift Blue and Green lines at Airport Rd. 

Don't forget that you can take Swift to access the passenger terminal at Paine Field! A Caffe Vita coffee and pastry bar serves passengers and the public next to baggage claim, while a Beecher's Handmade Cheese cafe serves sandwiches and other cheese-centric foods in the departures terminal.

Caffe Vita (PAE) and Beecher's (PAE). 

Those are a few of my picks, what are your favorites? What other non-work destinations do you get to along the Swift lines?

Urban Hikes by Bus: Community, Exercise, Excursions

Public transportation helps foster a sense of community and is a great way to get exercise. Last summer, a group of Mill Creek senior citizens began learning how to ride Swift Green Line as a way to create community and be active at the same time.

Swift Green Line, Community Transit’s second bus rapid transit line, started service in March, 2019. The line runs between Seaway Transit Center and Canyon Park Park & Ride, serving the communities of south Everett, Mill Creek, and Bothell. Since March, many residents of Mill Creek have had the opportunity to step on a Swift bus for the first time.

Community Transit Board Member and Mill Creek City Council Member Mike Todd recognized that learning to ride the bus could be a barrier to using public transit for some members in the community. There’s also an additional learning curve to understand the difference between regular bus service and Swift bus service. To address this, Todd worked with the Mill Creek Senior Center to develop a program called Urban Hikes by Bus.

“I really wanted to get folks out and about to learn to use public transit, go on local excursions, and see local sights,” Todd said.

Swift buses arrive every 10 minutes on weekdays, and every 15-20 minutes on evenings and weekends. Todd naturally thought of Swift as a way to help senior citizens get out in their communities for moderate group exercise. “Typically, the excursions include a nature walk that is approximately two miles,” Todd said.

Last month, Todd led an excursion from the Mill Creek Retirement Community via Swift bus to the Narbeck Wetland Sanctuary just north of Seaway Transit Center. The public educational park has short nature trails with interpretive signs that tell about wetlands and wildlife. The group hiked two trails, which included about two miles of moderate walking, and ended with a picnic lunch.

The next excursion will be to the Northwest Stream Center at McCollum Pioneer Park on Friday, Nov. 15 from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Anyone is welcome to attend as long as they are able to engage in moderate activity. Admission to the Northwest Stream Center is $6 for seniors. Adult bus fare is $2.50 each way; seniors with a Regional Reduced Fare Permit ORCA card pay $1.25 for each bus trip.

The group will meet at the Mill Creek Retirement Community parking lot at 14905 Bothell Everett Hwy, in Mill Creek. From the parking lot, it’s about an eight minute walk to the Swift Green Line station on Bothell-Everett Hwy at 153^rd Street. A sack lunch will be provided for those who register in advance.

To learn more, call (425) 948-7170 or e-mail millcreekadmin@mynorthshore.org and ask about the next Urban Hike.

Green Line, Green Spaces

Now that Swift Green Line is operational, you may have noticed a "green" area behind the northbound station on 128th St. SE at 3rd Ave. SE.

A Swift Green Line bus pulls into the northbound station on 128th St. SE at 3rd Ave. SE, just in front of a Native Growth Protection Area and wetlands.

At first glance, it appears to be just a bunch of wild brush, but every leaf, stone, log, and blade of grass was actually placed there for a specific purpose. It's a Native Growth Protection Area (NGPA) that is intended to filter and clean water runoff from 128th St. before it joins the nearby wetlands to the east, and, eventually, North Creek.

Runoff from 128th St. comes into the area via street-level storm drains, filters through the vegetation and soil, and eventually seeps through holes in a pipe buried a few feet underground. It should be a slow process that often leaves the area damp and wetland-ish, but three years ago, the NGPA -- and the wetlands it drains into -- was drying up and dying.

Snohomish County, which is responsible for these areas, granted Community Transit special permission to rebuild the NGPA at its own expense in order to expedite the process and have the work complete in time for the opening of Swift Green Line.

The Native Growth Protection Area under construction in January 2018, before the Swift station was built.

After months of heavy construction to replace the underground stormwater drainpipe it was time to re-plant the area with native flora.

