Whatcom County, located in the far northwest corner of Washington State, is known for its rural beauty and outdoor recreation. It has a diverse population spread across small city and rural areas with an estimated 221,959 residents as of 2019. Public transportation options in the region are limited but do exist. The Whatcom Transportation Authority (WTA) operates several bus routes throughout the county, allowing residents to access a variety of destinations including Bellingham, Mt. Vernon, and Seattle. In addition to standard bus services, WTA also provides Dial-A-Ride services that provide door-to-door service for those with disabilities or other special needs. Other public transportation services in the area include Amtrak's Empire Builder train line which connects Seattle and Chicago while stopping at towns like Sumas and Skykomish along the way. Private transportation services such as rental cars, taxis, ride-hailing companies like Uber and Lyft are also available in some areas of Whatcom County. With all these options available to choose from, it's easy for residents of Whatcom County to get around safely and conveniently without having to own a personal vehicle.
The typical American commute has been getting longer each year since 2010. The average one-way commute in Whatcom County takes 21.0 minutes. That's shorter than the US average of 26.4 minutes.
How people in Whatcom County get to work:
- 75.3% drive their own car alone
- 9.1% carpool with others
- 5.9% work from home
- 2.5% take mass transit