Mayor Franklin: Prioritizing Everett Link makes sense locally and regionally

Published 1:30 am Monday, May 25, 2026

By Cassie Franklin

Over the past several months, as a member of Sound Transit’s Board of Directors, I have been working with County Executive Dave Somers (chair of the board) and Lynnwood Mayor David Parshall to fulfill the commitment of bringing light rail to Everett that was first envisioned back in 1996. Leaders at that time anchored a long-range plan around a future light rail system that would connect Puget Sound’s job centers across three counties — what we now refer to as the “spine”.

As Sound Transit faces a $35 billion funding gap, future light rail stations and other investments are all being considered for delay, redesign, or elimination. To the surprise of no one, I have been a vocal advocate for the Everett Link Extension. I’m an advocate not only because I am mayor, but because the investment is rooted in sound policy and financial sense. We must complete the spine for both local and regional benefits.

As of today, I am pleased to report that the Sound Transit board chair’s plan includes no cuts and no delays to completing the six stations in Snohomish County and Everett. But we need to hold the line and continue to make our case to the public and the board.

Affordability. First and foremost, compared to the ballooning costs of other parts of the system, light rail to Everett is affordable in Sound Transit’s budget. Our project remains one of the most cost-effective across the entire system envisioned in ST3. Snohomish County taxpayers have been paying into regional transit since 1997 – a nearly three-decades commitment that deserves to be honored. As the board makes difficult prioritization decisions, completing light rail to Everett is a matter of keeping faith with a community that has long invested in the regional system. We have waited patiently to see that investment realized.

Equity. Fast, frequent and reliable transit is one of the most effective tools we have to advance equity across our region. Everett has the most diverse working-class population of any city within Snohomish County. Future light rail will connect our South Everett communities with job centers and provide for new economic opportunities across our neighborhoods. With housing costs and gas prices rising, light rail can offer meaningful economic relief.

Economic Development and Growth. With nearly 30,000 daily riders projected, Everett Link has the second highest projected ridership of any line in the ST3 plan. Everett alone is expected to grow by 65,000 residents over the next 20 years. Today 116,000 Snohomish County residents commute into King County daily versus 36,000 going the opposite direction. The region as a whole will benefit from this investment. The spine is critical to managing congestion as we grow.

Housing and opportunity. Over the past decade, we have witnessed how light rail stations transform communities. From the University District, to Northgate and Lynnwood, new housing now provides opportunities to live near excellent transit service. The benefits of light rail also reach our bus transit riders on Community Transit’s feeder system. We can all imagine the new opportunities for housing and jobs in South and Downtown Everett and near all the new light rail stations as they come online.

At times, Sound Transit board conversations have been tense. Not surprisingly, boardmembers are fighting fiercely for their communities, even as they balance regional priorities. The package in front of the board today isn’t perfect, but the Everett Link stays on track. After this vote, I will continue to do everything in my power to get light rail here even faster. We will explore possibilities to accelerate the timelines as the Everett light rail project advances.

The current proposal has our new stations well positioned. I hope Everett and Snohomish County residents will join me in advocating for what I believe is best for us locally and in the best interest of our entire region’s future.

Cassie Franklin is Mayor of Everett and a member of Sound Transit’s Board of Directors.

Editor’s Note: The Sound Transit Board of Directors is expected to take a final vote on the new budget alignment for ST3 known as the “Enterprise Initiative” at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 28. You may visit: Board of Directors Meeting | Sound Transit for more information on how to testify in person or provide written comment.