What if learning to ride the bus was part of the school day?

Natalie Lawrence returns to That Transit Show to share how Community Transit is helping young people build the skills and confidence to use public transit.

Natalie was the very first guest on That Transit Show. Now she’s back with an update on Bus and Basics, Community Transit’s youth education program that brings transit lessons directly to schools across Snohomish County.

Students learn how to plan a trip, use a Youth ORCA card, ride safely, use features on the bus and ask a bus driver for help. Then they put those lessons into practice aboard a real Community Transit bus.

Natalie joins host Monica Spain to talk about what kids really want to know about transit, how their questions and feedback are shaping the program, and Transit Tales, a program that introduces younger kids to public transit. They also explore how learning to ride at an early age can give young people more independence and more options for getting where they want to go.

Hear how Community Transit is helping a new generation learn how to use public transit with confidence.

Learn more about Community Transit: https://www.communitytransit.org/

Paul Comfort, host of Transit Unplugged—the world’s #1 public transportation podcast—joins Monica Spain in Seattle to explore the future of public transit.

Drawing on nearly 40 years in the transportation industry, Paul shares lessons from transit systems around the world and explains how Transit Unplugged and Transit Unplugged TV bring the people, places, and innovations behind public transportation to a wider audience.

The conversation covers:

• The four cornerstones of a great transit system: safety, efficiency, reliability, and world-class customer service
• How agencies can better connect bus and light rail networks
• Why bus rapid transit and microtransit are gaining momentum
• How on-demand service can improve first- and last-mile connections
• The future of accessible transportation and paratransit
• Opportunities for high-speed passenger rail in the United States
• Why transit agencies should measure their impact beyond ridership
• How transit-oriented development can strengthen communities
• What leaders can learn from Paul’s book, Find Your X Factor

Listen for a global perspective on the ideas shaping public transportation in the Pacific Northwest and across America.

CHAPTERS

00:00:00 Meet Paul Comfort
00:00:39 Paul’s 40-year transit career
00:03:20 The story behind Transit Unplugged
00:04:25 Transit Unplugged TV visits Seattle
00:05:27 Connecting bus and light rail networks
00:05:59 Four cornerstones of great transit
00:09:19 Bus rapid transit and microtransit
00:13:53 New mobility lessons from Dubai
00:16:11 Accessibility and paratransit
00:17:58 High-speed rail and federal priorities
00:20:24 Measuring success beyond ridership
00:22:06 Why transit employees should ride the service
00:24:05 Transit-oriented development
00:26:54 Leadership and Find Your X Factor

Follow That Transit Show for more conversations with the people shaping mobility in the Pacific Northwest and around the world.

If you think transit is just for the slog that is your work commute, think again! In this episode of That Transit Show, Community Transit’s Phillip Jefferies sits down with Host Monica Spain to share how he’s made transit his go-to not just for work, but for fun too. 

Jefferies details his personal experiences taking transit to his favorite destinations in Snohomish County and beyond. He shares how to plan for a day trip, surprising detours that wouldn’t have made the itinerary if he had to park, and how he discovered the freedom of going car-less for a night on the town.

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Subscribe to That Transit Show for more stories about the people, places, and history behind public transportation in Snohomish County: communitytransit.org/about/that-transit-show

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How did people get around the Puget Sound before highways, buses, and light rail?

In this episode of That Transit Show, host Monica Spain talks with Jennifer Ott, Executive Director of HistoryLink, about the region’s transportation history. From Indigenous canoe travel and the Mosquito Fleet to the Interurban railway, Interstate 5, and the creation of Community Transit, they explore how transportation has shaped Snohomish County and the Puget Sound.

Jennifer also shares the story behind Bluebell, the restored 1959 vintage bus that became a traveling museum for Community Transit’s 50th anniversary.

In this episode:

• The Puget Sound’s first transportation network
• The rise and fall of the Interurban railway
• How highways changed regional travel
• The creation of Community Transit
• Why transportation history still matters today

Subscribe to That Transit Show for more stories about the people, places, and history behind public transportation in Snohomish County.

That Transit Show theme by Bryan Bradley

The world's biggest soccer tournament is headed to the Pacific Northwest, and Everett is ready to welcome fans from around the world.