That's where Curtis LaPierre comes in. He's a senior landscape architect with Otak, the engineering firm contracted by Community Transit to rebuild the NGPA.

"We started from scratch to create a constructed biofiltration rain garden," Curtis said.

Landscape architect Curtis LaPierre reviewing design plans for the site.

Curtis and his team designed the area to slope like a natural swale (shallow ditch) then added layers of gravel, mulch and bioretention soil specially formulated to help clean the water before it enters the underground pipe.

Flood plants -- sedges, grasses and bulrushes -- were planted on the bottom of the swale. These native plants will thrive in the wet, marshy ground.

Sedges, grasses and bulrushes thrive in wet soil.

At strategic locations about midway up the swale wall, Curtis placed several logs, what landscape architects call "large woody debris."

"They function like natural shorelines," Curtis explained. "They will only occasionally be underwater -- perfect for amphibians and insects and the like."

Several strategically placed logs will become homes for frogs, insects and other damp-loving fauna.

The top of the slopes feature flowering shrubs like salmonberry and snowberry, and native trees like vine maple, hemlock and Douglas fir. They provide stability to the slope and, eventually, a visual screen to the residents of the condominiums on the other side.

The next time you're at the northbound Swift Green Line station on 128th St. SE at 3rd Ave. SE, take a peek at the rain garden. It's beautiful and functional, helping to clean stormwater runoff and protect nearby wetlands and streams -- all part of what makes Swift Green Line green.

7 Facts You Didn't Know About Our New Swift Buses

In honor of our Swift Green Line opening this week, we are celebrating "Green Week" with a series of stories about our Swift service.

In four days, Community Transit Swift Blue Line will be joined by the Swift Green Line, a milestone for Snohomish County's Swift Bus Rapid Transit network.

If you're new to the idea of bus rapid transit and Swift, you can read about it here.

We also have more details about Swift Blue Line and Swift Green Line, but for this post, we're going to focus on seven facts about our Swift buses you may not know.

It can take up to 2 years to get a bus

But in this case, it took 19 months (from order to delivery) for one Swift bus. There can be an additional 30-60 days added to that timeline. Below is Bus #18710 back in November 2018, waiting to be equipped and branded with Swift decals and trim.

Sweet 16: The number of buses ordered for the Swift Green Line

16 new buses were ordered to serve the Swift Green Line. These buses may look a little different (seating arrangements, windshield, headlights, etc.), but they will have the same branding, colors and signage as our current Swift Blue Line buses. You'll see both bus models serving the Swift network.

Two for the Blue

Two additional buses were ordered to increase the frequencies on the Swift Blue Line-- they were received last summer and put into service September 2018.

Two Swift buses (the newer model is on the left.)
You'll see both models serving the Swift Blue and Swift Green Lines.

21 Run

There are 21 activities, from installations to inspections, completed on a Swift bus before it goes into service.

Before our buses hit the road, they are outfitted with technology, equipment and amenities:

1. Delivery inspection
2. Replace engine oil and filter
3. Replace differential oil
4. Check and adjust tire pressures
5. Re-torque wheel lug nuts
6. Lube suspension
7. Set-up and test DVR system
8. Verify programming
9. Commission Advanced Public Transportation System (APTS).
   (This is the technology that enables us to track our buses in Dispatch and share real-time information via BusFinder and data feeds.)
10. Perform fire suppression system service
11. Set-up and test HVAC system
12. Install bike racks
13. Install Mobile Access Router (GPS)
14. Install destination sign emergency arrow switch
15. Install convex mirror
16. Install interior decals
17. Install schedule holders
18. Install and program Traffic Signal Priority (TSP) system
19. Installation of Swift graphics and decals
20. Program and commission radio system
21. Install: (2) garbage cans; Wheel blocks; First aid kit; Seat belt cutter; Insurance card holder; Destination sign legend/holder; Good to Go Pass; T-Key; and Tire Chains

Gimme a (Disc) Brake

A new Swift bus awaits inspection at the Merrill Creek Bus Yard in Everett.

