171-554: Community Transit (CT) is the public transit authority of Snohomish County, Washington , United States, in the Seattle metropolitan area . It operates local bus , paratransit and vanpool service within Snohomish County, excluding the city of Everett . CT is publicly funded, financed through sales taxes , federal grants, and farebox revenue , with an annual operating budget of $ 231.6 million as of 2024. In 2023,
342-606: A bond issue in 1961 to fund construction of a permanent city hall, which opened in October 1962 with 17,800 square feet (1,650 m ) of space for the city government, police department, and fire department . In 1964, Mountlake Terrace approved a bond issue solely for parks, which was later used to construct the Recreation Pavilion in 1968. Interstate 5 opened on February 3, 1965, providing faster access from bedroom communities in Snohomish County to Seattle. On
513-407: A council–manager form of government. The city council meets twice a month and has seven part-time members who are elected at-large in staggered four-year terms. The city manager is appointed by the city council to act as chief administrator of the city government and appoints the executives of city departments and programs. The city council also selects one of its members to serve as mayor ,
684-467: A fishing pier , swimming areas, sports fields, and Edmount Island . The Nile Shrine had built their own golf course on the east side of the lake in 1968 and opened it to the public in 1996, which drew people from the municipal course. The park is adjacent to the Interurban Trail , an inter-city hiking and cycling trail developed in the late 1990s that travels between Seattle and Everett on
855-454: A guideway . This is an uncommon mode of transportation (excluding elevators ) due to the complexity of automation. A fully implemented system might provide most of the convenience of individual automobiles with the efficiency of public transit. The crucial innovation is that the automated vehicles carry just a few passengers, turn off the guideway to pick up passengers (permitting other PRT vehicles to continue at full speed), and drop them off to
1026-408: A lazy river , racquetball courts, and an indoor gymnasium. The facility was renovated in 2003 and has been the subject of replacement or expansion plans that were not realized. Terrace Creek Park is the city's largest, at 60 acres (24 ha), and includes hiking trails , open fields, and a disc golf course. It is located adjacent to the Recreation Pavilion and straddles the boundary between
1197-594: A municipal court for Mountlake Terrace's police cases. The countywide Sno-Isle Libraries system oversees Mountlake Terrace's library , while the Edmonds School District operates public schools in the city. At the federal level, Mountlake Terrace is part of the 1st congressional district , represented by Democrat Suzan DelBene . The district encompasses parts of Snohomish and King counties between Arlington and Bellevue that generally lie east of Interstate 5. The city had previously been part of
1368-490: A percent for art program in the 1980s, funding arts projects from community groups and individuals for city projects. The municipal art collection is maintained by the Arts Advisory Commission. Mountlake Terrace is home to several bronze sculptures , including a pair of black bears cast in bronze at the library and a firefighter statue at a fire station . The Arts Advisory Commission and Friends of
1539-570: A "lack of communication" between the three agencies. The county agency formally disbanded on December 31, 1994, replaced by the Joint Regional Policy Committee (JRPC) that formed four years prior to coordinate transit planning for the entire Puget Sound region . A regional transit agency was formed in 1993 under the JRPC, organizing a $ 6.7 billion (equivalent to $ 13.4 billion in 2024) plan for regional transit that
1710-507: A 27,000-hour expansion, representing 20 percent of the 2010 reduction, funded by recovering sales tax revenue and a 25-cent increase in fares the following month. The agency was given approval from the state legislature in July 2015 to increase sales taxes by an additional 0.3%, dependent on voter approval via a ballot measure during the November 2015 election that was eventually won, to fund
1881-543: A body of water. A foot-passenger ferry with many stops is sometimes called a water bus . Ferries form a part of the public transport systems of many waterside cities and islands, allowing direct transit between points at a capital cost much lower than bridges or tunnels, though at a lower speed. Ship connections of much larger distances (such as over long distances in water bodies like the Mediterranean Sea ) may also be called ferry services. A report published by
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#17327917886092052-438: A closed elementary school that was also leased to a private school , but was determined to be too small to serve the community. The library building, located adjacent to Veterans Memorial Park, was opened on July 29, 1988, at a cost of $ 1.6 million (equivalent to $ 3.56 million in 2023 dollars). The city's public schools are part of the Edmonds School District , which serves most of South Snohomish County, including
2223-640: A day, charging a base fare of 20 cents (equivalent to $ 1.00 in 2024). Early on, the busiest local line was Route R14, accounting for 21 percent of system ridership in the first three months, running from the Edmonds waterfront to Lynnwood and the Boeing Everett Factory . The agency acquired its first federal funding from the Urban Mass Transportation Administration for the 1978 fiscal year , to be used on
2394-420: A decline in public transport usage. A number of sources attribute this trend to the rise in popularity of remote work, ride-sharing services, and car loans being relatively cheap across many countries. Major cities such as Toronto, Paris, Chicago, and London have seen this decline and have attempted to intervene by cutting fares and encouraging new modes of transportation, such as e-scooters and e-bikes. Because of
2565-444: A dedicated Mountlake Terrace edition from 1958 to 2009; it was owned by The Everett Herald and later folded into a regional newspaper before ceasing publication in 2012. MLTnews , a local blog , was founded in 2009 and acquired by My Edmonds News in 2012. The city's public library has been managed by the regional Sno-Isle Libraries system since it was annexed in 1985. The former city-operated library had opened in 1976 at
2736-486: A fare of $ 2 for qualifying customers within 0.75 miles (1.21 km) of local CT routes during regular operating hours. As of 2014, CT has 4,100 registered DART users that take an average of 700 trips per day. A separate dial-a-ride service, Zip, launched in October 2022 to serve the Alderwood Mall and Lynnwood area. It operates similar to ride-hailing service with fixed fares (including payment via ORCA cards) and
2907-552: A few stops per city. These services may also be international. High-speed rail is passenger trains operating significantly faster than conventional rail—typically defined as at least 200 kilometres per hour (120 mph). The most predominant systems have been built in Europe and East Asia, and compared with air travel, offer long-distance rail journeys as quick as air services, have lower prices to compete more effectively and use electricity instead of combustion. Urban rail transit
3078-577: A fleet of double-decker buses used on commuter routes from park and rides to Downtown Seattle , named the "Double Tall" in reference to the double tall cup size at Starbucks , a coffee chain founded and headquartered in Seattle. The Alexander Dennis Enviro500 was introduced during a one-year pilot project in 2007, on lease from Alexander Dennis for $ 15,000 per month. The 42-foot-long (13 m), 14-foot-high (4 m) Enviro500 seated 77 to 81, with standing room for 20 additional passengers, replacing
3249-567: A fleet of 282 accessible transit buses, 52 paratransit vehicles, and 362 vanpool vans, maintained at two bus bases in Everett. Service is provided year-round at oiver 1,600 stops on 33 routes throughout the county public transportation benefit area (PTBA). These include three Swift Bus Rapid Transit lines, commuter routes that connect with Link light rail , and service to regional Sound Transit facilities. CT also operates several Sound Transit Express routes within Snohomish County and on
3420-696: A fleet of 696 vehicles that are maintained at its operating bases at Kasch Park and Merrill Creek. The fleet of 257 fixed-route buses is generally composed of 30-foot (9.1 m) and 40-foot (12 m) vehicles, as well as specialized 60-foot (18 m) articulated buses and 42-foot (13 m) double-decker buses . Buses typically are powered by diesel engines , with the exception of the 39 hybrid diesel–electric buses used on Swift Bus Rapid Transit and some local routes. Community Transit expects to purchase 55 to 60 new buses by 2027 to support increased transit service and replace older vehicles. The agency began testing several battery electric buses in early 2023 and
3591-519: A largely ceremonial role that includes presiding over council meetings, for a two-year term. Jeff Niten has served as the city manager of Mountlake Terrace since his appointment in April 2023. Councilmember and realtor Kyoko Matsumoto Wright was appointed as mayor in December 2018 to finish the term of the late Jerry Smith. The city council also appoints citizens to serve on seven advisory boards :
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#17327917886093762-451: A local firefighter , began organizing an incorporation campaign in 1953 after waiting a day for the sheriff to respond to an attempted burglary at his home. He first proposed an annexation into Edmonds at a city council meeting in June 1953, where he was rejected by the mayor but approached by a city councilmember who suggested incorporating as a separate city. An incorporation committee
