Submitted by Whatcom Transportation Authority
On June 15, Whatcom Transportation Authority (WTA) launched service improvements designed to increase the convenience of transit. These improvements include four brand-new routes and more frequent trips to key destinations, including St. Joseph’s Hospital, the Bellingham waterfront, the airport, Bellingham Technical College, and more.
While all service updates are shaped by rider feedback and data, this year’s changes are especially focused on access, making it easier for people to get to work, school, healthcare, or just out into the community.
One change is the introduction of more service to PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center. Route 9 now runs every 30 minutes between the hospital and Bellingham Station, and a second new route, Route 18, connects the hospital to Cordata Station every hour. Together, they offer more flexibility and longer hours of service than the former Route 4.
These improvements are also great news for local employers.
“At Smart Trips we are always excited to see better bus access for our employer partners,” said Blanche Bybee, Smart Trips Employer Coordinator at the Whatcom Council of Governments. “The bus can be such a great way to commute when you leave the chaos of driving to someone else. The increased service and new routes will make arriving by bus more convenient for some of Bellingham’s larger institutions, like St. Joseph’s Hospital and Bellingham Technical College.”
WTA is also improving service to the Bellingham Waterfront. Route 47, introduced in September 2024, now runs every 30 minutes between Downtown Bellingham and Squalicum Harbor. It connects riders to popular destinations, such as the Granary Building, Portal Village, and the numerous summer events that take place along the waterfront.
“The waterfront service is more than just a bus line,” says Dan Tucker, Executive Director of the Working Waterfront Coalition. “It represents a measurable step towards inclusion of the waterfront into downtown, allowing a broader demographic to access the services, shopping, recreation, and restaurants that make our waterfront unique. Everyone deserves the ability to walk, bike, or take public transportation to work, and we’re excited that our waterfront community is now able to access it. Thank you, WTA!”
Here are some additional highlights of our new service:
Route 50 now travels hourly between Lummi Nation and Cordata Station, connecting riders to Whatcom Community College, WinCo, and other Cordata-area destinations. Route 10 offers new service between Bellingham Station and Bellingham Technical College. Meanwhile, Route 3 now operates on Sundays, serving BTC, the airport, and Cordata Station. A new Route 45 brings hourly service to the King Mountain neighborhood, with stops along Kellogg, Creston, James, and Bakerview Roads.
“We’re excited to bring more service to more places,” said Ali Hawkinson, WTA Board President and Ferndale City Councilmember. “Reliable transit can open doors to jobs, education, healthcare, and community. That’s what makes these changes so important.”
Getting to Know the New Routes
To help riders explore what’s new, WTA has created a series of short route preview videos. You can find them, along with maps, schedules, and more info here.
Whether you’re commuting to work, meeting a friend for lunch on the waterfront, or heading to the airport, WTA’s expanded service makes it easier to get where you need to go.
