EVERETT– Everett Transit union bus drivers returned to city hall Aug. 12 to continue voicing their concerns about a proposed measure to merge their agency into the larger Community Transit network. While the merger has potential to greatly expand transit services within Everett, union workers have objected to the annexation process, taxation and shared concerns about less localized control over the city’s transportation. City officials have scheduled an open house for Aug. 18 to share information with and receive input from locals about the annexation.
Many comments made against the merger echoed those made in past months.
Everett Transit Bus Driver Daryle Sullivan voiced his opposition from the dual perspective of rider and driver.
“The job I have now is better than what CT will offer. I’m extremely confident that, you know, they can match salary, match time off, but I’m very comfortable with my job now… and there’s 200 plus other folks that feel the same. It affects them and their families,” Sullivan acknowledged that the council was required to operate on behalf of the entire city, but said he believed that, with the scale of operations being much larger, things would “fall through the cracks”.
During the Wednesday meeting, staff also made a brief statement to clarify how the annexation would impact paratransit service, which provides door-to-door transport.
- For currently enrolled users of the paratransit service, including Everett seniors aged 65 and over as well as those with a qualifying disability, service will continue as usual.
- For future users of the paratransit service, applicants will be subject to Community Transit’s requirements, which specify that an individual must possess a qualifying disability to utilize paratransit. This excludes seniors who otherwise would have automatically qualified for service.
Councilmember Scott Bader asked staff to provide information about what ratio of current Everett paratransit users would hypothetically fit this more restrictive criteria.
- While certain caveats restricting paratransit service to areas within .75 miles of fixed-route bus service exist in other jurisdictions across the state, Community Transit will provide paratransit services to the whole of Everett.
- Finally, a draft consolidation document details that “Everett Transit’s directly operated paratransit drivers, scheduling staff, vehicles, and service will continue to provide paratransit service in Everett under the new consolidated transit agency.”
In other business, Councilmember Luis Burbano called attention to a pedestrian collision on Evergreen Way.
“Yesterday, [Aug. 11] a person using a micromobility device was hit by a car on Evergreen Way. This was a 20-year-old and he was transported to the hospital. This is three weeks after a person was killed by a car on the same road. All of this happens in District 4. According to The Urbanist, Everett is the third most dangerous city for pedestrians in the state of Washington. This is something we have to change,” Burbano said.
Also during public comment, Lauren, a community member from the Westmont Neighborhood, talked about a decrease in the standard of living for area residents following the closure of a Fred Meyer grocery story previously open at 8530 Evergreen Way.
“I’ve seen how much [the closure] has decreased the standard of living amongst the most vulnerable in our community, including people who don’t have cars and have to walk or take the bus to get groceries, which now takes an hour longer. Workers of all ages who were once able to find entry-level employment through the local grocery store. And most of all, unhoused people who don’t have a refrigerator or food storage and rely on nearby grocery stores for daily meals. Kroger’s decision to hold on to this vacant property without selling, for possible years to come, is detrimental to the economy of our neighborhood,” Lauren said. She asked that city councilmembers consider imposing a financial penalty when property owners occupying a vacant business continue to occupy space without the intent to sell or reopen the business.
A recording of the meeting is available on YouTube here. The council will reconvene Aug. 19. More details about the Aug. 18 open house can be found here.