3933-506: A low-income fare as part of the regional ORCA Lift program. Youth fares were made free with valid ID on September 1, 2022, as part of a state grant program that lasts until 2039. The regional ORCA card was introduced as an integrated smart card for transit agencies in the Puget Sound region on April 20, 2009, allowing users to load monthly passes and value through an e-purse web interface. The card also allowed free transfers within
4104-559: A merger were passed through the House Transportation Committee, but failed to gain support elsewhere because of successful lobbying from the City of Everett. State voters approved Referendum 49 in November 1998, including state motor-vehicle excise tax revenue for city-run transit in Everett and Yakima . While Everett Transit gained $ 4.5 million (equivalent to $ 8.41 million in 2024) in new annual funding, CT
4275-736: A new Swift line as well as local service expansion. The second Swift route, the Green Line , opened on March 24, 2019, and cost $ 73 million to construct. It connects the Seaway Transit Center, a new facility next to the Boeing Everett Factory, to Mill Creek and Canyon Park in Bothell. Following the opening of Northgate station on October 2, 2021, the University District routes were truncated to
4446-549: A permanent water and sewer system. The early homes in the neighborhood were renovated and expanded with financial assistance from the Federal Housing Administration , which also encouraged neighborhood improvements. In 1955, the city annexed 150 acres (61 ha), bringing its population to over 5,400, opened its own post office , and established a police department with five full-time personnel. The Edmonds School District built several schools for
4617-480: A position held by Ric Ilgenfritz since January 2021. CT adopted an operating budget of $ 133.2 million for 2015; 65 to 70 percent of revenue is provided by a 0.9 percent sales tax within the PTBA, the maximum authorized for transit agencies under state law, while a combination of fares and federal funding comprise the remainder. The agency employs 579 full-time equivalent persons, divided into eight departments. CT
4788-615: A private carrier was opposed by both Metro and the Amalgamated Transit Union , but the introduction of 49 air conditioned coaches by ATE led to a 25 percent increase in ridership by January 1987. Commuter express service via Interstate 405 from CT park and rides in South Snohomish County to the Eastside cities of Bellevue and Redmond began in 1988 and 1990, respectively, while Seattle service
4959-676: A railway with freight trains . A rapid transit railway system (also called a metro, underground, heavy rail, or subway) operates in an urban area with high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Heavy rail is a high-capacity form of rail transit, with 4 to 10 units forming a train, and can be the most expensive form of transit to build. Modern heavy rail systems are mostly driverless, which allows for higher frequencies and less maintenance cost. Systems are able to transport large numbers of people quickly over short distances with little land use. Variations of rapid transit include people movers , small-scale light metro and
5130-445: A result, one shopping center took 20 months to reopen and the other was closed permanently. The city government opposed the construction of a strip club in the 1990s and debated a comprehensive rezoning of the town center to support traditional retail and commercial uses. Mountlake Terrace rebuilt its high school in 1991 and opened a variety of recreational facilities by the end of the decade, including an indoor ice-skating rink and
5301-557: A second round-trip in June 2005 and a third round-trip in September 2007, while an infill station opened at Mukilteo in May 2008, also bringing additional service in the form of a fourth round-trip the following September. An expansion of the Link light rail system in the "Sound Transit 2" package was approved in November 2008, including 54% of southwestern Snohomish County voters, funding
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5472-480: A section of the multi-use Interurban Trail , alongside plans for two casinos. The city government began planning for a redeveloped town center in the early 2000s, passing zoning regulations to spur the construction of mixed-use residential and commercial. The town center plan, which was adopted in 2007, allowed for building heights of up to seven stories, encouraged architectural variety, and required smaller setbacks from sidewalks. The changes were dependent on
5643-480: A set of trolley poles for mobility. Online Electric Vehicles are buses that run on a conventional battery, but are recharged frequently at certain points via underground wires. Certain types of buses, styled after old-style streetcars, are also called trackless trolleys, but are built on the same platforms as a typical diesel , CNG , or hybrid bus; these are more often used for tourist rides than commuting and tend to be privately owned. Passenger rail transport
5814-412: A single (or return) trip, or valid within a certain area for a period of time (see transit pass ). The fare is based on the travel class, either depending on the traveled distance, or based on zone pricing . The tickets may have to be shown or checked automatically at the station platform or when boarding, or during the ride by a conductor . Operators may choose to control all riders, allowing sale of
5985-413: A smaller suburban or town center. The stations are often combined with shuttle bus or park and ride systems. Frequency may be up to several times per hour, and commuter rail systems may either be part of the national railway or operated by local transit agencies. Common forms of commuter rail employ either diesel electric locomotives, or electric multiple unit trains. Some commuter train lines share
6156-574: A station and exchange passengers. There is often a potential conflict between this objective and optimising the utilisation of vehicles and drivers. The main sources of financing are ticket revenue, government subsidies and advertising. The percentage of revenue from passenger charges is known as the farebox recovery ratio . A limited amount of income may come from land development and rental income from stores and vendors, parking fees, and leasing tunnels and rights-of-way to carry fiber optic communication lines. Most—but not all—public transport requires
6327-422: A station at Mountlake Terrace Transit Center, was approved by voters in 2008 and opened in 2024. The light rail extension triggered an update to the town center in 2019 that would allow for building heights of 12 stories and encouraging walkable development with smaller blocks . A strip of land along Interstate 5 near the transit center, including the former Evergreen Elementary School, is being redeveloped into
6498-462: A study commissioned by Community Transit. As a result of the failed mergers, CT proposed truncating its routes at Everett city limits, but ultimately decided to provide limited-stop service on its routes through Everett to the newly constructed Everett Station in 2002. Community Transit and Everett Transit signed their first partnership agreement in 2007, with Everett helping fund Swift bus rapid transit through its service area and allowing CT to operate
6669-444: A three-building housing complex with 600 apartments and retail space that will open in stages from 2020 to 2026. The city hall building was permanently closed on July 18, 2009, a year after a ceiling collapse in the city council chambers revealed structural issues and hidden asbestos . The city government temporarily relocated to various office spaces in the city before moving into an interim city hall at an office park. The building
6840-431: A tram line. Light rail lines are, thus, essentially modernized interurbans . Unlike trams, light rail trains are often longer and have one to four cars per train. Somewhere between light and heavy rail in terms of carbon footprint , monorail systems usually use overhead single tracks, either mounted directly on the track supports or put in an overhead design with the train suspended. Monorail systems are used throughout
7011-546: A two-hour period between transit agencies of equal value, with the difference for higher fare subtracted from the e-purse or prompting for cash. While initially available for no fee, effective March 1, 2010, a $ 5 cost was added when ordering a standard adult or youth ORCA card. CT removed their paper transfers on January 1, 2010, after the ORCA card made them obsolete. Community Transit also offers monthly passes through local higher education institutions, including Edmonds College ,
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7182-661: A year of construction, Community Transit debuted the first bus rapid transit line in Washington , Swift . The service replaced Route 100 on State Route 99 between Aurora Village in Shoreline and Everett Station, featuring 12-minute headways , off-board fare payment and transit signal priority . The Great Recession of the late 2000s and subsequent loss of an estimated $ 180 million (equivalent to $ 252 million in 2024) in sales tax revenue in Snohomish County forced CT to cut service by 15 percent in June 2010, including
7353-495: Is Umpqua Bank , which absorbed Sterling Bank and its Mountlake Terrace-based subsidiary Golf Savings Bank. Mountlake Terrace's businesses had $ 223 million in total taxable retail sales in 2016, growing by 46 percent over a five-year period. The city has several shopping centers that are concentrated in neighborhood centers and the Town Center area, which is proposed to become a mixed-use district. The Town Center
