Community Transit seeking community feedback on proposed transit network redesign

Community members, regional users, and visitors to the Mukilteo waterfront are encouraged to stop by the Rosehill Community Center’s Christiansen room between 4-7 p.m. to hear about the waterfront planning effort now underway, and to take part in an interactive exercise to get a sense of what is desired –and most importantly, what is not desired –at the waterfront. Everyone is encouraged to provide input and to help define the vision and guiding principles moving forward for the waterfront.

A webpage and an online survey will also launch the week of May 5, offering another option to learn more and offer valuable feedback. The survey will remain open through May 26.

Both in-person and digital options will allow the public to review a draft vision statement and draft set of guiding principles developed by a waterfront stakeholder workgroup, with input from individual interviews with City Councilmembers and others.

Learn more at www.portofeverett.com/ mukilteo.

u from MAJOR CHANGES page 3

But those residents who don’t work in Seattle or don’t have any interest in going are still going to feel the impact of light rail.

Community Transit plans to redistribute its resources throughout Snohomish County, including in Mukilteo.

Riders should expect more frequent service, especially on the east/west connections to the primary north/south corridors, and more frequent connections to places, such as the Lynnwood Transit Center.

Rotary Club hosts dueling pianos benefit

The Rotary Club of South Everett-Mukilteo is hosting a dueling pianos benefit show on Sunday, May 15, at the Rosehill Community Center in Mukilteo.

Entertainment will be provided by Killer Keyz, the top-rated dueling pianos show in the country. The performance features an all-request, high-energy audience interactive performance.

Tickets are $50 per person and include dinner and a two-hour dueling pianos show. Proceeds from the event will be used for service projects in the community.

Doors open at 5 p.m. with dinner at 5:30 p.m. and a piano show at 6:30 p.m.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit duelingpianosforrotary.com or contact Sheila Countryman-Bean at 425760-5964.

Two goals have guided the discussion on potential changes in 2024.

“The first was to provide that really compelling connection to link light rail and to reorganize our service around link as a way to provide that connection to regional travel, and also to connect communities that we serve more effectively,” Behee said.

“We also want to expand access to frequent service.”

Industry experience indicates a transit system that operates with buses every 10 to 20 minutes means that riders no longer need a schedule.

Community Transit is asking people who live and travel in Snohomish County to provide feedback on a redesigned bus network in anticipation of connecting to light rail in 2024.

The online survey is open through May 31 and is available in five languages:

• English: transit2024.participate.online

• Spanish: transit2024-spanish.participate.online

• Korean: transit2024-korean.participate.online

• Chinese: transit2024-chinese.participate.online

• Russian: transit2024-russian.participate.online

Community Transit will host a Zoom presentation of the draft bus network on May 2 at noon. The Zoom program can be accessed at bit.ly/Transit2024OpenHouseMay2. Members of the public can review the new routes and ask questions.

“With light rail coming to Lynnwood, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to remake bus service in our county

“You just walk out to the bus stop, and you’re not late for the bus,” Behee said. “You’re just early for the next one.”

Community Transit plans to focus more on providing connections in Snohomish County rather than inter-county. The pandemic also has altered people’s work schedules and, in many cases, their work environments.

“The world has changed,” Ilgenfritz said. “The 9-to-5 commute, Monday through Friday, appears to be in the rearview mirror, at least in transit terms.”

Moving forward, Community Transit said to make it easier for more people to use,” said Community Transit CEO Ric Ilgenfritz. “We’re rolling out ideas based on the first round of public input, and we really want to hear what people think. This is the public’s chance to help shape the future of mobility in Snohomish County.” it needs to be flexible and consistent.

The proposal consolidates bus service into 36 routes within Snohomish County, offering more frequent service on certain routes. Some new routes will be added along with more evening service. Also included is expansion of bus rapid transit (BRT) service, the agency’s highest ridership service, which travels along some of the most heavily used corridors in the county. Swift Orange Line will be the third BRT route to serve riders in Snohomish County, and will offer direct connections to light rail in Lynnwood.

The agency is also exploring new service options like microtransit, which will be piloted in Lynnwood later this year.

Once approved, the route changes will take place in 2023-24.

Agency will redraw its bus routes to connect with regional light rail in 2024 right now.”

“Travel is going to be different than it was, so we need to cater to that,” Behee said. “We need to really strive to provide a different level of convenience in some cases. … Frequency is really the key service characteristic that is so important in attracting a wider audience to transit.”

In 2024, Mukilteo residents should expect increased frequency of service in Harbour Pointe, Mukilteo Speedway, Old Town, and the waterfront. More service is planned for the Future of Flight and Paine Field. The see LIGHT RAIL page 16 u