Whatcom Transportation Authority

Founded	January 1, 1984
Headquarters	4111 Bakerview Spur Rd., Bellingham
Service Area	Whatcom County, Washington
Website	http://www.ridewta.com

Whatcom Transportation Authority or WTA provides transit service to Whatcom County, Washington, with service focused on the city of Bellingham. Fixed route, paratransit, and vanpool service is operated.

Between 1971 and 1984, transit service in Bellingham was operated by the city owned Bellingham Municipal Transit System. In August 1983, a countywide public transportation benefit area was established by Whatcom County voters, and the city bus system was absorbed into WTA when operations began on January 1, 1984.

Routes

Local Routes

• 1 Fairhaven / Downtown
• 3 Airport / Cordata
• 4 Hospital / Cordata
• 14 Fairhaven / Downtown
• 15 Cordata - WCC / Downtown
• 24 Cordata
• 26 Lynden / Cordata - WCC
• 27 Fairhaven / Cordata - WCC
• 29 Cordata / Kline
• 48 Cordata - WCC / Bakerview Spur
• 49 Downtown / Bakerview Spur
• 50 Lummi Nation / Downtown
• 71X Everson - Nooksack - Sumas / Cordata - WCC
• 72X Kendall / Bellingham
• 75 Blaine - Birch Bay / Bellingham
• 80X Mt. Vernon / Bellingham
• 105 Fairhaven / Downtown
• 107 WWU / Samish
• 108 Samish / WWU
• 190 Lincoln Street / Downtown
• 196 WWU / Lincoln
• 197 Lincoln / WWU
• 232 Cordata - WCC / Downtown
• 331 Cordata - WCC / Downtown
• 512 Sudden Valley / Downtown
• 525 Barkley / Downtown
• 533 Yew Street / Downtown
• 540 Sunset / Downtown

GO Lines

WTA operates four GO Lines, which are areas where local services overlap to provide frequencies of every 15 minutes during the day on weekdays and Saturdays. The lines are as follows:

• Blue Line operates between Bellingham Station, Western Washington University and Bill McDonald Parkway. Each route comprising the Blue Line may operate in a different direction, as some are one-way loops, but all of the routes follow the same routing between Bellingham Station and Bill McDonald Parkway. The Blue Line consists of routes 105 Fairhaven / Downtown, 107 WWU / Samish, 108 Samish / WWU, 190 Lincoln Street / Downtown, 196 WWU / Lincoln and 197 Lincoln / WWU.
• Green Line operates between Bellingham Station and Cordata Station via western Bellingham and Northwest Avenue. The Green Line consists only of route 232 Cordata - WCC / Downtown.
• Gold Line operates between Bellingham Station and Cordata Station via eastern Bellingham and Sunset Square. The Gold Line consists only of route 331 Cordata - WCC / Downtown.
• Plum Line runs from Bellingham Station east on Lakeway Drive to Woburn Street. Eastbound service to points east of Lincoln street only runs 3 times per hour, with 15-30 minute frequencies. The Plum Line consists of routes 512 Sudden Valley / Downtown, 525 Barkley / Downtown, 533 Yew Street / Downtown and 540 Sunset / Downtown.

Deleted Routes

• 5 Fairhaven / WWU / Downtown / Cordata
• 7 Alabama / Downtown / WWU
• 9 Hospital / Downtown
• 10 Downtown / Birchwood
• 11 WWU / Downtown / Geneva
• 11 Downtown / Lakeway
• 12 Sudden Valley / Downtown
• 16 Sunset / Downtown
• 16 WWU / Lincoln
• 23 Cordata / Deemer
• 23 Garden / WWU / Downtown / Alderwood
• 25X WWU / Downtown / Cordata / Lynden
• 28X Sehome Village / WWU / Downtown / Ferndale
• 32 Bellis Fair / Downtown
• 36 Hospital / Downtown
• 37 Hospital / Downtown
• 40 Downtown / Lakeway
• 41 Downtown / Alabama
• 42 Downtown / Sudden Valley
• 43 Downtown / Yew Street
• 44 Downtown / Yew Street
• 45 Downtown / Senior Center
• 46 Downtown / Squalicum Harbor
• 55 Cordata - WCC / Birch Bay / Blaine
• 60 Bellis Fair / Downtown / WWU (Evenings Only)
• 61 Fairhaven / WWU / Downtown (Evenings Only)
• 62 Downtown / Alabama / Cordata / Northwest (Evenings Only)
• 63 Downtown / Northwest / Cordata / Alabama (Evenings Only)
• 65 WWU / Downtown / Bellis Fair (Sundays Only)
• 66 Downtown / WWU / Fairhaven (Sundays Only)
• 62 Downtown / Alabama / Cordata / Northwest (Sundays Only)
• 63 Downtown / Northwest / Cordata / Alabama (Sundays Only)
• 70X Blaine Express
• 71X Everson / Nooksasck / Sumas Express
• 80 Lynden Circulator
• 85 Ferndale Circulator
• 90 WWU
• 91 Samish Way
• 95 Downtown / WWU / Sehome Village
• 96 Downtown / Samish / WWU
• 97 WWU / Fairhaven / Downtown
• 99 Samish Way
• 114 Downtown / WWU / Fairhaven
• 340 Silver Beach / Downtown
• 341 Sunset Square / Downtown
• 401 Fairhaven / Downtown

