Murray Highlights $3 Million for Community Transit for New Bus Rapid Transit Line, Rejects Drastic House GOP Cuts to Public Transit to Support Future Expansion Efforts

Murray protected Washington transit agencies from the downstream effects of catastrophic House Republican cuts to federal funding for public transit

ICYMI: Senator Murray Secures Hundreds of Millions for Transportation & Housing Projects Across WA in Final Appropriations Bills; Boosts Funding for Medical Research, Housing, Child Care & More

***PHOTOS AND B-ROLL HERE; AUDIO OF ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION HERE***

Everett, WA - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, visited Community Transit in Snohomish County to celebrate securing $3 million to support development of a new bus rapid transit line, the Swift Gold Line, which will connect Everett and Arlington. The Gold Line will add 17 new stations to the Swift network, with stops in Marysville, at Everett Community College and more-this bus rapid transit line will help workers who are heading to the Cascade Industrial Center, students travelling to Everett Community College and WSU Everett, and it will connect North Snohomish to the rest of the regional network, and ultimately to light rail all the way to Seattle and Tacoma.

Senator Murray also highlighted her efforts to protect the Federal Transit Administration's Capital Investment Grants (CIG) program in the recent appropriations bills-rejecting House Republicans' proposal to slash CIG funding by 98 percent. As Community Transit seeks to expand, CIG funds will be a critical federal resource for the agency.

Senator Murray met with Community Transit's CEO Ric Ilgenfritz, Chief of Staff Deb Osborne, Chief Planning and Development Officer Melissa Cauley, Chief Communications Officer Geoff Patrick, Chief Information Officer Chas Stearns, Chief Operating Officer Roland Behee, Chief Innovation and Customer Experience Officer Molly Marsicek, Zero Emissions Manager Jay Heim, Senior Director of Vehicle Maintenance Mike Swehla, Director Capital Development and Delivery Christopher Silviera, and Bus Rapid Transit Manager Morgan McGrath.

"Here in Washington state, we know robust public transit means more foot traffic for small businesses, more ways to get to work without being crushed by traffic, and more connections between communities. When it comes to public transportation-Community Transit is not just making leaps and strides-it is making connections to light rail, opening bus rapid transit lines, and more! The work that goes on here reaches communities and families for miles and miles, and is a crucial part of so many people's every day commute," said Senator Murray. "Unfortunately, House Republicans do not get it. In fact, they tried to gut one of the strongest federal programs we have to support transit projects like the bus rapid transit lines that Community Transit is building-Capital Investment Grants. They wanted to cut this program by 98 percent. That would basically obliterate federal funding for public transit. I made clear that was not going to happen. We prevented steep cuts to CIG in the bill I passed, and we even made certain funding was clearly marked off for Washington state projects. I was also proud to bring back $3 million to Snohomish County to support work on the Swift Gold Line, which will connect Everett and Arlington via Marysville. We've seen transit expansions over the years bring these communities even closer, and I'm happy to be helping write the next chapter-and make even more connections. So, while Community Transit keeps delivering people where they need to go here in Washington state, I'm going to keep delivering federal dollars where they need to go from Washington D.C. "

House Republicans wanted to essentially zero out public transit funding, Senator Murray pushed back and led efforts to safeguard critical federal funding for public transit so transit agencies like Community Transit can keep pushing forward with ambitious public transit expansion projects. In the government funding bill Trump signed into law on February 3, 2026, Senator Murray secured $1.7 billion for the Federal Transit Administration's Capital Investment Grants (CIG) program-rejecting House Republicans' proposal to slash CIG funding by 98 percent. The legislation includes new provisions to force the Administration to execute the CIG program, including a table detailing which projects to fund at what amount, and requires DOT to make allocations according to the table no later than 120 days after enactment. In Washington state, the bill funds:

• $100 million for the light rail component of the I-5 Bridge Replacement Program;
• $82 million for Spokane Transit's Division Street bus rapid transit project; and
• $100 million for the Expedited Project Delivery program to support future Sound Transit projects.

Overall in the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Bill, Senator Murray secured $81.229 million for 29 Congressionally Directed Spending projects across Washington state, listed HERE.

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