Tygart Media

Category: Everett Government

City council, mayor, public policy, bond measures, and civic issues.

  • Sound Transit Everett Link Extension: Where the Project Stands in 2026

    If you live in Snohomish County and have ever wondered when light rail will actually reach Everett, 2026 is the year to pay attention. Sound Transit’s Everett Link Extension — the 16-mile, six-station project that would connect Snohomish County to the regional rail network — is entering one of its most consequential planning phases. A Draft Environmental Impact Statement is expected in 2026, preferred station alternatives are being confirmed, and the timeline for a Paine Field-area opening sits at 2037. Here’s what you need to know about where the project stands and what the next few years look like.

    What Is the Everett Link Extension?

    The Everett Link Extension is a planned addition to Sound Transit’s Link light rail network that would extend service from the Lynnwood City Center Station — opened in 2024 — northward through Mountlake Terrace, Lynnwood, Ash Way, Mariner, Paine Field, and ultimately to Everett Station downtown. The project would add 16 miles of track and six new stations, completing what Sound Transit calls “the spine” of the regional rail system.

    The project is being planned in two phases. The first phase would reach the southwest Everett industrial area near Paine Field — home to Boeing’s manufacturing operations — with a target opening date of 2037. The second phase would extend all the way to Everett Station, with a projected opening of 2041.

    For Snohomish County commuters, the Everett Link Extension represents the difference between driving to park-and-ride lots and being able to step onto light rail from neighborhoods closer to home — and from there, reach Seattle, the airport, and the broader regional network without a car.

    Where Things Stand in 2026: The Draft EIS

    Sound Transit is currently in the environmental review phase for the Everett Link Extension. That means preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) — a detailed analysis of how each potential alignment and station configuration would affect the surrounding community, neighborhoods, businesses, and environment.

    The Draft EIS is expected to be published in 2026 and will be available for public review and comment for a minimum of 45 days. Once published, it’s a major milestone: the document represents Sound Transit’s formal analysis of the project’s impacts and lays out the trade-offs between different alignment and station options.

    The EIS is being prepared under both the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), with the Federal Transit Administration as the lead federal agency, and the Washington State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), with Sound Transit as the state lead agency.

    Following the Draft EIS comment period, Sound Transit expects to identify, confirm, or modify its Preferred Alternative in summer 2026. A Final EIS and Record of Decision are then projected for summer 2027.

    What Are the Station Alternatives?

    The Everett Link Extension has multiple station locations where Sound Transit has been evaluating different alignment and placement options. Some have already received preliminary preferred designations based on community input and technical analysis during the scoping process (SEPA scoping completed 2023; NEPA scoping completed August 2025).

    At the West Alderwood station, alternatives are labeled B, D, and F — with Alternative D as the current preferred alternative. At the Southwest Everett Industrial Center station, alternatives A, B, and C are on the table, with Alternative A preferred. For the I-5/Broadway alignment segment, the two options are BI-1 and BI-2, with BI-1 as the current preferred alignment.

    These preferences are not final — they’re starting points for the Draft EIS analysis, and public comment can still shift the outcome. If you have a view on where stations should go or how alignments should route through neighborhoods you know, the Draft EIS public comment period in 2026 is your formal opportunity to put that feedback on record.

    The Boeing and Paine Field Factor

    One reason the Everett Link Extension has outsized importance for Snohomish County is its planned connection to the Paine Field area, where Boeing’s commercial airplane manufacturing facilities employ tens of thousands of workers across multiple shifts. A light rail connection to that employment center would represent one of the most significant transit investments in the region’s industrial corridor.

    For workers commuting from south Snohomish County, south King County, and Seattle, a Paine Field station could eventually eliminate the need to drive Highway 99 or I-5 to reach one of the region’s largest single employment sites. That potential has made the Paine Field alignment a consistent priority in regional planning conversations.

    The 2037 Paine Field-area opening date — assuming the project stays on schedule — would arrive roughly a decade after Lynnwood Link opened in 2024. A lot can change in that window, including costs, federal funding priorities, and regional growth patterns. Everett residents watching this project would be wise to stay engaged through Sound Transit’s public process rather than assuming the timeline is settled.

