The Mayor of Everett wants to have Everett Transit and Community Transit merge. This site's purpose is to inform you in a truthful and accurate manner on why keeping Everett Transit is the best course of action for both riders and non-riding citizens.
Previously, in order for a merger to happen, citizens were required to have a vote to raise the transit portion of their sales tax from 0.6% to 1.2%, but not anymore. As of April, 2025, due to the passing of Senate Bill 5801 Part X, this is no longer the case. Your right to vote was taken away, without your consent.
To put it shortly, a merger would cost you more money. The city has expressed interest in getting rid of several of its city services, including Everett Fire and Everett Public Library. Getting rid of these vital services is not the answer to Everett's budget deficit. This change would be permanent; your cost of living will rise and Everett Transit would cease to exist.
- August 14, 2026 - There will be an open house hosted by City of Everett and Community Transit on Thursday, August 18th from 5:30pm-7:30pm at Walter hall Banquet Room; 1226 West Casino Road. Here is also a Herald article about it: https://www.heraldnet.com/2026/08/12/everett-community-transit-to-host-open-house-regarding-merger/
- July 4, 2026 - Herald Writer Will Geschke wrote an article regarding the consolidation. Read here: https://www.heraldnet.com/2026/06/26/as-everett-weighs-transit-merger-paratransit-riders-want-same-service/
ATU 883 also participated in the July 4th parade in downtown Everett.
- May 7, 2026 - A few people spoke at May 6's Everett city council meeting regarding Everett Transit. You can view it here: https://www.youtube.com/live/f4FvWYWoWQA. City council meetings are at 6:30pm the first three Wednesdays of the month, and at 12:30pm the last Wednesday of the month.
- April 27, 2026 - Lynnwood Times is covering the merger including in depth research and an interview with Union President Steve Oss as well as comments from City of Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin and Community Transit CEO Ric Ilgenfritz. Read here: https://lynnwoodtimes.com/2026/04/27/everett-transit/
- April 20, 2026 - It is looking likely that Mayor Franklin will recommend to the Everett City Council to move forward with merging Everett Transit and Community Transit. Due to Senate Bill 5801 Part X citizens may no longer vote on this matter. The decision will likely be made within months. We encourage you to contact your City Council representative.
- July 10, 2024 - The City of Everett and Snohomish County will have two tax increases up for vote on November 5, 2024; Proposition 1 and Public Safety Tax. As a reminder, a Transit consolidation would result in doubling the transit portion of your sales tax. It it not currently anticipated that this will be on the ballot this coming November.
- November 28, 2023 - Everett Transit is doing well without a 100% increase in the transit portion of your sales tax; this past year there are more routes, more buses per hour, many seats to choose from, and $20 million in savings with plenty of room for growth for many years to come.
- June 10, 2023 - You may have received a postcard in the mail asking you to take a survey about changes to public services. It is, in fact, a survey about the merger. We encourage you to take the survey and give your thoughts. Here is the link: http://bit.ly/3BiGMxM
- May 21, 2023 - ATU 0883 has endorsed Judy Tuohy in her re-election for Everett City Council Position 7.
- June 13, 2022 - The Free Youth Transit Pass program will begin July 1, 2022; 18 and under will ride fare free. ORCA Lift cost will be reduced from $1.50 to $1, and a zero-fare ORCA card will be introduced in the near future.
- June 9, 2022 - Everett Herald: Community Transit sticks with vaccine policy
Frequently Asked Questions
The City of Everett and Community Transit are currently conducting a study and gathering data to determine the future of Everett Transit, and one of the options being explored is to merge Everett Transit with Community Transit. Click here for detailed information about the agreement recently reached between the City of Everett and Community Transit regarding the consideration of consolidated transit services.
If you use Everett Transit and a merger were to go through you would expect your fare to increase from $2.00 to $2.50.
Everett Para Transit riders would become DART riders and have their fare increase from $2.00 to $2.50.
For citizens of Everett, the transit tax portion of your sales tax, currently 0.6%, would double to 1.2%.
It is currently not known exactly how a merger would impacts routes, but citizens of Everett would likely have very little say as they'll have given up their unique transit system.
If you ride the bus, your fares will go up.
For senior and disabled people, your fare would increase from $0.50 to $1.50 for fixed route buses.
For adults, your fare would increase from $2.00 to $2.50.
For para transit riders, your fare would increase from $2.00 to $2.50.
As of July 1, 2022, persons 18 and under will ride fare free with Everett Transit.
For tax payers living in Everett, the transit tax portion of your sales tax would double from 0.6% to 1.2%. Based on these figures, the average family of four could expect their monthly transit tax to increase from about $94 to $188.
There is nothing set in stone about routes, but it is expected that they will mostly stay the same. More information on route ideas are show in the More Transit Together study: https://www.communitytransit.org/docs/default-source/pdfs/more-transit-together_final-report.pdf
Current Everett Para Transit riders would not see a change in their service.
Future rides would have the more limited structure that Community Transit offers. Community Transit chooses to do the bare minimum while Everett Transit allows anyone over 65 to ride and they can go anywhere in Everett.
At Community Transit you may only go to somewhere within 3/4 of a mile of a fixed route stop and you must possess a disability to utilize it; you won't automatically qualify for being 65+.
This site is not affiliated with the City of Everett or Everett Transit.
Contact us at: admin@keepet.org