Find WTA Bus Routes, Departure Times, Stops, Live Arrivals and Whatcom County Connections
Whatcom Transportation Authority operates the public bus network serving Bellingham and communities across Whatcom County, with regional service connecting south toward Mount Vernon.
This guide organizes WTA’s current route list, major transit stations, high-frequency GO Lines, June 2026 service changes, real-time stop tools, fare changes, accessibility information and official timetable documents into one practical trip-planning page.
Start With the Official WTA Schedule Tool, Not a Static Timetable
WTA’s schedule system lets you choose a route, direction and service day, then display the route map and stops. You can also search directly by stop code, address or intersection.
Choose your route
Select one of WTA’s 30 current fixed routes from the official schedule directory.
Choose direction
Confirm the destination shown on the bus rather than relying only on the route number.
Find your stop
Search by stop ID, address or intersection and confirm the correct side of the road.
Check real time
Use BusTracker immediately before leaving for the stop to see current vehicle information and disruptions.
The route names below follow WTA’s current schedule selector. Exact first trips, last trips and stop times should be checked for the actual date you plan to travel.
Route
Current WTA Route Name
Useful Trip Context
1
Fairhaven & Downtown
Bellingham local service
3
Airport/Cordata & Airport/Downtown
Airport, Cordata and downtown connections
5
Samish/Fairhaven & Samish/Downtown
New June 2026 route; connects with Route 190
6
Fraser & Downtown
New 2026 route replacing portions of former campus-area service
7
Samish/WWU & Samish/Downtown
South Campus and Happy Valley connections
9
Hospital & Downtown
St. Joseph hospital-area service
10
Eldridge & Downtown
Bellingham Technical College / Eldridge corridor
14
Fairhaven & Downtown
WWU, Happy Valley and Fairhaven corridor
15
Cordata/WCC & Downtown
Whatcom Community College / Cordata service
18
Hospital & Cordata/WCC
Hospital and north-Bellingham connection
24
Cordata
Use official route map for exact local loop/stops
26
Lynden & Cordata/WCC
Lynden to Bellingham/Cordata connection
27
Ferndale & Cordata/WCC
Ferndale Station connection
29
Cordata/Kline
North Bellingham local service
45
KingMountain & Cordata/WCC
King Mountain / Cordata corridor
47
Harbor & Downtown
Waterfront / Harbor-area service
48
Cordata/WCC & Bakerview Spur
Limited scheduled trips; verify exact departure
49
Downtown & Bakerview Spur
Downtown to WTA operations/Bakerview area
50
LummiNation & Cordata/WCC
Lummi Nation regional connection
71X
Everson/Nooksack/Sumas & Cordata
County route with Flex Service area
72X
Kendall & Bellingham
Mt. Baker Highway corridor; Flex Service available
75
Blaine/Birch Bay & Bellingham
Ferndale, Birch Bay and Blaine; Flex option on eligible area
80X
Mt. Vernon & Bellingham
Regional County Connector service
190
Lincoln St & Downtown
Blue GO Line / primary WWU backbone
232
Cordata/WCC & Downtown
Green GO Line
331
Cordata/WCC & Downtown
Gold GO Line
512
Sudden Valley & Downtown
Plum GO Line corridor portion
525
Barkley & Downtown
Plum GO Line corridor portion
533
Yew St
Plum GO Line corridor portion
540
Sunset & Downtown
Plum GO Line corridor portion
Why no full timetable is copied here: WTA updates schedules regularly. Use this directory to identify the route, then open the official scheduler for the exact travel date and stop.
Major WTA Schedule Changes Riders Need to Know in 2026
The 2026 redesign concentrated much of the Bellingham/WWU network around Route 190 and created new local routes rather than simply changing a few departure times.
New Fairhaven-Samish pattern
Route 5 replaced Route 105, serves Samish Way and connects with Route 190 at Bill McDonald and Samish.
New Puget/York connection
Route 6 replaced Routes 196 and 197 and links the Puget/York area with downtown.
South Campus connection
Route 7 replaced portions of older campus-area routes and connects with Route 190 near WWU.
Frequency reduced
Route 14 continues between downtown, WWU and Fairhaven but moved to roughly one bus per hour.
WWU backbone
Route 190 became the main high-frequency campus corridor with timed transfer points.
