Community Transit Earns Salmon-Safe Certification

First public transit agency to receive environmental designation

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Community Transit, the public transit agency serving Snohomish County, Washington, has become the first transit agency to earn Salmon-Safe Certification from the independent non-profit environmental organization. The certification marks a major milestone in the agency's commitment to supporting a healthy environment and protecting local waterways.

Why it matters

As a major transit provider, Community Transit's operations and facilities can impact local water quality through stormwater runoff containing pollutants. Earning the Salmon-Safe Certification demonstrates the agency's proactive efforts to mitigate these environmental effects and protect sensitive ecosystems like salmon habitats in the Puget Sound region.

The details

To earn and maintain the Salmon-Safe Certification, Community Transit committed to implementing specific, science-backed practices across four focus areas: reducing stormwater pollution, protecting green spaces, using environmentally-friendly maintenance and landscaping, and training staff to prevent water pollution. The agency's 50-acre operations and administrative campuses include paved surfaces, rooftops, and bus yards that can contribute trace pollutants to local waterways.

  • Community Transit earned the Salmon-Safe Certification in March 2026.

The players

Community Transit

The public transit agency serving Snohomish County, Washington.

Salmon-Safe

An independent, non-profit environmental organization that provides the Salmon-Safe Certification.

Joe Marine

Community Transit Board Chair and Mayor of Mukilteo.

Ric Ilgenfritz

Community Transit CEO.

Ellen Southard

Salmon-Safe Outreach & Engagement Specialist.

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What they’re saying

“As the first-ever transit agency to achieve Salmon-Safe certification, Community Transit will be working towards water quality protection goals identified by Salmon-Safe's independent science team and reporting on its progress with respect to reducing impacts on downstream waterways.”

— Dan Kent, Salmon-Safe co-founder and executive director

“Salmon-Safe certification is more than an award; it represents Community Transit's commitment to continuous improvement of ongoing sustainability efforts in our operations and capital projects. Over the next five years, we will implement and maintain specific, science-backed practices to further strengthen watershed health in the region.”

— Ric Ilgenfritz, Community Transit CEO

What’s next

Community Transit will implement and maintain the specific, science-backed practices identified by Salmon-Safe over the next five years to further strengthen watershed health in the region.

The takeaway

By becoming the first public transit agency to earn the Salmon-Safe Certification, Community Transit has demonstrated its commitment to environmental sustainability and protecting sensitive ecosystems like salmon habitats in the Puget Sound region through proactive measures to mitigate the impact of its operations.