By Dropping Youth Fares, Everett Transit To Receive Millions

Last night the Everett City Council adopted changes to its transit ordinance in response to recent legislation approved in Washington State known as Move Ahead Washington.

The new law allows for direct distribution of funds to reimburse transit agencies for any expense, operating or capital. The catch is the funds are only available to agencies that adopt a fare free policy, on all modes, for youth 18 and under.

Everett Transit currently collects less than $100,000 annually in youth fare. In exchange for allowing all youth 18 and under to ride free on all modes, the state will provide direct funding to Everett Transit.
Everett Transit will receive:
• $758,427 between Oct. 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023
• $2 million annually thereafter (Based on previous year’s operations expenses)

Councilmember Paula Rhyne proposed amendments to the ordinance that would have provided free fares to those 21 and under instead of 18 as well as free fare for Veterans as part of this package. Those amendments were rejected by a majority of councilmembers who stated they did not want to confuse the issue by having one set of rules for riders in Everett only and another for those who may transfer to other modes or agencies including Sound Transit, Washington State Ferries or Community Transit.

Council President Brenda Stonecipher asked city administrators to look into the logistics of free fares for Veterans and other riders under a separate proposal and to come back to the council at a later date with that information.

Everett Transit currently only captures about 4 percent of their costs from fares paid by riders. Prior to the Pandemic that figure was only 7 percent. Everett Transit Director Tom Hingson told the council Everett has never topped ten percent in fare box recovery.

The new fare rules are expected to go into effect July 1st which should allow kids 18 and under to ride the bus free this summer. Plans are to issue a free youth transit pass to those 18 and under. Once the pass holder turns 19 the pass would turn into an adult pass along the lines of an Orca card and need to be loaded with funds. Other products for those not able to afford full fares are being developed.

In the meantime, the City of Everett, Everett Transit and Community Transit are working together to design what is being called a collaborative study process that could define a plan for Everett to join Community Transit’s public transportation benefit area (PTBA). With Council approval, the joint study would inform a potential ballot measure for Everett voters to consider moving forward with a merger between Everett Transit and Community Transit. That work is expected to take a couple of years.