|
The
Herald
Published: March 25, 2001
'Say goodbye to free ride, Everett'
Guest Editorial,
Dave Schmidt
Ever since the formation of Community Transit 25 years ago, there has been talk of merging that agency with Everett Transit. This year the talk is in Olympia.
The state Blue Ribbon Commission on Transportation concluded, after two years of study, that one way our transportation tax dollars are wasted is that we have too many overlapping agencies. Unfortunately, Snohomish County is the poster child for this problem. That's why 15 Snohomish County legislators have sponsored two bills this year (House Bill 1156 and Senate Bill 5477) that would merge Everett and Community Transit or require Everett to pay for the service it receives.
Community Transit provides $2.6 million worth of bus service each year to Everett residents without payment or subsidy from the city. Everett Transit's entire budget is about $7 million, so it is understandable that the city is reluctant to pay for the service it receives. Understandable, but not reasonable or fair to the taxpayers of Community Transit. Community Transit buses carry 3,700 Everett residents a day, 40 percent of all Everett transit users. More than 10 percent of the cars at Community Transit park and rides are registered to Everett residents and more than 350 Everett residents use Community Transit's vanpool program.
Community Transit provides service to Everett for obvious reasons. It's the county seat. The county's largest employer, Boeing, and 39,000 more jobs than people are in Everett. Everett is in the middle of Community Transit's service area, and to avoid the city would require circuitous routes that would serve neither bus riders nor taxpayers. Still, none of that explains why Community Transit should be subsidizing service to Everett residents. It's time to end the free ride.
We are the only county in the state with two local transit agencies. A combined Community Transit-Everett Transit bus system could save $1.9 million a year. The savings and elimination of duplicate routes could provide funding for 18 percent more bus service throughout Snohomish County. I believe in common sense and good government, and that's what a merger is all about.
Even with service to Everett, the current two-agency system fails to provide the seamless service that the public deserves. Getting to the Everett Mall, to the Navy Homeport or Paine Field is more difficult than it should be. As the county strives for economic development and Everett looks to boost its position in the region, better transit service must be a top priority.
The average bus rider doesn't care where the money to run their bus comes from as long as the bus arrives, but the Legislature is becoming increasingly concerned. Despite talk of the demise of the merger bills, legislation to force the issue has gone further this year than ever before. That's because for the past decade legislators have been told, "We'll solve this at the local level."
However, Everett leaders and residents have yet to take action on their opportunity to save taxpayer money and get better bus service. Formation of a single transit agency will only happen with a public vote. I hope giving local citizens that sensible choice won't first take a vote of the Legislature.
Rep. Dave Schmidt, R-Bothell, represents the 44th District. He is the prime sponsor of HB 1156.
|
