Dozens of residents expressed varying viewpoints during public hearings held on Wednesday and Thursday regarding the potential merger between Everett Transit and Community Transit. The city and the transit agency are preparing to decide whether to approve the consolidation during meetings next week. Under the proposed measure, Everett Transit would cease independent operations, allowing Community Transit, which serves Snohomish County, to manage bus services within Everett city limits.
Officials state that the merger would significantly expand bus service within the city over the next four years. Proponents argue that the plan would increase transit service by 50 percent in Everett by 2031. They also highlight the benefits of easier connections for trips entering or leaving the city, as well as the potential to fill service gaps in areas currently lacking frequent transit options. However, the plan includes doubling the local transit sales tax from 0.6 percent to 1.2 percent, a change that has generated significant discussion among voters.
Supporters of the consolidation emphasized the need for improved infrastructure to accommodate projected population growth over the next two decades. Brock Howell, executive director of the Snohomish County Transportation Coalition, noted that better transit would prevent street gridlock and allow new apartment buildings to prioritize living space over parking. Erik Ashlie-Vinke, a government relations director at Sound Transit, stated that the agency fully supports the merger as a unique opportunity to create a more connected and efficient transportation network.
Bob Leonard, an executive director for the city, argued that a consolidated network would help leverage Sound Transit's planned light rail extension. He explained that reliable local connections are essential for the success of the regional rail project, which is expected to reach the area within the next 11 years. Sylvia Mendoza, a resident of south Everett, shared that her daughter currently spends two and a half hours commuting due to multiple transfers, describing the merger as a chance to integrate more direct routes.
Opponents of the measure contend that the sales tax increase is an unnecessary burden on residents facing rising costs. They argue that Everett Transit already provides adequate service and that the proposed interlocal agreement lacks sufficient protections for employees transferring to Community Transit. Steve Oss, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union 883, which represents Everett Transit drivers and mechanics, emphasized that the agency's small size allows it to be responsive to local needs rather than being incompetent.
A key point of contention is the future of employee seniority. Tom Gibbons, a retired transit scheduler, urged the council to delay the vote until seniority rights are clearly protected in the agreement. Kandy Bartlett, the city's director of labor and administrative services, explained that existing union members will retain their current seniority until they negotiate with the union representing Community Transit employees. Both existing contracts expire at the end of 2027, though they remain in effect until new agreements are ratified.
The merger would also alter paratransit eligibility rules. Currently, Everett Transit allows riders aged 65 and older to use paratransit services regardless of disability status. Under the new system, existing riders over 65 would keep their access, but those turning 65 after the merger would no longer qualify automatically. Some residents, including Daryle Sullivan, an Everett Transit driver, questioned why the city is adding another tax when it has recently faced increases in utility fees and emergency medical services levies.
Several attendees requested that the measure be sent to a public vote, a process that was previously required for transit consolidation. A 2025 state law changed this requirement, allowing governing bodies to approve mergers via interlocal agreements. City attorney Ramsey Ramerman argued that such complex decisions are best handled by elected representatives who have the time and expertise to review the details, rather than through a general vote.
The Everett City Council is scheduled to vote on the consolidation agreement at 6:30 p.m. on November 4. Following that decision, the Community Transit board of directors is expected to hold its vote at 3 p.m. on November 5. The outcome will determine the future structure of public transportation in Everett and the regional connections available to its residents.