7524-659: Is a system of transport for passengers by group travel systems available for use by the general public unlike private transport , typically managed on a schedule, operated on established routes, and that may charge a posted fee for each trip. There is no rigid definition of which kinds of transport are included, and air travel is often not thought of when discussing public transport—dictionaries use wording like "buses, trains, etc." Examples of public transport include city buses , trolleybuses , trams (or light rail ) and passenger trains , rapid transit (metro/subway/underground, etc.) and ferries . Public transport between cities
7695-507: Is a term used for buses operating on dedicated right-of-way, much like a light rail. Coach services use coaches (long-distance buses) for suburb-to-CBD or longer-distance transportation. The vehicles are normally equipped with more comfortable seating, a separate luggage compartment, video and possibly also a toilet. They have higher standards than city buses, but a limited stopping pattern. Trolleybuses are electrically powered buses that receive power from overhead power line by way of
7866-496: Is a transit technology that moves people in motor-less, engine-less vehicles that are propelled by a steel cable. There are two sub-groups of CPT— gondola lifts and cable cars (railway) . Gondola lifts are supported and propelled from above by cables, whereas cable cars are supported and propelled from below by cables. While historically associated with usage in ski resorts , gondola lifts are now finding increased consumption and utilization in many urban areas—built specifically for
8037-545: Is administered by a nine-member board, composed of two members of the Snohomish County Council , two elected officials from PTBA cities with populations of 30,000 or more, three elected officials from cities with between 10,000 and 30,000, and two elected officials from cities with less than 10,000, that meets monthly at their headquarters in Everett . The board is led by a non-voting chief executive officer,
8208-421: Is an all-encompassing term for various types of local rail systems, such as these examples trams , light rail , rapid transit , people movers , commuter rail , monorail , suspension railways and funiculars . Commuter rail is part of an urban area's public transport. It provides faster services to outer suburbs and neighboring satellite cities . Trains stop at train stations that are located to serve
8379-427: Is available to all members of the public; trips are requested through an app or phone call. It was originally a one-year pilot until being made a permanent service in October 2023. Similar microtransit services are under consideration for various cities in Snohomish County as part of Community Transit's long-range plan. Fares on Community Transit buses are priced into three groups: adult, youth, and reduced. Adult fare
8550-442: Is charged for passengers between the ages of 19 and 64, youth fare is charged for passengers 18 years old or younger, and the reduced fare is charged for passengers over the age of 65 or those with disabilities or Medicare card holders . Fares also change based on service level, with local service within Snohomish County costing the least and commuter service to Seattle being more expensive. On July 1, 2019, Community Transit introduced
8721-484: Is common with roads for automobiles. Interchanges are locations where passengers can switch from one public transport route to another. This may be between vehicles of the same mode (like a bus interchange), or e.g. between bus and train. It can be between local and intercity transport (such as at a central station or airport). Timetables (or 'schedules' in North American English ) are provided by
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#17327917886098892-610: Is dominated by airlines , coaches , and intercity rail . High-speed rail networks are being developed in many parts of the world. Most public transport systems run along fixed routes with set embarkation/disembarkation points to a prearranged timetable, with the most frequent services running to a headway (e.g.: "every 15 minutes" as opposed to being scheduled for any specific time of the day). However, most public transport trips include other modes of travel, such as passengers walking or catching bus services to access train stations. Share taxis offer on-demand services in many parts of
9063-430: Is especially valuable in cases where there are capacity problems for private transport. Investments in infrastructure are expensive and make up a substantial part of the total costs in systems that are new or expanding. Once built, the infrastructure will require operating and maintenance costs, adding to the total cost of public transport. Sometimes governments subsidize infrastructure by providing it free of charge, just as
9234-462: Is headquartered at their Cascade Administration Building at 2312 W Casino Road in the Paine Field industrial area of South Everett, located south of the Boeing Everett Factory . The 87,065-square-foot (8,088.6 m) Merrill Creek operations building opened in 1997 and is the primary bus base for the agency's fleet of buses and vans. Community Transit operates fixed bus routes throughout
9405-596: Is home to several major retailers and restaurants, including the Diamond Knot Brewpub and Double DD Meats, among the oldest surviving businesses in the city. Several office parks and industrial buildings are located on the 220th Street Southwest corridor northwest of the Town Center, including the Premera headquarters and other healthcare employers. Mountlake Terrace is the seventh largest city in Snohomish County by population, with 21,286 residents as of
9576-542: Is on the southern border of the county, beyond which lies the cities of Shoreline and Lake Forest Park in King County . The city limits are generally defined to the west by Hall Creek and the Interurban Trail , separating it from Edmonds ; to the north by 212th Street Southwest and Lynnwood ; and to the east by 39th Avenue West and Brier . According to the United States Census Bureau ,
9747-656: Is reasonably comfortable (seats, toilets, services), and can thus be scheduled and used pleasurably, productively or for (overnight) rest. Chauffeured movement is enjoyed by many people when it is relaxing, safe, but not too monotonous. Waiting, interchanging, stops and holdups, for example due to traffic or for security, are discomforting. Jet lag is a human constraint discouraging frequent rapid long-distance east–west commuting, favoring modern telecommunications and VR technologies. An airline provides scheduled service with aircraft between airports. Air travel has high speeds, but incurs large waiting times before and after travel, and
9918-502: Is staged during the last weekend of July as part of the regional Seafair . It includes a parade, live music, a 5K run , vehicle shows, a carnival, and a fireworks display. The festival was established in 1993 by the city government ahead of a 40th anniversary celebration and is run by volunteers with support from the city. In 2017, the Tour de Terrace and its associated events in July attracted 70,000 visitors. The city government adopted
10089-444: Is the conveyance of passengers by means of wheeled vehicles specially designed to run on railways. Trains allow high capacity at most distance scales, but require track , signalling , infrastructure and stations to be built and maintained resulting in high upfront costs. Intercity rail is long-haul passenger services that connect multiple urban areas. They have few stops, and aim at high average speeds, typically only making one of
10260-721: Is therefore often only feasible over longer distances or in areas where a lack of surface infrastructure makes other modes of transport impossible. Bush airlines work more similarly to bus stops; an aircraft waits for passengers and takes off when the aircraft is full. Bus services use buses on conventional roads to carry numerous passengers on shorter journeys. Buses operate with low capacity (compared with trams or trains), and can operate on conventional roads, with relatively inexpensive bus stops to serve passengers. Therefore, buses are commonly used in smaller cities, towns, and rural areas, and for shuttle services supplementing other means of transit in large cities. Bus rapid transit (BRT)
10431-510: The 2010 U.S. census , there were 19,909 people, 8,192 households, and 4,891 families living in the city. The population density was 4,903.7 inhabitants per square mile (1,893.3/km ). There were 8,602 housing units at an average density of 2,118.7 per square mile (818.0/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 71.7% White, 4.3% African American, 1.1% Native American, 11.2% Asian, 0.8% Pacific Islander, 4.9% from other races, and 6.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.5% of
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#173279178860910602-399: The 2020 U.S. census . The city grew to a population of over 16,000 within 15 years of incorporating, but has remained mostly stable since then, with a jump in the 1980s and a small decline in the 2000s that resulted in school closures. The area was originally developed with single-family homes , but newer buildings include multi-family housing and denser residential development. As of
10773-428: The 2nd congressional district until 2022. At the state level, Mountlake Terrace is part of the 32nd legislative district , which also includes Lynnwood, Shoreline , Woodway , and portions of Edmonds and Seattle. The city is also part of the Snohomish County Council 's 4th district, which also includes Brier, northern Bothell, and Mill Creek. Mountlake Terrace has an annual festival, known as Tour de Terrace, that
10944-499: The Edmonds School District and privately owned recreation spaces to host events and activities for residents. The public and private parks have a total of 14 baseball fields, 13 soccer fields, 19 playgrounds , 15 tennis courts , and 4 indoor basketball courts . The main community center in the Mountlake Terrace is the Recreation Pavilion, which opened on November 26, 1968, and includes several swimming pools ,
