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<< Previous   of   Next >> (click to enlarge)   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Saturday, July 19, 2008 Everett Transit restores south city route By David Chircop Herald Writer EVERETT -- A densely- populated neighborhood in south Everett is getting bus service for the first time since 2003. Starting in late August, Everett Transit plans to modify Route 11 to serve the Fourth Avenue corridor. The 2.6-mile long stretch includes Mariner High School, Voyager Middle School and scores of multifamily housing complexes. "Students will really benefit from this, as well as those living in the assisted-living complexes and apartments in the area," said Steffani Lillie, a spokeswoman for the transit agency. While the new spur of the route is outside the city limits, housing and schools there produce many riders for Everett Transit, Lillie said. Service to the area was eliminated in 2003 when budget shortfalls forced Everett Transit and Community Transit to make several cutbacks. Bringing back bus service to Fourth Avenue is expected to cost Everett Transit about $100,000 a year. Everett Transit collects a tiny portion of city sales taxes and charges riders 50 cents per boarding. The public transit agency also is heavily subsidized by state and federal grants. New flags are being added to existing pullouts along Fourth Avenue and 112th Street. The change omits part of Route 11 on Evergreen Way, between Center Road and 112th Street. Buses on the new route will turn down Center Road to E. Gibson Road then to 124th Street to Fourth Avenue up to 112th Street and back to Evergreen Way. Route 23 into Mukilteo is the only other Everett Transit route that leaves the city, Lillie said. In December, Everett Transit and Community Transit agreed to share the cost of a new Swift bus rapid transit line on Highway 99. The agencies also agreed to explore other transportation coordination services. The change is scheduled to take place Aug. 24. Reporter David Chircop: 425-339-3429 or dchircop@heraldnet.com.

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