Facilities

Garage/Office

• Address: 4111 Bakerview Spur Rd., Bellingham, WA 98226

Bellingham Station

• Address: 2015 E Magnolia, Bellingham, WA 98225

Cordata Station

• Address: 4194 Cordata Parkway, Bellingham, WA 98226

Lynden Station

• Address: 1945 Front Street, Lynden, WA 98264

Ferndale Station

• Address: 1675 Main Street, Ferndale, WA 98248

Transit Fleet

Active

Accurate as of February 2023.

Fleet Number(s)	Thumbnail	Build Date	Manufacturer	Model	Engine	Transmission	Notes
801-808		2012	Gillig	Low Floor HEV 40' (G30D102N4)	Cummins ISB6.7	BAE HybriDrive HDS 200
826-827		2007	Gillig	Low Floor 35' (G27B102N4)	Cummins ISL	Voith D864.5	827 is retired.
828-830		2010	Gillig	Low Floor 35' (G27B102N4)	Cummins ISL	Voith D864.5
831-837		2016	Gillig	Low Floor 40' (G27D102N4)	Cummins ISL9	Voith D864.5
851-855		2007	Gillig	Low Floor 40' (G27D102N4)	Cummins ISL	Voith D864.5	853 is active.
856-859		2009	Gillig	Low Floor 40' (G27D102N4)	Cummins ISL	Voith D864.5	858 to Columbia Area Transit 216? in 2022
871-880		2009	Gillig	Low Floor 40' (G27D102N4)	Cummins ISL	Voith D864.5	871, 874, 877-878 to Columbia Area Transit 212-215 in 2022
881-886		2010	Gillig	Low Floor 40' (G27D102N4)	Cummins ISL	Voith D864.5
887-894		2011	Gillig	Low Floor 40' (G27D102N4)	Cummins ISL9	Voith D864.5
1931-1932		2019	Gillig	Low Floor 35' (G27B102N4)	Cummins L9	Voith D864.6
1941-1945		2019	Gillig	Low Floor 40' (G27D102N4)	Cummins L9	Voith D864.6
2031-2033		2020	Gillig	Low Floor 35' (G27B102N4)	Cummins L9
2141-2148		2021	Gillig	Low Floor 40' (G27D102N4)	Cummins L9
2191-2192		2021	Gillig	Low Floor Plus EV 40' (G28D102N4)			Renumbered from 2091-2092.
2241-2247		2022	Gillig	Low Floor 40' (G27D102N4)	Cummins L9
2391-2392		2023	Gillig	Low Floor Plus EV 40' (G28D102N4)

On Order

Fleet Number(s)	Thumbnail	Year	Manufacturer	Model	Engine	Transmission	Notes

Retired

Fleet Number(s)	Thumbnail	Build Date	Manufacturer	Model	Engine	Transmission	Notes
801-803		1994	OBI	Orion V 30' (05.505)	Cummins M11
804-805		1993	Gillig	Phantom 30' (3096TB6CT)	Cummins C8.3		Ex-Skagit Transit 931 & 934.
809-810		2010	Gillig	Low Floor 35' (G27B102N4)	Cummins ISL	Voith D864.5
811-814		1994	OBI	Orion V 35' (05.504)	Cummins L10	Voith D863.3
815-818		1995	OBI	Orion V 35' (05.504)	Cummins L10	Voith D863.3
819-825		1994	OBI	Orion V 35' (05.504)	Cummins L10	Voith D863.3
831-842		1994	OBI	Orion V 40' (05.501)	Cummins L10	Voith D863.3
843		1995	OBI	Orion V 40' (05.501)	Cummins M11	Voith D863.3
844-846		1997	OBI	Orion V 40' (05.501)	Cummins M11	Allison B400R
847		1998	Gillig	Low Floor 40' (G21D102N4)	Cummins ISM		Ex-Skagit Transit 983.
848		1999	Gillig	Low Floor 40' (G21D102N4)	Cummins ISM		Ex-Skagit Transit 991.
849		6/1995	Gillig	Phantom 40' (4096TBM11)	Cummins M11		Ex-Skagit Transit 955. Returned to Skagit Transit 097 in 2009.
850		3/1996	Gillig	Phantom 40' (4096TBM11)	Cummins M11		Ex-Skagit Transit 962. Returned to Skagit Transit 098 in 2009.
860-867		1973	GMC	TDH-3302N	Caterpillar 3208	Allison AT-545	Ex-Bellingham Municipal Transit System 860-867. Repowered from GMC 478 Toro-Flow II engines. 860 was bought by various private owners. It was listed on Craigslist in Spokane, WA in May 2016. 866 was bought by a private owner. It was listed on Craigslist in Pine Grove, CA in April 2016. It was spotted driving through Hercules, CA on 8/4/2020.
861-866		2004	Gillig	Low Floor 29' (G29E102R2)	Cummins ISL	Voith D864.3E	861-863 to Skagit Transit 121-123 in 2012. 864-866 retired in 2019
867-869		2008	Gillig	Low Floor 29' (G27E102N2)	Cummins ISL	Voith D864.5	Retired in March 2021. To Columbia Area Transit 206-208 in 2021
868-870		1974	GMC	T6H-4523N	Detroit Diesel 6V71N	Allison	Ex-Bellingham Municipal Transit System 868-870.
871-872		1976	GMC	T6H-4523N	Detroit Diesel 6V71N	Allison	Ex-Bellingham Municipal Transit System 871-872.
873-877		1979	GMDD	T6H-4523N	Detroit Diesel 6V71N	Allison V730	Ex-Bellingham Municipal Transit System 873-877.
878-883		1980	GMDD	T6H-4523N	Detroit Diesel 6V71N	Allison V730	Ex-Bellingham Municipal Transit System 878-883. 882 was bought by a private owner for an RV conversion project (Lic. Plate: 5HXR888). It was spotted in Santa Cruz, CA on 1/12/2005.