Host Monica Spain talks with Tyler Chism, Economic Development Manager for the City of Everett, about Everett's role as an official fan zone. Learn about waterfront watch parties, family-friendly activities, local celebrations, and how transit can help visitors and residents get where they need to go.
 
 If you're planning to take part in the excitement this summer, this episode offers a helpful guide to what to expect and how to get there.

What if getting to work was one less thing your employees had to worry about?

In this episode of That Transit Show, we talk about Community Transit’s Small Business Partnerships Program. Host Monica Spain sits down with Alessandra Gonzalez to explain how small businesses can offer transit benefits to employees at no cost.

From unlimited ORCA passes to real-world outreach, this episode covers how the program works and why it matters for both employers and workers across Snohomish County.

If you’re a small business owner or someone looking for an easier commute, this is worth a listen.

Light rail is now running across a floating bridge.

Sound Transit’s Link 2 Line operates over Lake Washington, creating new connections between Snohomish County and the Eastside. It’s the first time in the world this has been done — but what does it actually mean for riders?

In this episode of That Transit Show, Monica Spain talks with Sound Transit Public Information Officer Rachelle Cunningham about:

• Increased frequency with the 1 Line and 2 Line
• What to know before boarding (head signs, transfers, airport trips)
• Trip planning tools and tap-to-pay options
• The engineering challenges of running rail over water
• Why delays happened — and why safety came first
• What to expect at new stations like Judkins Park

If you’ve been curious about riding across the floating bridge — or how this changes travel in the Puget Sound region — this episode is for you.

Contact Community Transit security: 425-521-5900
Contact Sound Transit security: 206-398-5268

Watch the video version of That Transit Show on YouTube.

Exciting news for Puget Sound transit riders! You can now pay for your trip using your credit or debit card with ORCA's new Tap to Pay feature. Host Monica Spain sits down with Chris McKnight, Director of Regional ORCA Operations, to discuss everything you need to know about this game-changing payment option.
   
On this episode:

• How ORCA Tap to Pay works with credit cards, debit cards, phones, and smartwatches
• When to use Tap to Pay vs. traditional ORCA cards
• Setting up contactless payments on Android, Apple Pay, and Samsung Pay
• Transfer credits and fare savings explained
• What visitors and infrequent riders need to know
• Future developments for ORCA payment systems

Visit myORCA.com to learn more about Tap to Pay

Watch the video version of That Transit Show on YouTube.

In this episode of That Transit Show, host Monica Spain sits down with Carla Rankin, Executive Director and CEO of the Arlington Community Food Bank and Vice President of the Snohomish County Food Coalition. Together, they explore the critical intersection of public transportation and community health.

Carla provides an inside look at the current state of food insecurity in Snohomish County, discussing the impact of SNAP benefit changes, the rise of "food deserts" due to grocery store closures, and how Community Transit is helping neighbors reach the nutrition they need.

On this episode:

• Why food banks are seeing record demand following the end of emergency SNAP benefits.
• How a lack of transit can prevent families from accessing fresh, healthy food.
• Where food banks actually get their supply and how staff are pivoting to meet new challenges.
• Practical ways you can volunteer or support your local food bank today.

Resources & Links:

• Find a food bank near you: Snohomish County Food Bank Coalition
• Plan your trip to the food bank: Community Transit Trip Planner
• Learn more about Arlington Community Food Bank: Arlingtonfoodbank.org

Watch the video version of That Transit Show on YouTube.

In this episode of That Transit Show, host Monica Spain sits down with Travel Trainer Asch Qattawi to pull back the curtain on Community Transit’s free, one-on-one Travel Training program. Discover how personalized coaching can turn a new commute into a confident journey.

On this episode:

• What is Travel Training?
• How one-on-one sessions work to meet the goals of the rider.
• Pro tips for planning trips, reading complex schedules, and mastering transfers.
• How the program supports youth, seniors, and people with disabilities.

Travel Training is flexible, supportive, and completely free. If you’ve ever felt hesitant about boarding a bus or train, this episode is your first step toward riding with confidence.

Resources & Links:

• Learn more about Travel Training: Communitytransit.org

Watch the video version of That Transit Show on YouTube.