Whidbey Islanders can now leave their cars behind to catch a commercial flight out of Paine Field in Everett.
Choices are by bus (actually three buses) or a van; prices range from $2.50 to $38.
Sunday, Community Transit added a second bus rapid ride called Swift Green Line. It provides two routes to get from the Mukilteo Ferry Terminal to Paine Field, however, both require two transfers.
Allowing about 30 to 40 minutes for the ride and transfers is advised, said Martin Munguia, Community Transit corporate communications manager.
Bus fare is $2.50 each way. No money is taken on board to speed up service. Tickets can be purchased at station vending machine or paid with an Orca card that can be loaded with money in advance; Orca cards are accepted throughout the region for bus, ferry and train fares.
Thursday, Whidbey SeaTac Shuttle plans to start its service to and from Paine Field with three pick-ups spread throughout the day.
Cost is $38 one way for all stops on Whidbey Island from Oak Harbor to Clinton; seniors and military pay $37 and youth (15 years or less) pay $26.
Return fare from Paine Field to Whidbey is also $38 and includes ferry charges.
Drop-off and pick up for the shuttle van takes places at the terminal’s Ground Transportation Center.
Walk-on passenger ferry fares are only collected going from Mukilteo to Clinton at $5.50 adult, $2.55 senior and youth.
Reservations are required for the van shuttle.
While the Swift bus is more economical, it requires getting on and off three buses and it doesn’t leave or pick up passengers right at the new passenger terminal.
Instead, the bus drops arriving airport passengers off at Green Line station at Airport Road and 100th Street. The terminal is about a 7-10 minute walk from there.
Buses stop so frequently that a schedule isn’t even necessary, according to Community Transit.
Buses are scheduled for stops every 10 minutes between 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and the rest of the time run every 20 minutes.
Currently, Alaska Air and United offer a combined 24 flights out of Paine Field daily. Most likely, it will be possible to catch a bus to or from Paine in the same time frame as offered flights.
Swift buses run Monday through Friday from 4:20 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturdays, buses start at 6 a.m. and run until 10 p.m. and Sundays, they operate 7 a.m. to 8:40 p.m.
All Swift stations have a real time sign board indicating when the next bus is arriving.
There’s also one more option and it’s free — ride your bicycle and leave it at Paine Field’s official bike rake in front of the rideshare building.
— For Whidbey SeaTac Shuttle Paine Field information: Call 360-679-4003 or seewww.seatacshuttle.com
— See Trip Planner for Community Transit Swift bus information: www.communitytransit.org/
How to get from Mukilteo Ferry Terminal to Paine Field via Swift bus
Swift has extensive operating hours. On weekdays, service starts at 4:20 a.m. and ends at 11:50 p.m. It costs $2.50 each way, fare must be paid in advance at station vending machine or with an Orca card. There is no direct route, so each of these trips involves two bus transfers.
Route 113-Swift Blue Line-Swift Green Line: Riders take Route 113 from the Mukilteo Ferry Terminal heading toward Lynnwood and get off at 148th Street. Transfer to the Swift Blue Line heading north to Everett Station. Get off at Airport Road. Transfer to the Swift Green Line heading toward Seaway Transit Center and get off at 100th Street (Paine Field). It is a short 6-7 minute walk to the passenger terminal.
Route 113-Route 107-Swift Green Line: Riders can take Route 113 from the Mukilteo Ferry Terminal heading toward Lynnwood and get off at 84th Street. Transfer to Route 107 heading to Seaway Transit Center. Get off at Seaway Transit Center. Transfer to Swift Green Line toward Canyon Park and get off at 100th Street (Paine Field). It is a short 6-7 minute walk to the passenger terminal.