    Cost Pressures and the “Savings” Conversation

    The Everett Link Extension doesn’t exist in a budget vacuum. In September 2025, HeraldNet reported that Sound Transit was actively weighing possible savings options on the project as costs climbed. This is consistent with a broader pattern across Sound Transit’s expansion portfolio — projects authorized under the Sound Transit 3 ballot measure in 2016 have faced cost escalations, construction inflation, and schedule pressures that have forced the agency to make difficult trade-off decisions.

    What “savings options” means in practice can range from value engineering on station designs and materials to reconsidering alignment options that are less expensive to build but potentially less convenient for riders. The Draft EIS process will likely surface these trade-offs explicitly, making 2026 a critical period for community voices to weigh in before decisions get locked in.

    Snohomish County has its own Light Rail Communities program, housed at snohomishcountywa.gov, which provides residents with updates on how the county is engaging with Sound Transit’s planning process at the local level.

    How to Stay Involved

    For Everett and Snohomish County residents who want to track — or actively participate in — the Everett Link Extension planning process, here are the key resources and action points for 2026.

    • Watch for the Draft EIS release: Sound Transit will announce the public comment period at soundtransit.org/system-expansion/everett-link-extension. Sign up for project news updates on that page to get notified when the Draft EIS drops.
    • Attend public meetings: Sound Transit holds public hearings during comment periods. Check the project’s news and updates page for meeting schedules in your area.
    • Explore station design concepts: The project’s public engagement site at everettlink.participate.online has conceptual station design options for review and comment.
    • Track Snohomish County’s engagement: The county’s Light Rail Communities program at snohomishcountywa.gov/4068/Light-Rail-Communities provides local context and updates.
    • Key timeline dates to watch: Draft EIS publication (2026) → public comment period (minimum 45 days) → Preferred Alternative confirmation (summer 2026) → Final EIS (summer 2027) → Record of Decision (summer 2027).

    Frequently Asked Questions

    When will light rail reach Everett?

    Sound Transit currently projects the first phase of the Everett Link Extension — reaching the Paine Field area — to open by 2037. The full extension to Everett Station downtown is projected to open by 2041. These dates are based on current planning assumptions and may change.

    What is the Everett Link Extension Draft EIS?

    The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is a detailed document analyzing the potential effects of different alignment and station options for the Everett Link Extension. It is expected to be published in 2026 and will be open for public comment for a minimum of 45 days. It is a required step under both federal (NEPA) and state (SEPA) environmental law.

    How many stations will the Everett Link Extension have?

    The Everett Link Extension is planned to include six new stations covering 16 miles of new light rail track, connecting from the Lynnwood City Center Station northward to Everett Station.

    Will light rail go to Boeing Paine Field?

    Yes. The planned alignment includes a station in the southwest Everett industrial area near Paine Field, which is home to Boeing’s commercial manufacturing facilities. The Paine Field-area station is part of Phase 1 of the extension, projected to open by 2037.

    How can I comment on the Everett Link Extension?

    When the Draft EIS is published in 2026, Sound Transit will open a formal public comment period. You can submit comments online, attend public hearings, and participate via the project’s engagement site at everettlink.participate.online. Signing up for project updates at soundtransit.org will notify you when the comment period opens.

    How much does the Everett Link Extension cost?

    Sound Transit has not published a final cost estimate for the Everett Link Extension as of April 2026, as the project is still in environmental review. Cost estimates will be refined as the preferred alignment and station design options are confirmed. The agency has been exploring cost reduction options as part of the planning process.

    Sources: Sound Transit Everett Link Extension project page (soundtransit.org); Sound Transit Everett Link Extension Project Factsheet (December 2024); Federal Register Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS (July 29, 2025); HeraldNet “Sound Transit weighs possible savings on Everett Link extension” (September 25, 2025); Snohomish County Light Rail Communities program (snohomishcountywa.gov); everettlink.participate.online.

