Everett to join Community Transit, setting the course for expanded service and a seamless transit system in Snohomish County

Snohomish County, Wash. – A single unified and expanded transit network will connect residents across all of Snohomish County following votes Wednesday by the Everett City Council and today by the Community Transit Board of Directors.  

“Everett residents deserve the same higher level of transit service as residents of so many other Snohomish County cities,” said Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin. “One seamless system will help our residents reach destinations both inside and outside of Everett more quickly and easily. Our current Everett Transit staff will continue to provide valuable public service both during this transition and after consolidation with Community Transit.”

“We are excited to welcome Everett into the Community Transit network and especially pleased to welcome Everett Transit employees as we work to deliver more bus service to Everett,” said Community Transit CEO Ric Ilgenfritz. “These employees know the city and their customers know them. They will play an integral role as we prepare for significantly more transportation options and the arrival of Link light rail in Everett.”

With the City of Everett’s annexation into Community Transit’s service area, Everett Transit will become part of Community Transit, and work will begin to start expanding service in 2028. Bus service on routes within and through Everett will improve dramatically, including fewer bus transfers for customers. The consolidated services will be guided by an interlocal agreement (ILA) approved by both Everett and Community Transit. Key features of the ILA include:  

• Increasing transit service in Everett 50% by 2031, including more frequent buses and earlier morning and later evening service.
• Adding an on-demand Zip Shuttle rideshare zone in Everett by spring 2028.
• Retaining paratransit eligibility and service area for current Everett paratransit customers.
• Offering employment for Everett Transit staff at Community Transit or with the city. Community Transit will fully honor the collective bargaining agreements of transferring employees.

“Community Transit’s Vision Statement is 'Travel made easy for all.' This consolidation of transit service recognizes the fact that people from throughout Snohomish County travel into and out of Everett every day. Creating a seamless transit journey across city boundaries is a huge step toward achieving our vision and truly serving all residents of Snohomish County,” said Community Transit Board Chair and Mukilteo Mayor Joe Marine.

“Our Everett Transit employees are our most important asset,” said Everett City Council President Don Schwab. “All of our workers will continue to serve transit users as they transition to Community Transit. Existing labor agreements remain in place and there is no question that our workers will be protected.”

“All of Everett and Snohomish County will benefit from an integrated public transit system,” said Everett City Council Vice President Paula Rhyne. “I am grateful for the commitment and assurance that our Everett Transit workforce will be honored and supported during the transition to Community Transit, that paratransit services will be protected, and that we now will be able to build a bus network robust enough to better connect residents to their destinations while supporting Sound Transit’s extension of light rail to Everett.”

The ILA and other resources are available on a new section of Community Transit’s website that will be updated as work moves forward to plan and implement the consolidation. That webpage can be found at ctgo.org/everett-updates.

Community Transit will assume leadership of transit operations in Everett on April 1, 2027. Starting in January 2027, the public will be invited to give input to help plan an integrated transit network serving Everett and Snohomish County, with expansions starting in 2028. Until then, current bus routes and schedules within Everett will remain mostly the same.  

The expansions will be funded by bringing local transit funding in Everett to the same level that already applies to Snohomish County’s other cities. Beginning April 1, 2027, Community Transit’s 1.2% transit sales tax will replace Everett’s 0.6% transit sales tax within the city, an increase of 6 cents on a $10 taxable purchase.