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Snohomish County, like many areas in western Washington, is rapidly growing, creating an increasing need for public transportation.

The Link Light Rail currently goes into Lynnwood.

And Community Transit busses, people there and elsewhere in the county.

But it's only one piece of the puzzle.

First, people need to know what's available and how to use it.

Community transit offers two free programs to teach people how to use their system in the area.

Travel training offers a chance for adults to walk through their transit options with a professional.

all need like a little extra support or, you know, transit can be a really intimidating and, mystifying thing, especially if you are disabled or if English is not your first language.

Like, there are so many things that keep people from wanting to try transit.

And so programs like travel training that pair you with like a trusted professional that's there, patiently just waiting and ready to help you get where you want to go, I think is really how you help people.

Another program,affectionately known as Busing Basics, teaches middle and high school students how to use public transportation.

Lawrence says she thinks teaching people when they're young is key to instilling lifelong transit habits.

The bus is a complex, like shared social space.

There are all types of people on it, and we don't really get that many spaces that are, that are that way anymore, really.

Like we don't have a ton of shared spaces like that.

And so I think transit has the opportunity to like, really show us what's happening in and around our communities.

The Link Light Rail is planned to expand further north from Lynnwood to Everett, with that line expected to open sometime between 2037 and 2041.

I'm Paris Jackson.

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