Route 9 Saturday change
Saturday buses depart Bellingham Station at :40 after the hour, with a published span of 8:40 a.m.–5:40 p.m.
Route 10 Saturday added
Saturday service was added with a published span of 9:10 a.m.–5:10 p.m.
Route 190 summer exception
Normal weekday planning is four buses per hour, but WTA says summer-quarter service is reduced to three buses per hour.
Do not use a pre-June-14 campus guide: old references to Routes 105, 107, 108, 196 or 197 can send riders to discontinued or restructured service.
High-frequency Bellingham corridors
WTA GO Lines: Blue, Green, Gold and Plum
WTA uses four color-coded GO Line corridors to make frequent Bellingham service easier to understand.
BLUE
Route 190
Downtown Bellingham ↔ Western Washington University / Bill McDonald Parkway / Lincoln Street corridor.
GREEN
Route 232
Downtown ↔ Whatcom Community College via Dupont, Elm, Northwest and Bakerview.
GOLD
Route 331
Downtown ↔ Whatcom Community College with service through Sunnyland, Barkley, Sunset, WinCo and Bellis Fair areas.
PLUM
Routes 512, 525, 533 & 540
Combined service along Lakeway Drive between downtown and Woburn Street.
Frequency nuance: WTA describes GO Lines as 15-minute weekday corridors, but Route 190 has a summer-quarter reduction to three buses per hour. Always check today’s schedule rather than assuming exactly 15 minutes.
Transfer hubs and park & rides
WTA Transit Stations and Major Boarding Hubs
DT
Bellingham Station
205 E Magnolia, Bellingham.
Main downtown transfer hub with customer service, lobby and public restrooms.
Served by Routes 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 14, 15, 47, 49, 72X, 75, 80X, 190, 232, 331, 512, 525, 533 and 540.
COR
Cordata Station
4194 Cordata Pkwy, Bellingham.
North-Bellingham transit hub with public restrooms and 70 parking spaces.
Served by Routes 3, 15, 18, 24, 26, 27, 29, 45, 48, 50, 71X, 232 and 331.
FER
Ferndale Station
1675 Main St, Ferndale.
WTA park & ride with 131 parking spaces.
Served by Routes 27 and 75.
LYN
Lynden Station
1945 Front St, Lynden.
Park & ride with 89 spaces.
Served by Route 26.
WTA-owned park & rides: Cordata, Ferndale and Lynden lots are available for eligible transit/carpool use without a parking charge. Other lots such as WWU’s Lincoln Creek facility can have separate parking requirements.
Official interactive scheduler
Check WTA Route Times, Stops and Trip Planner
The official scheduler combines route selection, weekday/Saturday/Sunday timetables, stop search, interactive maps and trip planning.
Schedule versus real time: the route timetable tells you when a bus is planned to run. BusTracker tells you what the vehicle is doing now.
909-stop network snapshot
WTA Bus Stops: Accessibility, Shelters and Stop Codes
WTA reported 909 bus stops as of June 30, 2026. Of those, 470 met its ADA-accessible stop standard and 439 did not.
909WTA bus stops
ADA accessible
470
Not ADA standard
439
With shelter
170
With bench
257
Important accessibility distinction: all WTA fixed-route buses are wheelchair accessible, but WTA does not guarantee an accessible path to every bus stop.
WTA is changing its fare structure on September 1, 2026. Because this guide was verified in August, both the current fare and the upcoming fare are shown.
Fixed Route — Through Aug. 31$1Regular single ride
Current adult fixed-route fare before the September change.
Fixed Route — Sept. 1+$2Adult single ride
New adult fare with a $6 daily and $60 monthly fare cap when using an eligible consistent payment method.
Reduced — Through Aug. 31$0.50Current reduced fixed-route fare
Applies to qualifying riders using approved proof or reduced-fare credentials.
Reduced — Sept. 1+$1New reduced fixed-route fare
New monthly reduced fare cap: $30. Check the new fare page for eligibility.
Paratransit — Through Aug. 31$1Current single ride
Current fare-rules document lists a $1 paratransit single ride.
Paratransit — Sept. 1+$3New single ride
New fare caps: $6 per day and $30 per month.
YouthFREEAge 18 and under
Youth remain free under the new fare structure.