11115-548: The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the mid-1990s of Ed's Transmission, a transmission shop in Everett used by the agency for bus parts. Detectives from the FBI and Snohomish County Sheriff seized records from both parties and began a two-month audit of Community Transit management. The auditors released a report that criticized the management style of Executive Director Ken Graska and his department heads, leading to
11286-506: The Interstate 405 corridor. CT began operation as SCPTBA Public Transit on October 4, 1976, four months after voters approved a ballot initiative to establish and fund a new transit system—the third such attempt to create a PTBA. Renamed Community Transit in 1979, the agency expanded service in its first decades of existence, later taking over King County Metro commuter routes to Seattle in 1989 and adding several cities into its PTBA in
11457-581: The Puget Sound Power Company , which were later absorbed by Greyhound . Two previous attempts to establish a bus system, under the Snohomish County Transportation Authority (SNOTRAN) in 1974, were rejected by voters from the entirety of Snohomish County. Heavy opposition came from the residents of Everett because of the high sales tax rate and planned absorption of Everett Transit , acquired by
11628-643: The Snohomish people , who primarily settled along the Puget Sound and used inland areas for seasonal hunting and foraging . In 1862, Puget Mill Company acquired 17,000 acres (6,900 ha) in the newly-formed county, including the thickly-forested plateau where modern-day Mountlake Terrace sits and the adjacent Lake McAleer . The land was logged by 1900 and was later subdivided into 10-acre (4.0 ha) chicken ranches , which were sold to farmers. Judge Richard A. Ballinger purchased Lake McAleer in 1901 and renamed it to Lake Ballinger for his father, later leaving
11799-710: The Tulalip Indian Reservation west of Marysville. During the same year, CT awarded its $ 31.8 million (equivalent to $ 60.4 million in 2024) commuter service contract to Grosvenor Bus Lines, which would later fold into First Transit , replacing their first subcontractor, Ryder /ATE Management. The agency introduced the first low-floor articulated buses in the United States into its fleet in 1999, purchasing 17 60-foot-long (18 m) buses from New Flyer to improve accessibility for older and disabled riders. Service improvements throughout
11970-537: The University of Washington , Cascadia College , and the Lynnwood Campus of Central Washington University . Dial-a-ride transportation, a type of paratransit service operated by Community Transit, has a flat fare of $ 2.50 without discounts or separate categories. ORCA cards are not accepted on DART, replaced by tickets and monthly passes for frequent users. As of December 2023, Community Transit has
12141-633: The Washington State Department of Transportation and maintained by Community Transit and other service providers. In addition to bus service, CT operates a vanpool program with a fleet of 366 vans originating from the Kasch Park operating base in Everett . The fleet comes in configurations with 7, 12, or 15 seats, with two special vans equipped with wheelchair lifts . Community Transit reports that there are 361 active vanpools using their service, providing 908,488 rides in 2015,
12312-419: The extension of light rail to Lynnwood. The 8.5-mile-long (13.7 km) light rail line will run along Interstate 5 from Northgate station in Seattle to Lynnwood Transit Center and is scheduled to begin construction in 2018 and open for service in 2024. With the passage of Sound Transit 3 in 2016, light rail service to Everett via Paine Field is anticipated to begin service in 2041. Community Transit
12483-482: The stagecoaches traveling a fixed route between coaching inns , and the horse-drawn boat carrying paying passengers, which was a feature of European canals from the 17th century onwards. The canal itself as a form of infrastructure dates back to antiquity. In ancient Egypt canals were used for freight transportation to bypass the Aswan cataract. The Chinese also built canals for water transportation as far back as
12654-851: The warring States period which began in the 5th century BCE. Whether or not those canals were used for for-hire public transport remains unknown; the Grand Canal in China (begun in 486 BCE) served primarily the grain trade . The bus , the first organized public transit system within a city, appears to have originated in Paris in 1662, although the service in question, Carrosses à cinq sols (English: five-sol coaches), which have been developed by mathematician and philosopher Blaise Pascal , lasted only fifteen years until 1677. Buses are known to have operated in Nantes in 1826. The public bus transport system
12825-399: The 1,308-square-mile (3,390 km) Snohomish County PTBA , serving 47 percent of its 542,000 people and 76 percent of its 254,000 jobs. The 46 bus routes serve 1,584 bus stops, of which 257 have a bus shelter—the rest consist of a standalone sign or a sign with a bench. The bus routes are divided into three types of service, numbered according to destination: frequent bus rapid transit on
12996-411: The 12th largest vanpool program in the United States that year. CT leases vanpool lots, called "park and pool lots", from local churches and other private parties at 15 locations with a total capacity of 482 parking stalls. Dial-a-ride transportation (DART) service is also offered by Community Transit, contracted through Senior Services of Snohomish County since 1981. DART paratransit is available for
13167-470: The 1970s, resulting in the closure of some local schools and the post office. The number of housing units increased significantly through the construction of apartments and condominiums , but the average occupancy per household decreased. The city government had a budget deficit of $ 420,000 in 1979 (equivalent to $ 1.42 million in 2023 dollars) due to declines in revenue and its small sales tax base. Fluke moved its headquarters in Everett in 1981 and
13338-512: The 1980s and 1990s. The agency operated commuter service directly to destinations in Seattle until September 14, 2024, shortly after Link light rail was extended to Lynnwood City Center station . CT was the first operator of bus rapid transit in Washington state and introduced " Double Tall " double-decker buses on its commuter routes to Seattle in the early 2010s. Snohomish County established its public transportation benefit area (PTBA),
13509-401: The 1990s, including raising service hours to over 11 million, led to ridership peaking at 8.8 million by the end of the decade and the agency's 100 millionth rider being celebrated in April 2000. The passage of Initiative 695 in 1999, which capped the state motor-vehicle excise tax at $ 30, forced transit agencies throughout the state to cut service in anticipation of lower revenue. Facing
13680-420: The 2000s, with hopes of growing beyond a bedroom community for Seattle commuters. Mountlake Terrace station , a major bus hub, opened in 2009 and is also served by Link light rail service, which began in 2024. The city has several parks , including access to Lake Ballinger , and hosts an annual summer festival that is part of Seafair . The southwestern region of Snohomish County was originally inhabited by
13851-642: The 500s. Typically, service changes occur in March and September, in response to ridership and requests from the community. Commuter bus routes to Boeing in Everett, Downtown Seattle and Northgate Station generally originate at one of the 24 Community Transit park and rides and transit centers located throughout Snohomish County, with a total capacity of 8,500 automobiles and 172 bicycles. The largest facilities, primarily located in southwest Snohomish County, include weatherproof bicycle lockers in addition to automobile parking. The majority of park and rides are owned by
14022-473: The Arts Advisory Commission, Civil Service Commission, Community Policing Advisory Board, Neighborhood Parks Improvement Subcommittee, Planning Commission, Recreation and Parks Advisory Commission, and Salary Commission. The city government had an annual operating budget of $ 29 million in 2017 that is largely funded by property , sales , and utility taxes. It employs approximately 192 people who are organized into several departments that are overseen by
14193-553: The Arts sponsors an annual juried art show , named Arts of the Terrace, which was founded in 1978. The competition typically receives hundreds of entries and includes cash prizes. The city's lone movie theater was built for Regal Cinemas in 1994 and re-branded as a Cinebarre in 2009. Mountlake Terrace has 18 public parks with 262 acres (106 ha) of open space that is maintained by the city government. The city also partners with
14364-537: The Eastside, respectively; the Wi-Fi program was canceled in 2010, with the removal of equipment in buses brought on by low customer response, budget constraints and the adoption of improved cellular networks that support mobile browsing on smartphones . CT and First Transit signed their third and most recent contract in 2007, continuing the latter's operation of CT commuter service to Seattle. Community Transit debuted
14535-515: The Netherlands many individuals use e-bikes to replace their car commutes. In major American cities, start-up companies such as Uber and Lyft have implemented e-scooters as a way for people to take short trips around the city. All public transport runs on infrastructure, either on roads, rail, airways or seaways. The infrastructure can be shared with other modes, freight and private transport, or it can be dedicated to public transport. The latter
