Whatcom Transportation Authority
The Whatcom Transportation Authority (WTA) is the public transit authority of Whatcom County in northwestern Washington, based in the city of Bellingham. It provides bus service on 31 fixed routes, including branded "GO Lines" with 15-minute frequencies on weekdays, to cities in its service area. In addition to bus service, the WTA offers paratransit service and a vanpool programs.
| Commenced operation | January 1, 1984 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | 4111 Bakerview Spur, Bellingham48°47′12.5″N 122°26′56″W |
| Locale | Whatcom County, Washington |
| Service type | bus service, paratransit, vanpool |
| Routes | 32 (includes 4 GO routes) |
| Fleet | 60 buses, 38 paratransit vehicles, 38 vans |
| Annual ridership | 5,242,852 (2014) |
| Website | www |
The WTA is funded by a 0.6% sales tax within the Whatcom County public transportation benefit area (PTBA) and grants from the state and federal governments. Service began on January 1, 1984, using equipment bought from the Bellingham municipal transit system after a countywide authority was established a year earlier. The WTA carried 5 million total riders on fixed bus routes in 2014, averaging out to 17,000 weekday boardings.