Establish a Program

Implementing microtransit would require that WTA establish a new Microtransit Program to holistically address the staffing and programmatic needs of a new service type. Staffing this program would cost an estimated $550,000 per year.

Significant Cost

For all potential microtransit zones analyzed, it would cost significantly more to provide microtransit service than it costs to provide fixed route services, even considering savings from removing fixed route service from the zones.

Operate In-House

Given WTA’s experience operating the Lynden Hop and other efficiency and performance benefits of in-house operations, the study recommends that WTA operate of future microtransit services in-house.

Zone Name and Rank	Cost per Boarding	Vehicles Needed	Annual Cost*	Annual Ridership
1. Ferndale	$34.11	6	$2,287,500	67,063
2. Blaine / Birch Bay	$35.55	4	$1,434,000	40,347
3. Lynden	$35.49	6	$1,995,500	56,237
4. Peaceful Valley / Kendall / Maple Falls	$35.15	2	$737,000	20,972
5. Tweed Twenty / Silver Beach	$41.37	3	$1,182,000	28,462
6. Yew St / Lake Padden	$54.88	2	$843,000	15,362
7. Everson / Nooksack / Sumas	$38.99	1	$514,500	13,204
8. Bellingham Waterfront District	$42.21	2	$916,000	21,715
9. Lummi Nation	$52.94	1	$514,500	9,705

*For comparison, the annual cost to operate Route 232, a GO-Line with 15-minute service, is $3.2 million with annual ridership of 376,000. The annual cost to operate Route 26 Lynden, is $1.5 million with annual ridership of 70,000. Also, the annual cost does not include the estimated $550,000 needed annually for support staff to operate a Microtransit Program.