The new Swift buses have disc brakes, reflecting a current trend in heavy duty vehicles to improve stopping performance. The disc brake actuators take up some space under the floor, resulting in some of the seat configuration changes you'll see on the new Swift buses.

It can take up to four hours to install the Swift graphics on a bus (And that's with two installers!)

So there you have it-- 7 fun facts about our new Swift buses. Did you learn something new? What else would you like to know?

The Swift Green Line service officially kicks off at Noon on Sunday, March 24. Get the details at https://www.communitytransit.org/swiftgreen.

-->

Bringing You Home with Swift Bus Rapid Transit

Mina shares her story on the benefits of being a Swift rider

Bringing You Home with Swift from Community Transit on Vimeo.

Life is always on the move for Mina, an international student at Edmonds Community College. With different classes every day, and a busy social life, she needed a commute option that was inexpensive, flexible, and fast. She hopped on Swift and has been moving ever since.

Mina, who is from Mongolia, lives in Lynnwood with her brother. Every day she walks 15 minutes from her apartment to catch Swift Blue Line to the college where she studies Computer Science. Because Swift comes every 10 minutes, she never worries about a schedule. In just a few minutes the bus will arrive. Mina's commute is fast; just a quick 10 minute ride and she arrives at College Station.

Swift Blue Line is a bus rapid transit line that runs along Highway 99 between Aurora Village and Everett Station. Most of Mina's friends also use Swift to get to school and to support businesses along Highway 99. "We take the bus because we don't feel that cars are necessary since the bus comes to most of the area. We hang out, go to eat, go to karaoke."

Mina doesn't drive, and Uber is too expensive for her to use regularly. She doesn't mind since she feels safe and confident in Swift, "I don't have to worry about safety; it's really safe. And also I don't drive so I can study just while riding the bus, and I can hang out with my friends."

Want to get in on the Swift action? You're in luck! Our Swift network is expanding beyond Highway 99. Swift Green Line will open in March 2019 and will run from Canyon Park/Bothell through Mill Creek to the new Seaway Transit Center near Boeing/Paine Field. Swift Green Line will connect with Swift Blue Line at Highway 99 and Airport Road, creating the region's first bus rapid transit network for travel in South Snohomish County and beyond.

Swift, bringing more connections and more opportunities to keep you moving.

Bringing You Home: Community Transit Riders Share Their Stories

"I'm Community Transit. And I ride it."

For over 40 years, Community Transit has been honored to provide safe, reliable and friendly service to Snohomish County. We've come a long way in four decades! Our fleet has grown to include the Swift Blue Line, Washington State's first bus rapid transit line, Double Tall buses with big views and a small footprint, DART (Dial-a-Ride Transit), and Vanpool vehicles. Thank you to the people who make it possible for us to serve our community ... our riders. We are honored with the responsibility you have entrusted in us to take you out in the world each day, and to bring you home again.

We talked with some of our riders recently, and they had great stories about the surprising benefits of using our services. From commuters to students to seniors, they shared their stories of connection, empowerment and freedom. We're excited to share them with you. Look for these stories here on our blog, on our website, and on our social channels over the next few months. And feel free to share your stories with us, too! We'd love to hear them.

Bringing You Home from Community Transit on Vimeo.

Swift celebrates 7th Anniversary with big future plans

Ribbon cutting on the first Swift line in 2009

If you’re anything like me you like things quick. Unfortunately, sometimes getting around Snohomish County is anything but quick. That all changed when the first Bus Rapid Transit system in our state came along. 

On November 30, 2009 Community Transit’s Swift line was born. Swift was built with 15 stations, in each direction, along Highway 99 plus terminals at Everett Station and Aurora Village. Improvements have been made over the years and the final stop on the line was completed last January near Edmonds Community College.

How has Swift stacked up compared to our other routes? Well I like to call it the Russell Wilson of bus systems - the leader. Swift carries about 5,500 riders each weekday and more than 1.7 million a year. Weekends average near 3,000 riders per day as well. One in six of all Community Transit riders travel on Swift. The ease of riders paying at the bus stop prior to boarding gives it the efficiency and appeal of light rail, delivered faster and at a fraction of the cost. 

