Community Transit ran its last bus to Seattle

The last inbound Route 424 bus in downtown Seattle on Friday morning (Michael Smith).

On Friday afternoon, Community Transit Route 424 made its final trip from Seattle to the City of Snohomish. This marks the end of Community Transit's Commuter bus service to Seattle. When Community Transit was created in 1976, the agency operated just seven local bus routes. Within the first year, the system grew to 15 local routes and 16 commuter routes to Seattle. The commuter routes were contracted to King County Metro until 1989. Since then, commuter buses have carried millions of passengers between Snohomish County and downtown Seattle, the University of Washington, and Northgate.

Community Transit was the second transit agency in the United States to use double decker buses. The agency ran a one-year pilot project in 2007, after which it ordered 23 double decker buses. These were branded as Double Talls" and entered service in 2011. Double decker buses allowed CT to increase the capacity of its busiest commuter routes, while minimizing the layover space needed during the day in Seattle.

Martin Munguia, a senior communications manager at Community Transit, told Seattle Transit Blog that on some days, a single Double Tall with 77 seats would carry over 100 passengers. With shifts from peak rush hour service to all day service, the extra capacity per bus is no longer needed. Community Transit plans to retire its entire double decker fleet over the next decade as the coaches age. Double decker enthusiasts need not worry," Munguia said, because SoundTransitis purchasing battery electric double deckers for its upcoming Stride BRT routes."

A two generations of Double Talls make their way through downtown Seattle in 2015 (SounderBruce).

Prior to the opening of the Northgate Link Extension, about 30% of Community Transit's service hours were spent connecting Snohomish County to UW and downtown Seattle. After the Link extension opened in 2021, Community Transit's truncated its 800-series routes at the newly opened Northgate station. These routes previously ran to the University of Washington. The routes to Downtown Seattle continue to operate due to a lack of layover space at Northgate Station.

When Sound Transit opened the Lynnwood Link Extension in 2024, 17 of the 18 commuter routes were deprecated. In their place, Community Transit introduced Express bus service to connect many of the same communities with Link. The agency also significantly improved local bus service throughout Snohomish County. The remaining Commuter route, Route 424, was set to run until the full 2 Line opened across Lake Washington.

Sound Transit opened the Crosslake Connection in March 2026. This fast, frequent service between Seattle and the Eastside allows Community Transit to end its last Commuter route. On Monday, the new Community Transit Express Route 908 will run between the City of Snohomish and downtown Bellevue. Route 908 will include a new stop at Bothell Park & Ride.

Map of routes 424, 908 and the 2 Line. (Community Transit)

Munguia shared some nostalgia over commuting via Community Transit Routes 413 and 415 from the Ash Way Park-n-Ride to downtown Seattle. Having a regular bus trip, you get to know the fellow riders, although on these long commutes many people kept to themselves," Munguia said. It was a time to get some extra sleep, listen to music, read a book, or get a head start on your work. In 2003, the last full year of my CT commute, I read 40 books. Regular, physical books, not e-books or audiobooks. That stands as my personal best for most books I've read in a year." Martin Munguia joined Community Transit as a public information officer in 2004.