The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced the award of a $43.2 million grant to Community Transit of Everett, Wash., for the Swift II (Green Line) bus rapid transit (BRT) project. The Green Line will connect major employment and residential centers, including Canyon Park, Paine Field, and Mill Creek Town Center.

The project will also establish a new regional transit hub near Paine Field to improve public transportation access to the tens of thousands of jobs along the Green Line corridor.

"This investment will provide Everett residents with the quick and reliable transportation they need to have access to the region’s good manufacturing and technology jobs," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao.

The 12.3-mile Green Line project will include 18 new stations and two new terminals served by high-capacity articulated buses. In addition, the new Seaway Transit Center will connect riders to 65,000 nearby jobs through several multimodal regional transit services.

"Residents and visitors in Snohomish County know the importance of transit in reaching their jobs, schools, and homes," said FTA Acting Administrator K. Jane Williams. "FTA is proud to support this project to increase mobility and build for the future."

The Swift II project will also support American manufacturing with the purchase of 13 new transit vehicles manufactured in St. Cloud, Minn.

Community Transit will receive $43.2 million through FTA’s Capital Investment Grants (CIG) program. The CIG Program provides funding for major transit capital infrastructure investments. Projects accepted into the program must go through a multi-year, multi-step process according to requirements in law to be eligible for and receive program funds.