Swift’s first line got a new name last August as we unveiled ‘Swift Blue Line’. And Swift is getting even better when the Swift Green Line comes online. Thanks to federal money, construction on the Swift Green Line will begin in 2017 and wrap up in late 2018. By early 2019, Swift Green Line will begin service and have 17 stations in each direction between Canyon Park in Bothell and the Boeing/Paine Field area.

To get the Swift Green line moving there are three things that need to happen:

·        - The Seaway Transit Center will be constructed as the Swift Green Line's northern terminal and will be located on Seaway Blvd. and 75th Street in Everett across from Boeing's main entrance. 

·       -  Addition of lanes near the 128^th street and I-5 Bridge. Adding lanes on each side near the bridge will ease the congestion and get the bus through on time.

·        - Construction of 34 stations along the Swift Green Line route. 

Unveiling of Swift Green and Blue Line names in Aug. 2016

Snohomish County is continuing to grow, and with 65,000 jobs in the Boeing/Paine Field vicinity, and 25,000 jobs in the Canyon Park area, we need fast, frequent new bus service between the two areas and Swift Green Line gets that done.

More big plans are ahead with Swift as in 2023 Swift Orange Line will connect with Link Light Rail at Lynnwood Transit Center, covering those key east/west corridors. We know Snohomish County is a great place to live, work and play. We are glad that Swift is helping keep it that way. Happy seventh anniversary to Swift.

Some Swift riders joined in on the #mannequinchallenge earlier this month! Watch below:



***Sean Christensen is a Public Information Specialist for Community Transit. He joined the company in October 2016. Sean comes from a background in media, athletics, communications, and production.***

Community Transit "Moves" Me, With the Service I Need

For forty years, Community Transit has been privileged to serve the communities of Snohomish County. We work hard to make sure our customers have the connections they need to get to the important things in their life. Each weekday we provide nearly 40,000 trips to people who rely on us to connect them with jobs, school, healthcare, and home. That's up to 10 million riders each year!

Community Transit is committed to investing in the transportation demands of Snohomish County, one of the fastest-growing and dynamic counties in the state. Thanks to local support, we have recently expanded service to include two new routes that provide more east-west bus connections, and new service along Highway 9 to create a north-south transit corridor. We've also added new commuter trips to downtown Seattle and the University of Washington. Even our Dial-A-Ride Transportation (DART) has expanded to include new service and hours along some routes.

And we're continuing to grow! Plans for our Swift Green Line bus rapid transit are well underway and will connect the Boeing/Paine Field aerospace manufacturing area in Everett with the Canyon Park technology center in Bothell. This corridor intersects with our existing Swift Blue Line and serves high-density housing and nearby concentrated jobs. We hope to begin construction on 34 Swift stations in 2017, with a goal of beginning operations in 2019.

Thank you for trusting us to "Move" you with the service you need.

Transit moves me, with the service I need. from Community Transit on Vimeo.

Swift Bus Rapid Transit Turns 6

Riders love Swift, especially on the weekend!

This week marks the sixth anniversary of Swift bus rapid transit in Snohomish County.

The state’s first BRT line has become the cornerstone of Community Transit's bus system, carrying about 5,500 riders each weekday and more than 1.5 million a year. One in six of all Community Transit riders, or about 16 percent of the agency’s ridership is on Swift.

But on weekends, ah, on weekends these numbers are much more impressive!

Nearly 3,800 riders take Swift every Saturday, which is 30 percent of all riders. With Sunday service restored, there are about 2,800 riders boarding Swift every Sunday, or 33 percent of all riders.

The fact is that Swift has proven to be a very convenient way to get around. Pretty good for a six year old! And soon, Swift will have a baby brother (or sister – we won’t know until 2018).

When the next Swift line is up and running, we will have an established BRT network in Snohomish County. With a convenient transfer point at Highway 99 and Airport Road, there will be fast, frequent service across a major part of the county.