  • Everett’s New Police Chief Has a Plan — Here’s What’s Changing at EPD

    When Robert Goetz was sworn in as Everett’s new police chief on January 7, 2026, he brought with him something that not every new top cop carries through the door: 35 years of institutional memory about the community he now leads. He rose through nearly every operational and administrative rank inside the Everett Police Department before Mayor Cassie Franklin appointed him to succeed retiring Chief John DeRousse. And from day one, Goetz has been clear about what he wants the department to look like — more embedded in the community, smarter about technology, and leaner on vacancies.

    The early indicators suggest the strategy is working. Crime rates across Everett continued a multi-year downward trend through 2025, with violent crime dropping by more than 30 percent and vehicle thefts falling 70 percent compared to the prior year, according to data cited by Mayor Franklin at the 2026 State of the City address. Meanwhile, the department’s drone program — launched in October 2025 — is already clearing calls without dispatching a single officer. Here’s a closer look at what’s changing at EPD and what it means for residents.

    A New Chief With Deep Everett Roots

    Robert Goetz isn’t new to Everett. He spent more than three decades with the department before Mayor Franklin tapped him for the top job in late 2025. He has worked in virtually every corner of the organization — patrol, specialty units, and administrative leadership — which means he arrived as chief without needing a long orientation period.

    In a Q&A with the Everett Post shortly after his swearing-in, Goetz described his approach: a community-oriented department that meets people where they are, not just when someone calls 911. That means officers showing up at community events, parks during summer months, and neighborhood gatherings — building relationships before a crime ever happens.

    It’s a meaningful shift in emphasis for a department that, like many mid-sized city police forces, has faced pressure to do more with constrained staffing. The Lynnwood Times, covering Goetz’s appointment in January 2026, described his philosophy as centered on a department that is “embedded in its community” and “meets youth where they are.”

    Staffing: Getting Vacancies Into Single Digits

    One of Goetz’s most concrete short-term goals is staffing. When he took over, the department carried about 13 to 14 open positions. His stated target for 2026: get that number into single digits.

    It’s not just a headcount goal. Fewer vacancies means more officers available for community engagement assignments, specialty units, and the kind of proactive policing that Goetz has prioritized. The department also recently promoted eight people to Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain, and Deputy Chief — a round of promotions that signals both organizational investment and career pathway development for officers already in the ranks.

    For residents, this matters practically: more officers means more coverage across Everett’s neighborhoods and a department better positioned to sustain programs like the Violent Crime Reduction Unit, which Mayor Franklin credited with driving down violent crime numbers since its 2023 launch.

    The Drone Program: Flying to Calls Before Cars Can Get There

    Perhaps the most visible operational change under EPD’s new direction is the Drone as First Responder program, which launched in October 2025 after the Everett City Council approved a $507,000 contract with Flock Safety in April 2025.

    The concept is straightforward: when a 911 call comes in, a drone can launch immediately from one of four precinct locations — two at the north precinct, two at the south precinct — and fly over traffic at roughly 50 miles per hour, reaching scenes in about 90 seconds. A patrol car navigating Everett streets in traffic might take four minutes for the same distance. The drone arrives first, gives officers a live visual of the scene, and in some cases resolves the situation entirely without a patrol unit ever leaving the lot.

    Since the program launched in October, the results have been measurable. According to EPD’s public drone flight dashboard, 87 calls were cleared without dispatching a patrol resource at all. In total, the drones have helped locate nearly 200 people across various incident types. The department is now expanding the program to add drones at a central Everett location — on top of a local business — which will improve coverage across the city’s core neighborhoods.

    The Flock Safety contract also includes Flock 911, which streams live 911 call transcripts to patrol officers and drone pilots simultaneously, improving situational awareness before anyone arrives on scene.

    What the Crime Numbers Actually Say

    Crime statistics require careful reading, and Goetz has been measured in how he talks about them. The headline figures are genuinely positive: overall crime in Everett trended down across 2025, with violent crime on pace to hit its lowest rate in seven years, according to EPD’s report to the City’s Community Health and Safety Committee in July 2025. Vehicle thefts dropped 70 percent — a dramatic reversal of a trend that had frustrated residents and businesses for years.

    Mayor Franklin highlighted these numbers in her March 5, 2026 State of the City address, noting that crime overall decreased more than 20 percent from 2024 to 2025.

