Mayor Franklin affirms Everett Transit merger into Community Transit not on table

Mayor Cassie Franklin confirmed last week that Everett will not seek to merge Everett Transit into Community Transit, despite recent state legislation allowing such an action. The state bill, ESSB 1801, would enable Community Transit to annex Everett Transit without a public vote, contingent on mutual agreement from city leaders. Franklin stated that pursuing the merger does not align with the city's current priorities, which focus on saving general fund dollars and creating sustainable revenue streams. Earlier this decade, the city studied the potential consolidation of the two transit systems, completing the study in 2023. Discussions regarding the merger had taken place as recently as January 2024, following Community Transit’s 2019 proposal for a takeover.

Everett Transit operates in a unique position among Washington's largest cities, serving about 4,000 riders each weekday. The differing tax rates and union structures of the two agencies further complicate any potential merger. The city remains committed to addressing more urgent matters instead of pursuing this merger at present.