I would like to point out that if Everett city residents did vote to increase their tax rate to match that of Community Transit they would be giving twice as much money to CT with no guarantee of better service\ (“Everett council asks for transit merger steering committee,” The Herald, June 28).
Paratransit riders in our area get a level of service that is above ADA regulations, which we currently give them full service hours that a fixed-route bus is on the road. DART service gets the ADA required minimums of 3/4-mile of a fixed-route stop, and only while those routes are running. Before or after hours of the bus route and riders don’t have service either. Granted, paratransit service is more expensive to operate per passenger but the application process and recertification criteria are getting more strict. People who are clearly qualified for service are getting a complicated application to even continue to ride.
Everett has been wanting to grow and be a destination for tourism, arts, etc., and what better way to move those people than with Everett Transit? The city maintains control and can configure routes and special service when and where needed. Just look at Las Vegas or San Francisco to see multiple services offered to move the people while keeping the Everett name right in front of them.
When former Community Transit director Emmet Heath did his presentation to Everett City Council he mentioned that the future of Everett bus service could be feeder routes. Why not let Everett Transit operate that feeder service with most likely a better quality product than CT?
Duane Dow
Everett Paratransit driver of 27 years
Everett
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