Q&A: Why doesn't WTA serve the Glenhaven area?

MAUREEN MCCARTHY - THE BELLINGHAM HERALD

E-Mail

Print Reprint

Text Size:

tool goes here

Question: Why are Whatcom Transportation Authority buses going out to Sudden Valley (4 miles from Glenhaven) and down Interstate 5 to Skagit County (I-5 is 3 miles from Glenhaven) and Glenhaven is not ever considered by WTA? There are more than 600 residences here. We pay a high Whatcom County property tax and can never seem to be counted in on county services. Did I not see WTA turning down Highway 9 toward Acme a couple of weeks ago?

Answer: Yes, you would have seen Route 72X on Highway 9 toward Acme. WTA's Route 72X, which serves the relatively densely populated Kendall, also serves Van Zandt. I can understand why this looks unusual, given the small population and rural nature of the Van Zandt area! Service to Van Zandt exists as the result of a timing issue: For Route 72X's arrival to be timed optimally for connections throughout our system, it has extra minutes to provide service to Van Zandt. The 72X enjoys consistently high ridership, but certainly the vast majority is between Bellingham and Kendall.

Route 80X is an express trip, intended to connect Mount Vernon and Bellingham as quickly as possible. Like most express trips, it connects two large nodes with few stops en route to appeal to those who would otherwise drive alone. Residents of Glenhaven wishing to access Route 80X would catch it at the Alger Park and Ride.

Finally, WTA did consider service to Glenhaven when we last upgraded our service to Sudden Valley. Staff members drove a bus along a proposed route to evaluate its viability. After several community meetings, however, attendees strongly emphasized the need for Sudden Valley service to be hourly so that transfers to other routes could be made. Based on the timing, we could not provide hourly service from Sudden Valley and also provide service to Glenhaven. Due to the existing ridership in Sudden Valley, its relative population density, and the requests of meeting attendees (many of whom were regular riders), we prioritized hourly service to Sudden Valley over service to Glenhaven.

I understand your statement about feeling left out, even in light of the answers I've provided. Hopefully I've at least shed some light on why we've made some of the decisions we've made.

ABOUT TRANSIT TALK

Transit Talk is an online forum where riders can ask questions about bus service in Whatcom County. Whatcom Transportation Authority spokeswoman Maureen McCarthy answers the questions. To see more answers or ask a question, click here.