Paratransit Fleet

The information below is current as of June 2020.

Active

Fleet Number(s)	Thumbnail	Year	Manufacturer	Model	Engine	Transmission	Notes
712-717		2014	Chevrolet Arboc	Cutaway	GM V8 6.0L gasoline		Unknown model
728-740		2017	Ford ElDorado National	E-450 Aerotech	Ford Triton V10 6.8L gasoline
741-746		2015	Ford ElDorado National	E-450 Aerotech	Ford Triton V10 6.8L gasoline
747-751		2017	Ford ElDorado National	E-450 Aerotech	Ford Triton V10 6.8L gasoline
783-787		2013	Ford ElDorado National	E-450 Aerotech	Ford Triton V10 6.8L gasoline
1901-1908		2019	Ford ElDorado National	E-450 Aerotech	Ford Triton V10 6.8L gasoline

Retired

Fleet Number(s)	Thumbnail	Year	Manufacturer	Model	Engine	Transmission	Notes
701-702		2010	Chevrolet Arboc	Cutaway	GM V8 6.0L gasoline		Unknown model.
703-705		2011	Chevrolet Arboc	Cutaway	GM V8 6.0L gasoline		Unknown model
706-711		2012	Chevrolet Arboc	Cutaway	GM V8 6.0L gasoline		Unknown model
707-712		2002	Ford ElDorado National	E-450 Aero Elite	Ford Triton V10 6.8L gasoline
713-724		2003	Ford ElDorado National	E-450 Aero Elite	Ford Triton V10 6.8L gasoline
751-756		2004	Ford ElDorado National	E-450 Aero Elite	Ford Triton V10 6.8L gasoline
757-767		2006	Ford ElDorado National	E-450 Aerotech	Ford Triton V10 6.8L gasoline
768-773		2009	Ford ElDorado National	E-450 Aerotech	Ford Triton V10 6.8L gasoline
774-782		2010	Ford ElDorado National	E-450 Aerotech	Ford Triton V10 6.8L gasoline

Vanpool Fleet

The information below is current as of June 2020. Note that vanpool numbers are reused after vehicles are retired.

Active

Fleet Number(s)	Thumbnail	Year	Manufacturer	Model	Engine	Transmission	Notes
601-603		2020	Ford	Transit
616-619		2012	Chevrolet	Express 3500 Van	GM V8 6.0L gasoline		618 is retired
620-623		2013	Ford	E350 Van	Ford V8 5.4L gasoline		621 is retired.
637-639		2011	Ford	E350 Van	Ford V8 5.4L gasoline
640-643		2012	Chevrolet	Express 3500 Van	GM V8 6.0L gasoline		641-643 are retired.
644-651		2013	Chevrolet	Express 3500 Van	GM V8 6.0L gasoline		645, 647-649 are retired.
659-660		2011	Ford	E350 Van	Ford V8 5.4L gasoline
662, 679		2014	Chevrolet	Express 3500 Van	GM V8 6.0L gasoline

Retired

Fleet Number(s)	Thumbnail	Year	Manufacturer	Model	Engine	Transmission	Notes
601		2006	Ford	E350 Van	Ford V8 5.4L gasoline
602-603		2010	Dodge	Grand Caravan	V6 3.5L gasoline
604-605		2011	Dodge	Grand Caravan	V6 3.6L gasoline
606		2012	Dodge	Grand Caravan	V6 3.6L gasoline
611-615		2006	Ford	E350 Van	Ford V8 5.4L gasoline
621-626		2006	Ford	E350 Van	Ford V8 5.4L gasoline
627-633		2007	Chevrolet	Express 3500 Van	GM V8 6.0L gasoline
634-636		2009	Chevrolet	Express 3500 Van	GM V8 6.0L gasoline
656-658		2009	Chevrolet	Express 2500 Van	GM V8 6.0L gasoline
668-669		2003	Chevrolet	Astro Van
672-678		2003	Ford	E350 Van	Ford V8 5.4L gasoline

External Links

• www.ridewta.com