    Department leadership credits several overlapping efforts: the Violent Crime Reduction Unit, a graffiti paint-over initiative launched in 2025, community-oriented patrol assignments, and increasingly effective use of technology including the Flock camera network (the City Council extended the Flock camera contract alongside the drone program approval in April 2025).

    One important note for context: Everett’s crime rate remains above national averages on some measures. The downward trend is meaningful, but it reflects progress on a baseline that still has room to improve. Goetz has acknowledged this framing — the goal isn’t just to celebrate declining numbers, but to sustain and accelerate the trend through the community-first model he’s building.

    Youth Violence: Prevention First, Enforcement Last

    One area where Goetz has been especially vocal is youth. His stated approach — prevention first, intervention where possible, and enforcement as a last resort — puts youth violence reduction at the center of EPD’s strategic direction. This aligns with a framework Mayor Franklin has emphasized across multiple budget cycles.

    In practice, the prevention model means officers assigned to youth engagement, department relationships with schools, and outreach programs designed to build trust between young Everett residents and law enforcement before any conflict arises. The idea is that a different kind of public safety ecosystem emerges when relationships are built early — one that doesn’t rely solely on reactive policing.

    What Residents Should Watch For in 2026

    Based on Chief Goetz’s stated priorities and the department’s current trajectory, here are the key indicators residents can track to assess EPD’s progress this year.

    • Vacancy count: Is EPD hitting its goal of single-digit open positions? The department publishes staffing data on its Community Transparency Dashboard at everettwa.gov.
    • Drone program expansion: The planned addition of central Everett drones should be operational in 2026. EPD’s public drone flight dashboard tracks call clearance data in real time.
    • Violent crime trends: Sustaining and deepening the 2025 crime reduction gains through 2026 will be the real test of the current strategy.
    • Youth programs: Any new partnerships, school programs, or community engagement initiatives Goetz announces will signal how the prevention-first philosophy is being operationalized.
    • City Council oversight: The Council’s Community Health and Safety Committee continues to receive regular EPD briefings. Agendas are posted at everettwa.gov/AgendaCenter.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Who is the new Everett Police Chief?

    Robert Goetz was sworn in as Everett’s Chief of Police on January 7, 2026. He was appointed by Mayor Cassie Franklin and brings more than 35 years of service with the Everett Police Department.

    What happened to former Chief John DeRousse?

    Chief John DeRousse retired at the end of 2025 after leading EPD. Mayor Franklin appointed Deputy Chief Robert Goetz as his successor.

    How does Everett’s Drone as First Responder program work?

    When a 911 call is received, a drone launches from one of EPD’s precinct locations and reaches a scene in approximately 90 seconds — significantly faster than a patrol car. The drones provide live video of the scene and in some cases resolve calls without dispatching an officer at all. EPD’s drone flight data is publicly available on its transparency dashboard.

    Is crime going down in Everett?

    Yes. Everett reported a more than 20 percent overall crime reduction from 2024 to 2025, and violent crime was on pace to reach its lowest rate in seven years. Vehicle thefts dropped 70 percent. Everett’s overall crime rate remains above national averages, but the downward trend has been sustained over multiple years.

    How many officers does the Everett Police Department have?

    EPD had approximately 13 to 14 vacancies when Chief Goetz took over in January 2026. His goal is to reduce that number to single digits by end of year. Current staffing data is available on EPD’s Community Transparency Dashboard at everettwa.gov.

    Where can I follow EPD’s public data?

    The City of Everett maintains a Community Transparency Dashboard at everettwa.gov/2862/Community-Transparency-Dashboard with data on crime, calls for service, and drone deployments.

    Sources: Everett Post Q&A with Chief Goetz (January 2026); Lynnwood Times Chief Goetz profile (January 13, 2026); HeraldNet “Behind the Badge” (2026); Mayor Franklin 2026 State of the City address (March 5, 2026); HeraldNet “Everett’s Drone as First Responder program underway” (March 14, 2026); EPD Community Transparency Dashboard; City of Everett official website (everettwa.gov).