Before long, a whole Swift family will be serving the entire county. A third line is already in the conceptual stage to connect with Link light rail at the Lynnwood Transit Center. Our long-range plan calls for eventual Swift service north to Smokey Point and east to Highway 9.

In coming weeks, all Swift buses will get a new decal reminding us of what’s to come. The decal will say, “We’re building a network of Swift lines with fast, easy connections.”

For now, there is one more improvement to the original Swift line coming soon. The new College Station at 204th Street will provide more convenient southbound access to Edmonds Community College. Construction of this final station on the first Swift line is underway and it will be open when students return from the holiday break.

Happy anniversary, Swift!

Transportation Bills Moving in Olympia

Today, the Washington State Senate took action on a transportation funding bill that would raise the gas tax to pay for roads, bridges and transit improvements over the next 16 years. The bill passed 27-22 amid objections from both Democrats and Republicans about various parts of the package.

The Senate bill contains a local option provision that would allow Community Transit to ask voters in its service area to raise the local sales tax to support increased transit service.

HB 1393 also accomplishes the same "local option" for Community Transit. That bill passed out of the House Committee on Finance last week and is awaiting a floor vote.

These items are important to the future of transit service in Snohomish County. While Community Transit is set to bring back Sunday and holiday bus service this June, current projections would see only 45 percent of the service that was cut during the recession return by 2018.

New revenue generated by a local option could help fund a second line of Swift bus rapid transit, increased commuter service to downtown Seattle and UW, more frequent bus trips throughout Snohomish County all week and late-night bus service.

Increasing demand for transit service far beyond what is now provided is a main reason why various supporters have spoekn in favor of Community Transit's local option, including Workforce Snohomish, Associated Students of the University of Washington, the Puget Sound Regional Council, Economic Alliance Snohomish County, United Way and the Transportation Choices Coalition.

Stay tuned for further legislative updates as these bills advance.

It's Lovely Weather for a Swift Ride Together With You

In the spirit of the holidays, celebrating Swift's 5th Anniversary and, of course, Santa Swift, here's a little ditty about a bus rapid transit system near and dear to Community Transit's heart, sung to the tune of Sleigh Ride.

Santa Swift, aka Swift Coach Operator Phil, has the holiday spirit.

Swift Ride 

Just hear those Swift signs chiming
Departure time's glowing it’s “Due”
Come on it’s lovely weather
For a Swift ride together with you 

Outside the traffic’s building
Lone drivers are crying “Boo Hoo”
Come on it’s lovely weather
For a Swift ride together with you 

Swipe your card, buy a ticket, get aboard-- let’s go
Let’s look at the glow
Of storefronts blurring (Swift's not slow) 

Swipe your card, buy a ticket, get aboard-- Swift's planned
We're in capable hands
It's gliding along—can’t go wrong
Swift's the fastest BRT in the land

Just hear those Swift signs chiming
Departure time's glowing it’s “Due”
Come on it’s lovely weather
for a Swift ride together with you

Has this inspired you to create an altered holiday classic of your own? Share your lyrics with us in the comments, but let’s be family friendly lest Santa give you a lump of coal. :)

A Day in the Life of Swift's Ambassadors

10 hours on your feet. 10 seconds between buses, hopping on and off. More than 12,000 average fare checks a month.*

Welcome to the world of the Swift Ambassador.

Recently, I shadowed two of our three Swift Ambassadors to get a glimpse of their workday on Community Transit’s highest ridership route. This, and an interview or two gave me a taste of what the job is like, along with some tips for riding on Swift shared below.

"Don’t Forget to Wear Comfortable shoes!”

That’s the advice I got from Will and Mario when we planned our meet-up at the Swift station on northbound 148^th and Hwy 99. While I wasn’t planning on wearing high heels (geez, guys, give me some credit), it’s sound advice whenever you’re taking public transportation.

For three hours, Mario and I got on and off the bus at several Swift stations between 148^th and Casino Road (between North Lynnwood and South Everett). Fare enforcement probably comes to mind when you think about what Ambassadors do, but there is more to their job than that.

“Swift Ambassadors are 'Customer Service First',” says Mario. “Under that umbrella is fare enforcement, payment education, etc.”