14706-606: The PTBA by 1980; the bus system had the largest growth in ridership within the state in 1980, with local routes gaining 68.3 percent more riders and Metro-operated "Cream Buses" to Seattle gaining 21.4 percent more riders. Metro altered their numbering scheme for Snohomish County routes in 1981, creating the 400-series of routes to coincide with the opening of the state's largest park and ride in Lynnwood (which would later become Lynnwood Transit Center ). The annexations of outlying communities in northern and eastern Snohomish County and
14877-412: The Town Center and Cedar Terrace neighborhood along a section of Lyon Creek. The west side of the Town Center is home to Veterans Memorial Park, a forested area near Interstate 5 with hiking trails and a playground. The city government's former golf course was converted into Ballinger Park in 2013, located on 42 acres (17 ha) on the north end of Lake Ballinger. The park includes a boat launch ,
15048-447: The U.S. Census and Puget Sound Regional Council , with most belonging to the professional services sector. Mountlake Terrace's employers attract commuters from around the region, with about 11 percent of workers living in Seattle and 7 percent from Everett. The largest employer in the city Terrace is health insurance firm Premera Blue Cross , which has over 2,400 employees at its Mountlake Terrace headquarters. Another major employer
15219-543: The UK National Infrastructure Commission in 2018 states that "cycling is mass transit and must be treated as such." Cycling infrastructure is normally provided without charge to users because it is cheaper to operate than mechanised transit systems that use sophisticated equipment and do not use human power . Many cities around the world have introduced electric bikes and scooters to their public transport infrastructure. For example, in
15390-471: The area to become Seattle mayor . The Nile Shrine of Seattle purchased 135 acres (55 ha) on the east side of the lake in 1927, building a clubhouse and later a private golf course . An interurban railway between Everett and Seattle opened in 1910, improving access from the farms to various markets. Many of these small farms failed during the Great Depression and were affected by
15561-486: The assumption that there would be no merger by 2000. In 1990, a second proposal was rejected by the Everett City Council after consultants determined that a merger would only save $ 350,000 per year in deadheading for Community Transit and that both staffs would need to be retained because of the lack of service duplication between the two agencies. Throughout the 1990s, successive legislative bills proposing
15732-405: The average family size was 3.11. In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 25.3% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 35.6% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 9.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.0 males. For every 100 females, age 18 and over, there were 95.6 males. The median income for a household in
15903-532: The capacity of the standard articulated buses used on the commuter routes in a smaller footprint. Prior to the end of the trial in 2008, CT placed an order of 23 Enviro500s, scheduled to be delivered and put into service in 2010; the initial order was not fulfilled until 2011, when manufacturing was moved to an ElDorado plant in Riverside, California to meet federal Buy America Act requirements. A second order of 17 Enviro500s, to replace older articulated buses,
16074-487: The city commute to other areas for employment, including 37.0 percent to Seattle , 6.9 percent to Lynnwood , 6.0 percent to Everett , and 5.8 percent to Bellevue . Only 3.2 percent of Mountlake Terrace residents work within the city limits. Over 67 percent of workers commute in single-occupant vehicles, while 13 percent take public transportation and 12 percent use carpools . The city had 1,404 registered businesses with 6,993 total jobs, according to 2012 estimates by
16245-406: The city government signed agreements with the sewer districts of Edmonds and Ronald (now part of Shoreline ) to form a "Little Metro " and share treatment facilities. The city also placed restrictions on relocated homes from Seattle later that year, following a surge of those displaced from the construction of Interstate 5 , a major regional freeway that would later reach Mountlake Terrace. In
16416-505: The city government to file an incorporation charter with the state government, which was issued on November 29 and delivered the following day. City manager Evan Peterson was hired from Bellevue and initially conducted city business from his car before renting an empty two-bedroom house to act as an interim city hall . Within a few years of incorporating, the city government had rebuilt most of Mountlake Terrace's original roads, added 14 miles (23 km) of sidewalks, and begun work on
16587-537: The city has a total area of 4.16 square miles (10.77 km ), of which 4.06 sq mi (10.52 km ) is land and 0.10 sq mi (0.26 km ) is water. The city sits on a plateau that is elevated from the surrounding landscape, with views of the Olympic and Cascade mountains. The Mountlake Terrace's elevation ranges from 263 to 528 feet (80 to 161 m) above sea level, with an average altitude of 440 feet (130 m). The southwestern portion of
16758-476: The city in 1969, forcing the SCPTBA to exclude Everett in its successful attempt at creating a bus system. SCPTBA Public Transit began operating in the cities of Brier , Edmonds , Lynnwood , Marysville , Mountlake Terrace , Snohomish and Woodway on October 4, 1976, using 18 leased GMC buses on seven routes carrying 6,414 passengers without fares during the first week. SCPTBA Public Transit, whose service
16929-822: The city includes the 100-acre (40 ha) Lake Ballinger , which is fed by Hall Creek from Lynnwood and discharges into McAleer Creek towards Lake Washington . Other portions of Mountlake Terrace lie in the watersheds of Lyon Creek and Swamp Creek, which both drain into Lake Washington. Mountlake Terrace is divided into six designated neighborhoods for use in city planning : the Town Center, Cascade View (formerly North Terrace), Cedar Terrace (formerly East Terrace), Gateway, Lake Ballinger, and Melody Hill. As of 2018 , Mountlake Terrace has an estimated workforce population of 12,251 people, of which 11,753 are employed. The largest sectors of employment are educational and health services, at 26 percent, followed by professional services (12.9%) and retail (12.3%). The majority of workers in
17100-476: The city manager and city council. Mountlake Terrace provides its own municipal services, including animal control , building inspection, zoning , public works, parks and recreation, tap water , sewage treatment , and a police department . The city government is based out of a city hall that opened in 2021 as part of a new civic campus in downtown, adjacent to Veterans Memorial Park. An interim city hall at an office park near Interstate 5 opened in 2008 after
17271-415: The city was $ 47,238, and the median income for a family was $ 52,117. Males had a median income of $ 37,421 versus $ 28,796 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 21,566. About 5.8% of families and 8.0% of the population were below the poverty line , including 11.3% of those under the age of 18 and 7.6% of those aged 65 and older. Mountlake Terrace is a noncharter incorporated code city with
17442-587: The city. The former high school building had an unusual circular gymnasium , named the "Hawk Dome", which had floor-to-ceiling windows . The nearest post-secondary education institutions are Edmonds College , a community college in Lynnwood, and the University of Washington at Bothell . Mountlake Terrace is also home to three private schools : the Brighton Evergreen School, the Cedar Park Christian School , and
17613-400: The city. The population density was 5,036.7 people per square mile (1,946.0/km ). There were 8,217 housing units at an average density of 2,032.6 per square mile (785.3/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 77.70% White, 2.52% Black, 1.08% Native American, 10.64% Asian, 0.58% Pacific Islander, 2.61% from other races, and 4.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.65% of
17784-600: The closure of the interurban in 1939, following the completion of Highway 99 . The area remained home to chicken and mink farms well into the 1950s, while areas to the south underwent suburban development. A landing field was built on the north side of the King–Snohomish county line by the federal government for use during World War II . It was abandoned after the war, despite plans to expand it for civilian aviation, and acquired by real estate developers Albert LaPierre and Jack Peterson in 1949. LaPierre and Peterson named
17955-713: The commuter rail hybrid S-Bahn . More than 160 cities have rapid transit systems, totalling more than 8,000 km (4,971 mi) of track and 7,000 stations. Twenty-five cities have systems under construction. People movers are a special term for grade-separated rail which uses vehicles that are smaller and shorter in size. These systems are generally used only in a small area such as a theme park or an airport. Trams (also known as streetcars or trolleys) are railborne vehicles that originally ran in city streets, though over decades more and more dedicated tracks are used. They have higher capacity than buses, but must follow dedicated infrastructure with rails and wires either above or below
18126-402: The completion of park and rides in Edmonds and Mountlake Terrace saw ridership rise to over 3 million passengers by 1983. Community Transit launched its longest commuter route, between Seattle and Stanwood, in October 1987. They took over the remaining Metro commuter routes to Seattle in 1989, after commuter service was subcontracted to American Transportation Enterprises in 1986. The move to
18297-567: The construction of the Mountlake Terrace Transit Center , a major bus hub that opened in 2007 with a parking garage . The first major project to use the new town center plan, a five-story apartment building with shops, was approved in 2010 and opened in 2013 as Arbor Village. Two more buildings were completed later in the decade, along with reconstruction of the city's main street (56th Avenue West). An extension of Link light rail along Interstate 5, including
