Everett entertains pitch for joining county-wide bus system
EVERETT — A long floated merger proposal between Everett Transit and Community Transit is gaining new legs as Everett looks to bridge a budget deficit.
On Wednesday night, Community Transit presented to councilmembers what joining the two systems could potentially bring to Everett — additional Swift Bus Rapid Transit routes, more frequent arrivals of buses, and service more hours of the day.
“Everett Transit provides a quality service, they just don’t provide enough of it and it’s not cost-effective,” Emmett Heath, CEO of Community Transit, said after the presentation. “There is an inefficiency in operating to two systems.”
The city asked Community Transit to present to the council as Everett tries to bridge a budget deficit that is projected to grow to $22.5 million by 2024 if no changes are made. The Everett City Council is considering merging certain services — fire, parks, library or transit — with existing regional systems to cut expenses.
Everett is the only city in the county that’s not part of the Community Transit system which serves jurisdictions throughout Snohomish County.
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