Community Transit CEO Ric Ilgenfritz (left) and City of Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin announce details of a proposed Interlocal Agreement at a press conference Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026.

Following public input and intensive negotiations, Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin and Community Transit CEO Ric Ilgenfritz today announced details of a historic plan to consolidate transit service in Snohomish County. Their proposed Interlocal Agreement (ILA) for the consolidation of Everett Transit with Community Transit would increase bus service in the city by 50% and end years of difficult transfers for riders traveling between Everett and other destinations across the county and region.

While dramatically expanding transit options and the frequency and service hours of Everett bus routes, the agreement prioritizes preserving current paratransit service for Everett residents and maintains employment for Everett Transit employees.

October public hearings on the agreement and potential annexation will be set by the Everett City Council and Community Transit Board of Directors, with final consideration expected in November.

"Now is the time to build one seamless transit system for Everett and Snohomish County," said Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin. "Sound Transit light rail is transforming how we connect to destinations around Puget Sound. With six more stations on their way, we must seize this pivotal moment."

"We've reached an agreement based on public input that improves transportation for all Snohomish County residents," said Community Transit CEO Ric Ilgenfritz. "If this plan is approved, we will get started right away, making public transportation easier and more convenient for people to get where they want to go county-wide."

As Everett and Snohomish County continue growing, the consolidation will provide transportation investments needed to continue building their economic vitality, benefiting all citizens, whether they ride transit or not.

"Investing in a strong public transportation system is critical to economically successful regions," said Ray Stephanson, President & CEO of Economic Alliance Snohomish County. "This consolidation expands transit service within Everett and Snohomish County, improving access to thousands of current and future riders and helping the county attract jobs, employees, customers and economic opportunities."

Yesterday, the board of the Snohomish County Committee for Improved Transportation (SCCIT), a non-profit organization of business, citizen, and government leaders, voted to endorse the proposed consolidation.

ILA Highlights

The ILA was shaped with input from Everett bus and paratransit riders, employees, and the public. The City of Everett and Community Transit gathered input through conversations with key stakeholders, meetings with staff, an open house on Aug. 18 with nearly 100 attendees, and 217 online and written comments.

This input helped shape the ILA, with particular focus on several key priorities, including protecting existing Everett paratransit service and customers, protections for Everett Transit employees and their benefits, and expanding transit service in Everett. Feedback about transit service will also inform the integrated network planning and community engagement that will take place in 2027.

Key provisions in the ILA include:

• Phased increase in transit service in Everett of 50% through 2031 – double the service increase envisioned in the Everett Transit Long Range Plan
• Adding a Zip microtransit zone in Everett by spring 2028
• Retaining paratransit eligibility and service area for current Everett paratransit customers
• Retaining employment for all Everett Transit staff by transferring to Community Transit or staying with the city. Community Transit will fully honor the collective bargaining agreements of transferring employees.

Effective date

If approved, the annexation of Everett into Community Transit's service district, or Public Transportation Benefit Area (PTBA), would take effect on April 1, 2027. Service would remain largely as-is until 2028, with emphasis on avoiding disruptions to riders during public involvement efforts and internal preparations to shape and implement expansions.

Earliest improvements—including the addition of a Zip microtransit zone—would come in March 2028, with further expansions ramping up later in the year and continuing into 2031. Fares would remain unchanged while the Community Transit Board of Directors, with the addition of Everett representation, reviews long-term options.

The expansions would 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 would replace Everett's 0.6% transit sales tax within the city, an increase of 6 cents on a $10 taxable purchase.

Financial details

Community Transit would pay Everett $54.5 million as part of the agreement. Of that amount, $42.5 million reflects transit property and assets—including Everett Station, buses, charging equipment, and other transit facilities and equipment. $12 million recognizes impacts and transition costs to City services. Everett would separately transfer $16 million in existing transit capital reserves to Community Transit to fund equipment and vehicle replacement. Transit agencies build such reserves as a matter of best practice, and this transfer ensures current Everett Transit vehicles can be replaced when they reach the end of useful life.

Next steps

If both governing bodies approve the Initiation ILA, public hearings will be held on the actual annexation of Everett into Community Transit's PTBA. The anticipated schedule for the public hearings and further votes is listed below.

• Sept. 30: Everett City Council meeting – Action on Initiation ILA setting public hearing date
• Oct. 1: Community Transit Board of Directors meeting – Action on Initiation ILA setting public hearing date
• Oct. 28 (anticipated): Everett City Council Meeting – Public hearing on the annexation
• Oct. 29 (anticipated): Community Transit Board of Directors Meeting – Public hearing on the annexation
• Nov. 4 (anticipated): Everett City Council Meeting – Action on annexation
• Nov. 5 (anticipated): Community Transit Board of Directors Meeting – Action on annexation

Public comment on Annexation

With release of the ILA, public comment on the potential annexation of Everett into the Community Transit PTBA is encouraged. All public input received by Oct. 21 will be shared with the Everett City Council and Community Transit Board of Directors. Comments can be submitted:

• Online: bit.ly/etctcomment
• Email: communications@everettwa.gov
  
• Postal letter:
  City of Everett Communications
  2930 Wetmore Ave, Suite 10-A
  Everett, WA 98201
  
• Phone: (425) 257-7121

More information about the effort to consider consolidation of Everett Transit and Community Transit service, including the ILA, is available at everettwa.gov/transitconsolidation.