18468-420: The county government. The vote ended 517–483 in favor of incorporating as a third-class city with a council–manager government and elected five councilmembers, including the wife of an anti-incorporation leader. The new city council convened the following day and appointed hardware store owner Gilbert "Gil" Geiser as the first mayor of Mountlake Terrace. Geiser loaned $ 5 (equivalent to $ 45 in 2023 dollars) to
18639-447: The day or part of the day (known as clock-face scheduling ). Often, more frequent services or even extra routes are operated during the morning and evening rush hours . Coordination between services at interchange points is important to reduce the total travel time for passengers. This can be done by coordinating shuttle services with main routes, or by creating a fixed time (for instance twice per hour) when all bus and rail routes meet at
18810-671: The decline in service hours, Community Transit and Sound Transit had record ridership for Snohomish County routes during the Super Bowl XLVIII parade in Downtown Seattle in February 2014, carrying a total of 22,500 passengers on 50 extra trips into Seattle. In March, the 2014 Oso mudslide destroyed a portion of State Route 530 and forced CT to re-route its service to Darrington through Skagit County , offering one-seat service to Smokey Point and Everett Station in
18981-423: The early 1960s, a new industrial park was developed in Mountlake Terrace that attracted several companies, including electronics firm John Fluke Corporation , who moved 325 employees from Seattle in 1960. Several retailers and other small businesses opened at Mountlake Terrace's shopping centers, including a pair facing each other at the intersection of 232nd Street Southwest and 56th Avenue West. The city passed
19152-504: The elimination of all service on Sundays and major holidays , to save $ 16 million (equivalent to $ 22.4 million in 2024) until 2012. A second cut, with 20 percent of service eliminated, took place in February 2012; the CT Board rejected a major restructure that would have truncated its northern and eastern express service to Seattle at Lynnwood Transit Center during this cut, instead opting to preserve its commuter service. Despite
19323-474: The existing Mountlake Terrace park and ride was expanded with an 890-stall parking garage and bus platforms in the median of I-5 connected by a pedestrian bridge . Commuter rail service to Snohomish County on the Sounder North Line began in December 2003 with a single round-trip connecting Everett and Edmonds to King Street Station in Seattle during rush hour . Service was expanded to
19494-504: The first double-decker buses in the Puget Sound region during a year-long test in 2007, eventually buying its own fleet of Alexander Dennis Enviro500s for its " Double Tall " fleet to be used on commuter services. A PTBA expansion into the unincorporated areas of Cathcart , Clearview and Maltby was attempted during the 2008 general elections , but failed to gain a majority vote. In November 2009, after three years of planning and
19665-639: The first in the state, after municipal corporations for public transportation were added to the Revised Code of Washington by the Washington State Legislature in 1975. The PTBA plan for a countywide bus system was approved during a general election on June 1, 1976, funded by a three-tenths increase of the sales tax rate in member cities. Snohomish County had previously been served by an interurban railway from Everett to Seattle and coach lines operated by private companies under
19836-689: The following May, along with Ed's Transmission being forced to pay a $ 825,000 settlement after a civil suit was filed. Attempted mergers of Community Transit with Everett Transit have been proposed by the Washington State Legislature and the CT Board since the formation of SNOTRAN in 1974. The relative success of Community Transit in the late 1970s and 1980s prompted the Community Transit Board to propose consolidation with Everett Transit in 1988, though long-term planning under SNOTRAN for both agencies worked under
20007-607: The former interurban railway route. The privately owned Olympicview Ice Arena in Mountlake Terrace is home to the Washington Huskies college hockey team, the Seattle Totems junior hockey program, and other skating groups. Mountlake Terrace is served by regional newspapers and television broadcasters as part of the Seattle-area media market. A local weekly newspaper, named The Enterprise , published
20178-651: The former's resignation in December 1993 after nine years at his position. Federal prosecutors accused Ralph Woodall, the 50-year-old co-owner of the shop, of 15 counts of mail fraud after intentionally overbilling for transmission repairs. Community Transit Maintenance Director Michael Lynn resigned after confessing that he had accepted gifts from Woodall in exchange for sending all of CT's transmissions to Ed's Transmissions without going through competitive bidding . A U.S. District Court jury found Woodall guilty of 15 counts of mail fraud in December 1996, with Judge John C. Coughenour sentencing him to 2.5 years in federal prison
20349-455: The growing city, including Mountlake Terrace High School , which opened in September 1960. Mountlake Terrace's population increased by 50 percent within its first five years of incorporating and doubled between 1950 and 1960. LaPierre and Peterson donated land for the construction of several churches, including the St. Pius X Catholic Church, which held its first mass on June 22, 1955. In 1958,
20520-405: The interim as Route 231. The partial reopening of State Route 530 in June and full reopening in September restored the original Route 230 on its original route, now extended to Smokey Point. Community Transit began restoring cut service in September 2014, adding 13 percent of its former bus hours primarily to improve midday service. In June 2015, CT restored its Sunday and holiday service as part of
20691-673: The joint procurement with Sound Transit and Kitsap Transit . The fleet of 45 double-decker buses operated directly by Community Transit is, As of 2015, the second-largest double-decker fleet of any public transit agency in the United States, behind RTC Transit of Las Vegas, Nevada and ahead of Unitrans of Davis, California and Antelope Valley Transit Authority of Antelope Valley , California. The first fleet of Double Tall buses were retired in 2023 and sold at auctions to sightseeing and cruise companies. Public transit Public transport (also known as public transportation , public transit , mass transit , or simply transit )
20862-456: The location of their choice (rather than at a stop). Conventional transit simulations show that PRT might attract many auto users in problematic medium-density urban areas. A number of experimental systems are in progress. One might compare personal rapid transit to the more labor-intensive taxi or paratransit modes of transportation, or to the (by now automated) elevators common in many publicly accessible areas. Cable-propelled transit (CPT)
21033-413: The loss of $ 18 million (equivalent to $ 31.8 million in 2024), or 30 percent of its annual operating budget, Community Transit eliminated all weekend service and increased fares on its routes in February 2000. With the service cuts, CT began its VanGO program to donate its retired paratransit minibuses to nonprofit organizations in Snohomish County instead of auctioning them off. Saturday service
21204-400: The lost time and statistically higher risk of accident in private transport , together with the initial, running and parking costs. Loss of control , spatial constriction, overcrowding , high speeds/accelerations, height and other phobias may discourage use of public transport. Actual travel time on public transport becomes a lesser consideration when predictable and when travel itself
21375-415: The neighboring cities of Edmonds, Lynnwood, and Woodway. The district has 41 total schools and an enrollment of over 21,000 students in 2018–19. Mountlake Terrace has five schools that are operated by the district: one high school , one middle school , and three elementary schools . Mountlake Terrace High School was opened in 1960 and rebuilt in 1991 at the same campus, located in the northeast corner of
21546-449: The north and east of their initial subdivision, later adding larger homes that remained in an affordable price range for young families. A small shopping center opened on the south side of the county line, followed by a second in the modern-day Town Center in June 1954 with the area's first supermarket . Mountlake Terrace remained an unincorporated area that was reliant on the county government for services, which were unable to cope with
21717-558: The only part of Community Transit's service area within the Sound Transit taxing district, to Downtown Seattle, including the newly opened, 1,000-stall Ash Way Park & Ride in northern Lynnwood. Sound Transit funded several capital projects to improve bus service on the Interstate 5 corridor, including direct access ramps from HOV lanes to Lynnwood and Ash Way park and rides that opened in 2004 and 2005, respectively. In 2011,
21888-498: The owners. The homes were initially priced at a minimum of $ 4,999 (equivalent to $ 51,000 in 2023 dollars) and sold quickly, requiring expansion beyond the initial subdivision . Mountlake Terrace was one of the first large-scale suburban developments in the Pacific Northwest , becoming the second-largest residential area in Snohomish County with 5,000 people by 1954. LaPierre and Peterson developed additional areas to
22059-407: The population. There were 7,962 households, out of which 32.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.2% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.0% were non-families. 26.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and
