Workshop Wednesday On Future Of Everett Transit

Editor’s update 10:28 AM: We did receive the following from Martin Munguia, Corporate Communications Manager for Community Transit in regards to our saying in the below story that CT expressed interest in serving Everett.
My Everett News,

I just want to clarify on behalf of Community Transit that this agency has not “expressed interest” in a plan to unify Community Transit and Everett Transit operations. The presentation given by CEO Emmett Heath to the Everett City Council on Nov. 6 was done at the request of the city. City officials asked Community Transit to present an overview of transit operations if Everett Transit operations were unified with Community Transit operations. This was not a proactive move by Community Transit, but rather a lengthy response to a question asked by the city as it considers the future of transit operations within Everett.

The Everett City Council will be having its third workshop of the year this Wednesday on the future of Everett Transit.

Everett leaders are considering changes both big and small to Everett Transit in order to cut costs to overall city spending.

Workshop topics include:

1) Financial projections through the year 2040;

2) Potential outcomes of three transit service policy options entitled “Status Quo,” “Long Range Plan -Growth,” and “Unified”;

3) Recommended next steps.

There is been interest expressed by Community Transit in a plan called “Unification” that would have CT and Everett Transit combine operations within the Everett City limits. That has been met with opposition by those who feel Everett would lose control of what routes were served in Everett and result in less service for city residents.

You can click here to see the power point presentation that will be presented to the city council.

One other transit related item on the city council agenda. The purchase of two more electric buses. The cost of the buses is nearly two million dollars which will be entirely covered by a Federal Transportation Administration grant along with a Department of Ecology grant.

While this leaves the city budget untouched the council needs to take action quickly in order to not lose out on the funding.