EVERETT – The free ride is over.
Everett Transit no longer will provide free shuttles between Everett Station and the Everett Events Center.
The city inaugurated the free shuttles last fall. But, in a time of budget tightening, it’s too expensive to continue the program, city spokeswoman Kate Reardon said Wednesday.
Starting with Saturday’s gospel crusade with evangelist Reinhard Bonnke, Everett Transit will charge riders 50 cents round-trip for the shuttle, she said.
The shuttles cost the city up to $80 an hour, depending on the time of day and whether drivers receive overtime, Reardon said. Equipment, fuel and wages are the primary costs, she added.
The city still hasn’t decided whether to run the free shuttles for Everett Silvertips hockey games next season, Reardon said. Last season, the shuttles averaged 426 one-way boardings each game, she said.
Special shuttles
The Everett Transit shuttle from Everett Station to Saturday’s Bonnke services at the events center will begin about 10:45 a.m. and again about 4:45 p.m.
The services are at noon and 6 p.m.
Shuttles will return to Everett Station after the services.
Everett Transit also will run shuttles to and from the Salty Sea Days carnival site at the 10th Street boat launch.
The shuttles will leave from the EverPark garage at Hewitt and Hoyt avenues and from the carnival site every 30 minutes. Parking at the garage is free on weekdays after 6 p.m. and all day Saturdays and Sundays.
The shuttles will run from 6-11 tonight and Friday, 1-11 p.m. Saturday and noon-7 p.m. Sunday.
The carnival shuttles will cost 75 cents each way, and 35 cents for the elderly, youth and people with disabilities.
Shuttles to Salty Sea Days used to be free, but that was because the city used to subsidize the event, Reardon said. The City Council ended its financial support of the festival in October.
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