22230-442: The population. There were 8,192 households, of which 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.2% were married couples living together, 12.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.3% were non-families. 30.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size
22401-400: The previous city hall suffered a sudden roof collapse. Other municipal services are provided from regional entities, including firefighting and emergency medical services from South County Fire , which inherited a contract signed by Mountlake Terrace with Fire District 1 in 2005. The city's inmates are sent to jails operated by Snohomish County or the City of Lynnwood, which also has
22572-488: The property "Mountlake Terrace" for its plateau-like setting with views of Lake Washington and Mount Rainier , and sought to develop a low-income bedroom community for returning veterans. Construction on the first 250 homes began in June 1949, using a simple 20-by-30-foot (6.1 by 9.1 m) floorplan with two bedrooms and basic amenities. The cinderblock homes were built in an assembly line , taking several weeks to complete and leaving landscaping and interior painting to
22743-492: The public transport leg of their journey and how close it leaves them to their desired destination. Timeliness is how long they must wait for the vehicle. Directness records how far a journey using public transport deviates from a passenger's ideal route. In selecting between competing modes of transport , many individuals are strongly motivated by direct cost (travel fare/ ticket price to them) and convenience , as well as being informed by habit . The same individual may accept
22914-494: The purchase of 18 new buses as well as bus stop amenities, such as stop signs and shelters. Community Transit was selected as the official name of the agency on June 19, 1979, recommended by Seattle-based public relations firm McConnell Company ahead of the winners of a public contest held by SCPTBA two years prior. CT continued to grow through the end of the decade, annexing the cities of Arlington , Lake Stevens , Monroe , Granite Falls , Mukilteo , Stanwood and Sultan into
23085-481: The purchase of a ticket to generate revenue for the operators. Tickets may be bought either in advance, or at the time of the journey, or the carrier may allow both methods. Passengers may be issued with a paper ticket, a metal or plastic token , or a magnetic or electronic card ( smart card , contactless smart card ). Sometimes a ticket has to be validated, e.g. a paper ticket has to be stamped, or an electronic ticket has to be checked in. Tickets may be valid for
23256-619: The purposes of mass transit. Many, if not all, of these systems are implemented and fully integrated within existing public transportation networks. Examples include Metrocable (Medellín) , Metrocable (Caracas) , Mi Teleférico in La Paz , Portland Aerial Tram , Roosevelt Island Tramway in New York City, and the London Cable Car . A ferry is a boat used to carry (or ferry ) passengers, and sometimes their vehicles, across
23427-615: The reduced emissions and other environmental impacts of using public transportation over private transportation, many experts have pointed to an increased investment in public transit as an important climate change mitigation tactic. Conveyances designed for public hire are as old as the first ferry service . The earliest public transport was water transport . Ferries appear in Greek mythology writings. The mystical ferryman Charon had to be paid and would only then take passengers to Hades . Some historical forms of public transport include
23598-436: The region's first hydrogen-powered fuel cell bus in 2024. Since 1995, all Community Transit buses are low-floored and equipped with a hydraulic or pneumatic " kneeling " device in addition to wheelchair lifts for 6-wheeled motorized wheelchairs . CT buses have also featured at least two bicycle racks located in front of the windshield since 1996; Swift bus rapid transit buses have three bicycle racks located inside
23769-490: The rising population of the area. The telephone system used a party line shared between 10 homes, the water mains and septic tanks were prone to failure, and the community lacked protection due to their distance from the nearest sheriff's precinct. LaPierre and Peterson funded construction of a local fire station and provided a police radio to link community volunteers with the county sheriff in Everett, but response times for emergencies remained long. Patrick McMahan,
23940-504: The roll-out of the first New Flyer Invero buses in the United States. CT began a three-month pilot project in September 2005 that brought Wi-Fi access to buses on its longest route, Route 422 between Stanwood and Seattle, with hopes of attracting customers and remote workers to its routes. The pilot project was deemed a success and expanded into the "Surf and Ride" program on all Route 422 trips in 2006, as well as select trips on Routes 406 and 441 from Edmonds to Seattle and Overlake on
24111-762: The route in exchange for the expansion of ET service into unincorporated areas surrounding Everett. The two agencies further collaborated with Sound Transit and the Washington State Department of Transportation in the construction of the South Everett Freeway Station the following year. In their most recent expansion in 1997, the Snohomish County PTBA annexed the Eastmont and Silver Firs census-designated places between Everett and Mill Creek, as well as
24282-442: The same day, the adjacent area of Brier voted to be incorporated as a city, in part to prevent an annexation by Mountlake Terrace. The two cities later settled a dispute over sewer services that would allow Brier to use Mountlake Terrace's system. The completion of the Boeing Everett Factory spurred continued population growth in the region, with Mountlake Terrace nearly doubling to over 16,000 residents by 1970. The prosperity
24453-518: The smaller "Sound Move" plan was approved at a cost of $ 3.9 billion (equivalent to $ 7.58 billion in 2024), including commuter rail from Everett to Seattle and express buses on Interstate 5 from Everett and Lynnwood to Seattle and Bellevue. The regional transit agency, renamed to Sound Transit the following year, began operating its Sound Transit Express buses under contract with Community Transit in September 1999. The new express buses connected park and rides in southwestern Snohomish County,
24624-408: The smoke filled subway tunnels from the steam engines. In 1894, Boston built the first subway in the United States, an electric streetcar line in a 1.5-mile tunnel under Tremont Street's retail district. Other cities quickly followed, constructing thousands of miles of subway in the following decades. In March 2020, Luxembourg abolished fares for trains, trams and buses and became the first country in
24795-419: The southern border of the county, adjacent to Shoreline and Lynnwood , and is 13 miles (21 km) north of Seattle . The city had a population of 19,909 people counted in the 2010 census . Mountlake Terrace was founded in 1949 by real estate developers on the site of a disused airfield , intending to provide low-cost housing for veterans. Within five years, the community had grown to over 5,000 people and
24966-702: The southwest corner of the original subdivision with 14 homes and several small business was proposed for a hotel and commercial development that was later put on hold because of planning complications. The site was later revived in the late 1980s as Gateway Place, an office and retail complex that began construction in 1989. Despite repeated decreases in spending, the city's budget had a $ 1.3 million deficit (equivalent to $ 2.78 million in 2023 dollars) in 1989 due to increased administrative costs. A pair of arson fires in downtown Mountlake Terrace destroyed two shopping centers and caused $ 3 million in damage (equivalent to $ 6.18 million in 2023 dollars). As
25137-779: The station to allow for increased service. Construction of a third bus rapid transit corridor, the Swift Orange Line , began in April 2022. It opened in March 2024, ahead of a major network restructuring that is scheduled to follow the completion of the Lynnwood Link Extension later in the year. Several new express routes will connect with light rail stations in Lynnwood and Mountlake Terrace, replacing service to Downtown Seattle. Community Transit and Everett Transit agreed to break away from SNOTRAN, which served as their planning and administrative body in addition to disbursing federal funding, after CT complained of
25308-529: The system had a ridership of 7,133,700, or about 28,100 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2024, placing it fourth among transit agencies in the Puget Sound region . The city of Everett, which serves as the county seat , is served by Everett Transit , a municipal transit system. The system, officially the Snohomish County Public Transportation Benefit Area Corporation (SCPTBA), operates
25479-518: The ticket at the time of ride. Alternatively, a proof-of-payment system allows riders to enter the vehicles without showing the ticket, but riders may or may not be controlled by a ticket controller ; if the rider fails to show proof of payment, the operator may fine the rider at the magnitude of the fare. Mountlake Terrace, Washington Mountlake Terrace is a suburban city in Snohomish County, Washington , United States. It lies on
25650-504: The track, limiting their flexibility. In the United States, trams were commonly used prior to the 1930s, before being superseded by the bus. In modern public transport systems, they have been reintroduced in the form of the light rail. Light rail is a term coined in 1972 and uses mainly tram technology. Light rail has mostly dedicated right-of-ways and less sections shared with other traffic and usually step-free access. Light rails line are generally traversed with increased speed compared to
