Everett City Council received an update on the proposed Everett Transit and Community Transit merger

The main topic of Wednesday night’s Everett City Council meeting was the potential merger of Community Transit and Everett Transit. After public comments, the council received a unification plan briefing from Community Transit’s CEO; once that was completed, council members posed questions on employee transition timelines, paratransit accommodations, plans for balancing representation on the Board of Directors, and the potential for phased tax implication roll outs.

Community Transit’s CEO Ric Ilgenfritz also made a presentation to the council that listed several benefits that would result because of the merger. Among the benefits that were listed included the fact that a merger with CT would mean that the end of service within Everett city limits would be extended to meet the current end of in the rest of the county, which is midnight every day – currently Everett Transit routes make their last run between 9:00 and 10:00 PM. There would also be more direct connections which means that there will be more one seat rides between Lake Stevens, Snohomish, and other suburbs and employment centers within Everett (like the Everett Naval Yard or Boeing); while also making those towns more accessible to residents of Snohomish County’s largest city.

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A map of the proposed micro-transit/innovative transit ideas that could be utilized if the merger is approved.

Everett’s executive director of parks and facilities, Bob Leonard, introduced the initiative to merge the two transit systems in an effort to address needs of the current and future residents. He highlighted the planned employee, financial, and service priorities that would be considered during the merger. The merger would adhere to all mandatory legal parameters, including Section 13(c) of the Federal Transit Act, which establishes safeguards for transit workers, and the honoring the existing union contracts, Ilgenfritz said that Everett Transit employees would not see any changes during the first year of the merger.

Following three rounds of public engagement, a public hearing, and a council meeting, the annexation plan would begin implementation in March of 2028 if approved, Ilgenfritz indicated.

A public listening session on the topic will be held on August 18 at the Walter E. Hall Golf Course meeting room space from 5:30 to 7:00 pm. In September, the proposed Interlocal Agreement draft is planned to become public.

Spokane fires

The City of Spokane has made the decision to utilize its H.O.M.E Starts Here Fund to assist victims of the wildfires that have torched the city. This fund will assist with short- & long-term rent, diapers, baby formula, back to school supplies, basic house ware needs, furniture and other household needs as families try to rebuild their lives. As the city and its residents are working through the recovery process, the city will forgo it’s typical administrative fee so that 100% of each donation will go to those in need.

If you want to donate to this fun, click here.