​WTA has made significant investments in operations to ensure schedule adherence on routes 232 and 331 due to increasing degradation in travel times. Growth in congestion and other challenges make continual operational investments unsustainable. This study will assess the viability of speed and reliability improvements in two corridors and the potential for bus rapid transit (BRT) in each. The study will also consider potential changes in land use plans to better support more frequent transit service. The two existing transit routes that will be studied are:

• Gold Go Line (Route 331)

• Approximately 7 miles connecting from Downtown Bellingham (Bellingham Transit Station) to Cordata Station at Whatcom Community College

• Travels along Cordata Parkway, Bellis Fair Parkway, Deemer Road, Telegraph Road, James Street, Woodstock Way, Sunset Drive, Woburn Street, Alabama Street and Cornwall Avenue

• Green plus Blue Go Lines (Route 232 and Route 190)

• Approximately 6 miles serving Western Washington University between Downtown and Lakeway

• Travels along Cordata Parkway, W Bakerview Road, Northwest Avenue, Elm Street, Dupont Street, Prospect Street, High Street, Bill McDonald Parkway, and Lincoln Street
  

Ridership is strong on the Gold, Green and Blue Go Lines. Routes that make up these Go Lines constitute nearly 60% (2.57 million boardings) of the total system ridership (4.45 million boardings) with Western Washington University generating the highest ridership demand of any destination in Bellingham. Both corridors may be suited to BRT; however, implementing BRT within both corridors is challenging from a funding and resource allocation standpoint for WTA. The outcome of the study will be analysis enabling WTA to pursue local, state and/or federal funding for the selected corridor. ​