25821-517: The transport operator to allow users to plan their journeys. They are often supplemented by maps and fare schemes to help travelers coordinate their travel. Online public transport route planners help make planning easier. Mobile apps are available for multiple transit systems that provide timetables and other service information and, in some cases, allow ticket purchase, some allowing to plan your journey, with time fares zones e.g. Services are often arranged to operate at regular intervals throughout
25992-540: The unnumbered Swift , 24 local routes in the 100s for southern Snohomish County and 200s for northern and eastern Snohomish County, and 22 weekday peak-only commuter express routes from park and rides to the Boeing Everett Factory numbered as the 2X7s, Downtown Seattle in the 400s, and Northgate station (formerly the University of Washington campus) in the 800s. CT and their subcontractor First Transit also operate all-day, all-week Sound Transit Express service to Seattle and Bellevue on six routes numbered in
26163-408: The use and extent of public transport. The International Association of Public Transport (UITP) is the international network for public transport authorities and operators, policy decision-makers, scientific institutes and the public transport supply and service industry. It has over 1,900 members from more than 100 countries from all over the globe. In recent years, some high-wealth cities have seen
26334-466: The vehicle for reduced dwell times . In addition to its bus fleet, Community Transit maintains 333 vans for its vanpool program and 52 paratransit minibuses equipped with wheelchair lifts for dial-a-ride service. Retired vanpool and DART vehicles are donated to local non-profit organizations through the VanGO program, which has gifted 106 vans since its establishment in 2000. Community Transit has
26505-536: The world (especially in Europe and east Asia , particularly Japan ), but apart from public transit installations in Las Vegas and Seattle, most North American monorails are either short shuttle services or privately owned services (With 150,000 daily riders, the Disney monorail systems used at their parks may be the most famous in the world). Personal rapid transit is an automated cab service that runs on rails or
26676-544: The world to make all public transport free. The Encyclopædia Britannica specifies that public transportation is within urban areas, but does not limit its discussion of the topic to urban areas. Seven criteria estimate the usability of different types of public transport and its overall appeal. The criteria are speed, comfort, safety, cost, proximity, timeliness and directness. Speed is calculated from total journey time including transfers. Proximity means how far passengers must walk or otherwise travel before they can begin
26847-745: The world, which may compete with fixed public transport lines, or complement them, by bringing passengers to interchanges. Paratransit is sometimes used in areas of low demand and for people who need a door-to-door service. Urban public transit differs distinctly among Asia, North America, and Europe. In Asia, profit-driven, privately owned and publicly traded mass transit and real estate conglomerates predominantly operate public transit systems. In North America, municipal transit authorities most commonly run mass transit operations. In Europe, both state-owned and private companies predominantly operate mass transit systems. For geographical, historical and economic reasons, differences exist internationally regarding
27018-439: Was incorporated as a city in 1954 to provide municipal services. An industrial park was developed at the northwest corner of the city, which was connected by Interstate 5 after it opened in 1965. Mountlake Terrace originally had several small shopping centers that declined due to the local economy and a pair of arsons in 1990. The city government began developing a downtown revitalization plan with mixed-use buildings in
27189-435: Was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.04. The median age in the city was 36.6 years. 21.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 31.4% were from 25 to 44; 27.4% were from 45 to 64; and 10.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.9% male and 51.1% female. As of the 2000 census , there were 20,362 people, 7,962 households, and 5,016 families living in
27360-787: Was built for 11 miles of track for the Union Passenger Railway in Tallahassee, Florida, in 1888. Electric streetcars could carry heavier passenger loads than predecessors, which reduced fares and stimulated greater transit use. Two years after the Richmond success, over thirty two thousand electric streetcars were operating in America. Electric streetcars also paved the way for the first subway system in America. Before electric streetcars, steam powered subways were considered. However, most people believed that riders would avoid
27531-405: Was demolished in 2010 and funding for a new city hall at the site was approved by voters in 2017 as the centerpiece of a civic campus adjacent to Veterans Memorial Park. The new city hall opened in September 2021 and cost $ 12.5 million to construct. Mountlake Terrace is in southwestern Snohomish County, approximately 14 miles (23 km) north of Downtown Seattle on Interstate 5 . It
27702-516: Was expanded with weekend service in 1990. The agency dedicated its own 20-acre (8.1 ha) bus base at Kasch Park in 1985, replacing shared operations with the Edmonds School District and Everett Transit, at a cost of $ 4.8 million (equivalent to $ 136 million in 2024) that was mostly funded by the Urban Mass Transportation Administration. CT was involved in a criminal investigation conducted by
27873-431: Was formed by McMahan and other residents, including two attorneys, and collected 650 signatures for their petition to the county government. The county commissioners scheduled an incorporation ballot measure and a concurrent city council election for November 23, 1954. An anti-incorporation bloc was formed by Mountlake Terrace residents who were opposed to increased taxes and potential costs that were previously covered by
28044-666: Was introduced to London in July 1829. The first passenger horse-drawn vehicle opened in 1806. It ran along the Swansea and Mumbles Railway . In 1825 George Stephenson built the Locomotion No 1 for the Stockton and Darlington Railway in northeast England, the first public steam railway in the world. The world's first steam-powered underground railway opened in London in 1863. The first successful electric streetcar
28215-529: Was known colloquially as the "Blue Bus" for its blue livery , carried 951,200 passengers in its first year of service on 15 local routes and 16 commuter express routes to Downtown Seattle and Northgate , contracted through King County Metro as a continuation of service provided by the Metropolitan Transit Corporation to southern Snohomish County before its merger with Seattle Transit System in 1973. The buses ran for 16 hours
28386-581: Was later replaced by Blue Cross , which moved from Seattle and became the largest employer in the city. The city government continued to encourage development of its industrial center on the northwest side of Interstate 5, including improvements to a freeway interchange and special zoning initiatives. The freeway project also included funding from the state government to improve city parks and sports fields as compensation for lost land at an elementary school in Melody Hill. A 18-acre (7.3 ha) site at
28557-474: Was made in 2013 and went into service in late 2015. Sound Transit introduced five of its own double-decker buses in 2015 for use on their Snohomish County routes under contract with Community Transit. Sound Transit plans to eventually replace its entire Snohomish County fleet with double-deckers in the near-term future, beginning with 32 additional buses in 2018. Community Transit also ordered 17 double-decker buses, with an option to purchase 40 more, as part of
28728-474: Was put to a vote on March 14, 1995, failing to pass outside of Seattle, Mercer Island and Shoreline . The plan included a commuter rail line on the BNSF Scenic Subdivision between Everett, Mukilteo, Edmonds and King Street Station in Seattle, a light rail line from Lynnwood to Seattle following Interstate 5 , and express bus service to light rail stations. The following November,
28899-608: Was reinstated in September 2000, using emergency funds approved by the CT Board, while Sunday service returned in 2001 after the passage of a 0.3 percentage-point tax increase by voters in the PTBA. Further restoration of service came in 2003, with increased frequency and the replacement of 50 buses in the agency's fleet made possible by a budget surplus and the sales tax increase approved in 2002, and in 2005, with increased fares. Community Transit introduced its current logo and slogan in 2005, replacing an older one in use since 1986 and retaining its blue-and-white color scheme, as part of
29070-489: Was set to lose $ 1 million (equivalent to $ 1.87 million in 2024) over the next five years in addition to the $ 2 million (equivalent to $ 3.74 million in 2024) used to operate service within Everett annually. The large cuts brought on by the passing of Initiative 695 and subsequent loss of excise tax revenue forced both agencies to consider merging in 2000, with savings of an estimated $ 1.7 million per year (equivalent to $ 2.93 million in 2024) according to
29241-463: Was short-lived, however, as Boeing announced major layoffs after the collapse of the supersonic transport program , which caused a local recession. The city government had hoped to develop a standalone town center, but local businesses were unable to compete with the Alderwood Mall in Lynnwood, which opened in 1979 and drew away shoppers. Mountlake Terrace's population declined slightly in
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