On May 24, the Whatcom Transportation Authority (WTA) and elected leaders from the Lummi Indian Business Council gathered at a ribbon-cutting event on the Lummi Reservation to celebrate several transit and bicycle infrastructure improvements. These improvements included a new covered bus shelter serving a counseling services center, several bike lockers at the Lummi Tribal Administration Building, and accessibility enhancements at two additional bus stops.
Ferndale City Council Member and WTA Board Chair Ali Hawkinson highlighted the importance of the Transit Access Fund, stating that it helps address missing links in the transportation network. By collaborating with the community, WTA is able to identify ways to enhance the reach and value of public transportation, particularly in rural areas. The Transit Access Fund’s goal is to improve access to bus stops through funding for eligible infrastructure projects such as sidewalks, intersection improvements, mid-block crossings, curb cuts, sidewalk ramps, shared-use paths, pedestrian crossing signals, bicycle parking and pedestrian lighting all located within a quarter-mile of a bus stop.