TransitSaturday, November 7
Everett Transit will merge into Community Transit after unanimous votes this week
The Daily Marysville team
If you ride the bus in Snohomish County, one network is coming. Everett's City Council voted Wednesday and Community Transit's board voted Thursday, both unanimously, to approve the merger. The city's own bus agency, around since 1969, ends on April 1, 2027.
Everett's bus merger is approved and phases in through 2031
- Nov. 4Everett City Council votes to approve the merger agreement.
- Nov. 5Community Transit's board votes to approve it.
- April 2027Everett stops running its own transit agency, and the transit sales tax rises to 1.2%.
- Early 2028Community Transit's planned service expansions begin.
- Spring '28An on-demand Zip Shuttle zone is planned for Everett.
- 2031Bus service in Everett is to be up 50%.
Sources: The Urbanist, MyEverettNews.com, KIRO 7 News Seattle
Everett Council President Don Schwab said Wednesday that residents already travel to Lynnwood, Bothell, Mukilteo, Marysville, Seattle and other spots, and that one network means smoother transfers and fewer gaps.
- Service: up 50% by 2031, with earlier and later buses
- Sales tax for transit: 0.6% to 1.2% on April 1, 2027
- Zip Shuttle: on-demand zone planned in Everett by spring 2028
- Jobs: Everett Transit staff offered work at Community Transit or the city
Everett's bus merger by the numbers
- 50%
- more bus service in Everett by 2031
- 1.2%
- transit sales tax from April 1, 2027, up from 0.6%
- 2 million
- trips a year on Everett Transit
Sources: The Urbanist, KIRO 7 News Seattle
Not everyone's on board. Some residents weren't convinced when they spoke to council Wednesday night, and the merger didn't go to a ballot because a 2025 law change dropped that requirement. A press release says Community Transit will honor the collective bargaining agreements of employees who transfer.
Sources: The Urbanist, MyEverettNews.com, KIRO 7 News Seattle, KING5.com