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EVERETT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN <br />SOUND TRANSIT INTEGRATION <br />As stated earlier, one of the City's top priorities in <br />this plan is effective coordination with regional <br />transportation providers and agencies to ensure that <br />the local and regional transportation systems <br />complement one another. A key element of this <br />strategy is proactively partnering with Sound Transit <br />to ensure that the future light rail alignment is <br />consistent with Everett's future land use vision, <br />efficiently integrates with Everett Transit <br />operations, and aligns with existing and planned <br />infrastructure for walking and bicycling. <br />Land Use <br />The proximity of transit to jobs and housing is a <br />major determinant in whether people use transit, as <br />well as how they access it. The City of Everett is <br />planning to concentrate newjobs and housing in key <br />districts downtown and along the Evergreen Way <br />corridor such that the new residents and employees <br />have viable alternatives to driving. Locations of <br />Sound Transit stations will have a major impact on <br />the City's success in giving people options. Should <br />future transit investments occur in a way that does <br />not complement growth in Everett or connect to <br />major employment centers, it is likely that transit <br />will be less attractive than driving, and people using <br />transit will be less likely to walk, bike, or bus to <br />stations. It would also reduce the City's ability to <br />accommodate regional growth expectations. <br />Everett is the largest single employer in Snohomish <br />County with one of the highest employment totals <br />for any city in the four county region. It is critical for <br />the planned light rail system to support the SW <br />Everett Industrial Area where the Boeing Assembly <br />Plant and the future Paine Field commercial airline <br />operations are located. The City strongly promotes <br />providing the light rail alignment to support existing <br />and projected land use growth as opposed to <br />locating it along a corridor where no stations can <br />support planned growth areas. <br />In addition, the City promotes light rail service to the <br />College/University/Hospital district in North Everett. <br />Everett Transit Operations <br />Everett Transit serves a vital role in providing local <br />transit service in the City. Once light rail arrives in <br />Everett, a new role for Everett Transit will be <br />connecting homes and businesses with stations. <br />The location of light rail facilities will make a <br />difference in how efficiently Everett Transit can <br />connect potential light rail riders with the stations. <br />The City's preferred alignment would maximize <br />Everett Transit's efficiency in providing this <br />connecting service since the regional transit system <br />could carry large loads of travelers (e.g., between <br />the College/University/Hospital district through <br />Everett Station and to Boeing and Paine Field), <br />freeing Everett Transit to provide effective first and <br />last -mile connections. <br />The overall purpose of the Transportation Element <br />is to look ahead 20 years and establish how the <br />overall transportation system can support Everett's <br />land use plan. This element considers all modes of <br />transportation: cars, freight, transit, walking, and <br />biking irrespective of jurisdiction or operator. The <br />City's preferred light rail alignment considers how <br />the region's investment can best align with Everett's <br />overall transportation network to provide <br />transportation options and seamless connections <br />among modes. <br />What Happens if Light Rai! Does Not Come <br />to Everett? <br />The aim of the Comprehensive Plan is to be a <br />forward-looking, visionary document, and as such, <br />this Transportation Element has assumed that <br />Sound Transit will build light rail to Everett by <br />2035. However, should light rail beyond Lynnwood <br />be delayed or not constructed, there will be <br />significant impacts to Everett. While an extensive <br />analysis of this scenario was not conducted, a run <br />of the regional travel model without light rail was <br />prepared. Below is a summary of the findings: <br />• Approximately 25,000 daily boardings <br />and alightings of the light rail system in <br />Everett would need to find alternative <br />means of travel <br />• Bus boardings on Community Transit and <br />Everett Transit would increase <br />substantially, increasing the need for <br />these agencies to reallocate resources to <br />serve transit riders or increase spending <br />for additional service <br />• Many travelers who would have used <br />light rail continue to use autos, increasing <br />traffic congestion on 1-5, SR 526, <br />Evergreen Way , Airport Road, and 128th <br />Street <br />TRANSPORTATION ELEMENT 49 <br />