On this particular day:

Ambassadors & Transit Police often work together on the Swift line.

• Each station we visited got a quick once over to make sure ticket machines and ORCA scanners were up and running. If there’s garbage, it’s picked up. It’s rare to see a messy Swift station. Now you know why.
• Swift stations are notorious for serving as shopping cart parking. Those had to be moved to a safer spot so at not to roll out onto traffic.
• Hugs. As we were riding northbound and picked up folks at the 112^th St. Station, a regular passenger recognized Mario and gave him a big hug hello as she boarded. She was a tiny, older lady wearing a pink baseball hat giving a big ole bear hug to a man almost two feet taller than she.
• There’s a learning curve when it comes to using Swift for the first time. A passenger at the Airport Road Station was a little lost and needed direction on where to go. When you are a Swift Ambassador, you are a walking BusPlus book. A friendly one, at that.
• I witnessed firsthand the friendly interaction and the smooth handoff between Ambassadors and Transit Police. Whether a fare hasn’t been paid or a passenger has an outstanding warrant (you’d be surprised how many our Ambassadors have uncovered when doing a fare check), passengers are treated with courtesy and respect.

In their own words

On what they like most about their job.

“Some might be surprised, but the best part of my job, honestly, is the people. While a few angry or disgruntled passengers might make the day seem a little longer, the vast majority are decent people who appreciate the ride and the work we do,” – Ambassador Nick

“I like the overall diversity of the passengers I encounter daily onboard Swift.” – Ambassador Mario

On their most rewarding experience on the job.

“My most rewarding experience was when someone heeds advice and makes a positive change in their life—and then comes back to give thanks for the good advice.” – Ambassador Will

“I helped a gentleman reach his destination and family—he did not speak English, only Chinese. He was alone and had just arrived from Texas; he had never been to Western Washington. Through mutual trust and communicating with our hands, I was able to ensure he reached his destination. He and his family were grateful; it was really rewarding!” – Ambassador Mario

What misconception about your job would you like to clear up?

“It’s not personal! I’m employed to check the fares of every passenger on every Swift bus I board. If you haven’t paid and I ask you to exit the bus and buy a ticket, I don’t think you are a bad person or form any judgment about you-- I just want you to pay the fare.” – Ambassador Nick

And now for the tips

• Have your fare ready.
• “Be patient and stay calm. It can be annoying when you are trying to buy a ticket and the bus shows up before you have completed your transaaction. Swift is fast, frequent service for a reason. The next bus will be along sooner than you expect.” – Ambassador Will
• The ORCA Card makes paying the fare easy. One tap of the card on the reader and you’re good to go. I had trouble getting it to read correctly because I was failing to tap the card in the center of the reader. I finally got it down after the third boarding. Nothing like that “read error” beep and an approaching bus to get you to do it right the first time!
• ORCA Card Tip from Swift Ambassador Will: if you leave your Swift card against the reader, the information on the screen will remain until you remove your card. Note: this only works on transactions where the screen doesn’t tell you to “Please try again” or “Insufficient Funds."
• Don’t skip paying your fare. Just. Don’t. After five years riding Swift, the Ambassadors have fine-tuned their methods of visually identifying fare evaders. I won’t expose their methods here, but I can assure you there is no smoke and mirrors used. Just good old-fashioned observation, legwork and getting to know our Swift riders.
• Don’t be offended if you’re asked to show proof of payment. If you happen to be on the bus when an Ambassador boards, everyone on board will be asked to show their ORCA card, receipt or reduced fare pass— it doesn’t matter if you’re a regular Swift rider and you think the Ambassadors should “know” you. Fare enforcement is just part of the job.
• Have your fare ready. 

“Some of the riders think that when I’m checking their fare, I am suspecting them and/or accusing them of stealing. This could be farther from the truth! It is my job to check fares of all passengers," says, Ambassador Will.

So, there you have it-- a Swift glimpse of an Ambassador's day. Are there other Community Transit jobs you've been curious about? Let us know in the comments! It may become our next blog post.

* Average monthly fare checks conducted by all three Swift Ambassadors