Gold Card changeSept. 1Gold Card becomes Reduced Fare Card
Riders using the older Gold Card system should review WTA’s conversion instructions before September.
Fare capping: from September 1, using the same Umo Card, Umo App or qualifying bank-card payment method allows WTA to track the applicable fare cap. Cash does not count toward fare capping.
WTA Now Accepts Contactless Tap to Pay on Fixed-Route Buses
WTA announced in July 2026 that riders can use a contactless credit/debit card or supported mobile wallet on all fixed-route buses.
Physical bank card
Hold the contactless card against the onboard reader until the screen confirms payment.
Mobile wallet
Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay are listed by WTA as supported examples.
Use the same device
Fare capping depends on recognizing the same payment credential every ride.
Freshness warning: an older WTA “How to Ride” page still contains language saying credit/debit cards are not accepted. WTA’s newer July 2026 Tap-to-Pay notice supersedes that older instruction for fixed-route buses.
Route 80X connects Bellingham with Mount Vernon and links WTA riders into the broader Skagit Transit / County Connector network.
Current intercounty fare
WTA’s pre-September County Connector page lists $2 for an 80X ride that crosses between Whatcom and Skagit counties.
Current within-county fare
The same current page lists $1 when an 80X trip remains within one county.
Regional passes
Skagit-Whatcom Day Pass and County Connector products are designed for regional WTA/Skagit connections.
September fare check: WTA’s general September 1 fare-change page does not separately spell out every Route 80X scenario. Recheck the official County Connector fare page for trips on or after September 1.
75
Blaine / Birch Bay via Ferndale Station ↔ Bellingham Station.
Check that your pickup is inside a Flex area.
The normal route map and Flex Service map are not the same thing.
Reserve early.
WTA requires the reservation at least one hour before the relevant bus departure; morning requests may need to be made by 5 p.m. the previous day.
Tell WTA about mobility equipment.
All WTA buses are wheelchair accessible, but reservation staff should know when additional boarding planning is useful.
Every WTA fixed-route bus is wheelchair accessible, and riders may request use of the ramp at stops where the driver can deploy it safely.
Accessible vehicle
All WTA fixed-route buses are wheelchair accessible.
Accessible pathway
WTA warns that it cannot guarantee an accessible path to and from every bus stop.
Paratransit
ADA paratransit is for riders whose disability prevents them from using fixed-route service for some or all trips.
470 accessible stops
WTA reported 470 technically accessible stops as of June 30, 2026.
Paratransit service area
Service is designed to mirror the fixed-route network’s operating area and hours.
ADA questions
WTA customer service can help riders evaluate routes, stops and mobility needs before travel.
New stop advice: WTA recommends previewing the path to a stop when accessibility matters because the bus itself may be accessible even when the sidewalk or boarding area is not.
Bikes on WTA Buses
Bike racks are first come
Rack spaces are not reservable.
E-bikes
WTA allows electric bikes that meet its rack rules and do not weigh more than 50 pounds.
Tell the driver
Before exiting, tell the driver that you need to unload your bicycle.
Inside the bus: a driver may allow limited bikes onboard only when conditions are safe and space is available. Passenger seating and wheelchair securement needs take priority.
PDF freshness rule: if WTA posts a newer guide, replace this embedded document rather than leaving an older timetable simply because the file still loads.
Official fare document
Current WTA Fare Rates and Rules PDF
WTA’s currently linked fare-rules document is effective February 1, 2024 and describes the pre-September 2026 fare structure, Umo rules, Route 80X payment restrictions, reduced fares and free-ride categories.
Do not use this PDF alone for travel after August 31, 2026. WTA has separately approved a new fare structure beginning September 1.
Plan the trip.
Enter your starting point and destination in the WTA trip planner or identify the route manually.
Confirm the service day.
Some routes have no Sunday service, while others operate every day with reduced weekend schedules.
Find the exact stop.
Use the stop code, address or intersection and verify the side of the street.
Check BusTracker.
Look for the approaching vehicle shortly before leaving for your stop.
Prepare payment.
Current options include Umo and cash, and WTA now supports contactless bank cards/mobile wallets on fixed routes.
Board at the front.
Ask the driver for assistance if you are unsure whether the bus reaches your destination.
Request your stop.
Pull the stop-request cord early enough for the driver to stop safely.
Exit safely.
