Everett Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC)

CITY OF EVERETT Transportation Advisory Committee TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE Thursday, June 18, 2026 8:00 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. Microsoft Teams Virtual Meeting In attendance: Members Staff Guests Stephen Fickenscher Corey Hert, Public Works Ric Ilgenfritz Christina Strand Tom Hood, Public Works Will Geschke Sonja Bodge Kathleen Baxter, Public Works Mario Lotmore Vinh Ngo Michael Brick, Public Works Kern McGee Nataya Foss, Public Works Alyssa Blackmon Jeff Valluzzi Ryan Sass, Public Works Howard Chen Matthew Frazier Gerardo Magallanes, Public Works Logan Prescott Stephen LeDoux Patrick Mitchell, Public Works Liz Vogeli Michael Schmieder, Transit Melissa Cauley Sabina Araya, Transit Paul Riemann Robert McFarlane, Transit Jeanne Acutanza Bob Leonard, Parks Chelsea Ongaro Craig Davis, Police Riya Debnath Cassie Franklin, Mayor Brock Howell Scott Bader, City Council Ryan Packer Hil Kaman, Legal Jean Carrillo June Schober Geoff Patrick Dillon Zang Joey Miller Brad Lincoln James Sauls Martin Munguia Rick Swartz Deb Osborne Meeting called to order at 8:00 a.m. by Stephen Fickenscher. ➢ M/S/P: May minutes approved. ANNOUNCEMENTS & REQUESTS FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ➢ Community Transit’s Transit Development Plan is open for public comment until July 2 via an online open house. ➢ Request for stop-line fixes at 12th & Maple and Hawthorne school‑zone beacons; staff will inspect, add to summer work, and use radar signs/enforcement until beacons are installed. ➢ Concerns raised about speeding on 15th and 16th; staff will review. ➢ Confirmation needed on whether Eclipse Mill Park will include the planned Lowell Riverfront Trail connection. ENGINEERING REPORT ➢ West Marine View Drive lane closures will begin in July after FIFA for Port Gardner Storage Facility conveyance project. 1 |Page  CITY OF EVERETT Transportation Advisory Committee ➢ Summer street paving starts in mid‑July with pavement overlays: night work on Wetmore Pacific Ave to Everett Ave, Mukilteo Blvd from Dogwood to 41st; daytime closures on 19th St east of Broadway to Summit Ave. ➢ California Street Bicycle Project Phase 2 design is funded and moving to consultant selection. ➢ I‑5/US‑2 interchange ramp capacity improvements. ➢ EPIC Bridge design contract underway. TRAFFIC ENGINEERING REPORT ➢ FIFA events underway with reported successful attendance and crowd management. POLICE REPORT ➢ Lowell River Road speeding‑enforcement emphasis completed with new hotspot‑identification data; results coming soon. ➢ FIFA operations remain a significant workload. ➢ A large e‑bike/e‑moto safety education campaign is planned due to rising injuries and public misunderstandings of the definition of an e-bike. ➢ Request made for an update on Walker and Roller Safety Grant. TRANSIT REPORT ➢ Transit is in peak event and shuttle season. ➢ Strong event-related shuttle use reported. FIFA shuttles carried 350 riders on Thursday and 1,300 on Friday. Sorticulture shuttles carried roughly 1,200 riders through the weekend. ➢ Route 12 remains fare‑free. ➢ Preparations underway for 4th of July shuttles and a FIFA‑themed bus. ➢ More detailed ridership data coming in future meetings. AGENDA ITEMS ➢ Item 1 (preceded reports per agenda): Everett Transit and Community Transit - Informational briefing and discussion, Mayor Cassie Franklin and Community Transit CEO Ric Ilgenfritz o Everett is one of the last Washington cities that still operates its own transit agency. o Everett projects 65,000 new residents in the next 15-20 years and cannot sustain proportional car traffic. o Community Transit (CT) can deliver more service due to higher taxing authority. o Paratransit service levels must be preserved under any consolidation. o Protecting Everett Transit (ET) drivers and neighborhood shuttles is a top priority. o CT commits that no paratransit rider or employee will lose service or employment. o Consolidation enables the expanded service, higher transit frequency, and regional connectivity needed to shift residents from car‑dependence to walking, biking, and transit use. o Key resident priorities of the merger include: ▪ Increased bus frequency, maintained neighborhood shuttle service, and retained local control. ▪ Guaranteed representation on CT Board (estimated 1-2 seats). State law allows adding rider‑representative board seats. 2 |Page  CITY OF EVERETT Transportation Advisory Committee ▪ Proportional sales tax reinvestment into Everett transit service. ▪ Opt‑out options for underperformance; PTBA cities are legally able to opt out but none have in 50 years. o Inquiry about the future of maintenance, operations and administration building site selection; Everett needs a new transit base regardless of consolidation. Existing EV infrastructure would support continuity until CT determines long‑term facility needs. o Although ET is currently stable, supported in part by temporary federal relief, long‑term financial challenges remain in the future. ➢ Item 2: E-bikes, electric motorcycles, powered personal transporters and changes to the Everett Municipal Code (EMC) - Discussion and recommendation to City Council, Hil Kaman, Legal o City is updating EMC to match new state law regulating e‑bikes, e‑motorcycles, and electric mobility devices. o Devices are regulated by speed: Micro-mobility device is defined as a device capable of 20 mph or below, and powdered personal transporters is a device capable of speeds above 20 mph. o Electric motorcycles (no pedals or throttle capability above 20 mph) are treated as motor vehicles. o Helmet, age, and operating‑location rules are clarified with stricter requirements for higher‑speed devices. o Sidewalk riding is restricted in the Central Business District. o Due to visual difficulty identifying device class and limited enforcement resources, public education will be prioritized. o Ordinance allows civil infractions, restitution up to $5,000, and discretionary impoundment for dangerous or reckless violations. o Parents may be cited if they knowingly permit illegal operation, but enforcement will target high‑risk behavior. o Everett’s ordinance aligns with statewide efforts and may serve as a model for other cities and in the county. o Existing rules remain: shared scooters (rental agencies like Lime) prohibit multiple riders and under-16 use. Private scooters are allowed for riders under 16. o Bicycles are still allowed on downtown roadways. Restrictions only apply to sidewalks. o M/S/P: TAC voted to recommend Council approval. The ordinance will be introduced to Council on July 1 with possible adoption on July 15. Adjournment: 9:44 a.m. Next Scheduled Meeting: July 16, 2026 3 |Page