Use the rear door when appropriate and do not cross immediately in front of the bus.
WTA Trip Checklist
Confirm the route number and destination.
Select the correct weekday, Saturday or Sunday schedule.
Check for a June 2026 route-number change.
Save the stop ID when available.
Check BusTracker immediately before travel.
Confirm whether your route has Flex Service.
Review fare rules for the date of travel.
Use the same card/device when relying on fare capping.
Check snow detours during winter conditions.
Allow 3–7 minutes where a timed WWU transfer is planned.
Common WTA Schedule Problems and What to Do
The old route number no longer appears
Check the June 14, 2026 service changes. Several former WWU-area routes were replaced or reorganized.
The bus is later than the timetable
The timetable is scheduled service. Use BusTracker for current movement and delay information.
The app shows no vehicle
The bus may not have started its trip, GPS reporting may be unavailable, or the trip may be disrupted.
Your stop is inaccessible
Contact WTA before travel for help identifying a safer or more accessible nearby boarding point.
Your credit card was previously refused
WTA’s newer July 2026 notice says contactless bank-card payment is now available on fixed-route buses.
Your Flex pickup is off-route
A Flex reservation is required; simply waiting at an off-route address does not request the bus.
You are traveling after Sept. 1
Do not use the old $1 adult fixed-route fare. The new adult fixed-route fare is $2.
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Lost Item or Bicycle on a WTA Bus
Drivers take found items to the Customer Service Office at Bellingham Station. Call 360-676-7433 or visit customer service.
Lost item
Give WTA the route, direction, approximate travel time, boarding stop, exit stop and a detailed item description.
Lost bicycle
Found bicycles are stored at WTA’s administrative offices. WTA asks riders to call for a weekday pickup appointment and bring photo identification.
WTA rider contacts
WTA Customer Service, Flex and Paratransit Numbers
Official-source verification completed August 12, 2026
Independent-site disclosure: busschedule.us does not operate WTA buses, control schedules, sell WTA fares, determine paratransit eligibility or guarantee real-time arrival predictions.
WTA Bus Schedule FAQs
What does WTA stand for in Bellingham?
WTA is Whatcom Transportation Authority, the public transportation provider serving Bellingham and communities throughout Whatcom County, Washington.
How many WTA fixed bus routes are there?
WTA’s current official schedule selector lists 30 fixed routes.
How do I find my WTA bus time?
Open the official WTA schedule tool, select the route, destination and service day, or search the exact stop code, address or intersection.
Does WTA have real-time bus tracking?
Yes. WTA BusTracker provides real-time bus information and is the better tool for checking what is happening immediately before a trip.
How much is a WTA bus fare right now?
Through August 31, 2026, WTA’s current regular fixed-route cash fare is $1. A new $2 adult fixed-route fare begins September 1, 2026.
Are WTA buses free for youth?
Yes. Youth age 18 and under ride free. Route 80X can have separate proof/pass requirements, so check current County Connector instructions.
Can I use a credit card on a WTA bus?
WTA announced in July 2026 that contactless credit/debit cards and supported mobile wallets can be used on all fixed-route buses.
Which WTA route goes to Western Washington University?
Route 190 is the main high-frequency WWU backbone under WTA’s June 2026 network. Routes 5, 7, 14 and supplemental campus services can also be relevant depending on the destination.
Which WTA bus goes to Mount Vernon?
Route 80X provides the regional connection between Bellingham and Mount Vernon.
Which WTA routes offer Flex Service?
WTA currently offers Flex Service on Routes 71X, 72X and 75 in designated service areas.
Are WTA buses wheelchair accessible?
Yes. WTA says all fixed-route buses are wheelchair accessible, but not every stop or path to a stop meets ADA accessibility standards.
Does WTA run on weekends?
WTA provides weekend service on many routes, but some routes have limited Saturday schedules or no Sunday service. Check the route-specific Saturday and Sunday timetable.
Where is WTA Bellingham Station?
Bellingham Station is at 205 E Magnolia in downtown Bellingham.
Where is Cordata Station?
Cordata Station is at 4194 Cordata Parkway in Bellingham and is a major hub for north-Bellingham and county routes.
What happens to WTA buses during snow?
Buses can be delayed or rerouted. WTA publishes snow detours for several routes and recommends using BusTracker for current conditions.
