Transportation
Ports
The region has multiple deep-water port facilities offering service to destinations worldwide. The Port of Everett is located in the center of Snohomish County. Container, break-bulk and barge facilities are available. The Port of Edmonds offers excellent marina facilities for the recreational boater. The Ports of Seattle and Tacoma (located 25 and 55 miles south respectively) have numerous, scheduled liner services. Seattle handles 2.0 Million TEU’s annually; Tacoma handles 1.5 Million TEU’s. The Port of Vancouver in Canada is 90 minutes to the North.
Highway
The Interstate 5 freeway runs north/south from Vancouver, BC to Mexico. It traverses Snohomish County and provides direct trucking links throughout the Puget Sound and West Coast. Seattle is the western terminus for Interstate 90, the major east/west freeway for the northern U.S. In 2005, the Washington State Legislature passed a landmark highway construction package that will identify and improve more than 230 highway projects across the state, many of which are in Snohomish County. In 2009, there is nearly $260 Million in highway construction underway in the county.
Rail Service
The Burlington Northern/Santa Fe Railroad provides rail service to and from anywhere in North America. Sound Transit also offers commuter rail service connecting Everett in the north through Seattle to the City of Tacoma in the south. The Sound Transit regional light rail system is under construction; eventually the system will take a traveler from Everett to SeaTac Airport.
Ferry Service
The Washington State Ferry System is the largest of its kind in the world, daily transporting thousands of workers in and out of Snohomish County.
Bus Service
Community Transit, Everett Transit and Sound Transit, the three main transit authorities serving Snohomish County, are continually expanding service within the area.
Air Service
Snohomish County Airport at Paine Field is a modern, spacious jet airport adjacent to the Boeing Everett plant that accommodates the largest cargo aircraft. Scheduled commercial passenger service is not available currently but is under review. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SeaTac) is the primary airport serving the region; it offers commercial passenger and cargo service worldwide and is approximately 40 miles south of Paine Field.
Utilities
Electricity
Electricity in the county is provided by the Snohomish County Public Utility District No. 1 (PUD). The PUD is publicly-owned by the residents of the county. The PUD purchases 80 % of its power from the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), an entity of the US government. BPA power is generated by hydroelectric dams, a renewable resource. The PUD is evaluating an investment in tidal, geothermal and other sources of renewable, sustainable power. - Snohomish County PUD Rate Schedule
Gas
Natural gas service in Snohomish County is provided by Puget Sound Energy (PSE), a local, investor-owned utility that delivers both natural and electricity to the region. Natural gas comes primarily from Canada. PSE is also taking an active interest in renewable power. They have recently purchased two wind turbine farms that generate 379 megawatts of electricity to serve areas other than Snohomish County in Washington State. A 500 kW solar project is located at one of the windfarms. - PSE Rate Schedule
Water / Wastewater
Water and wastewater service in most of Snohomish County is provided by the City of Everett. - City of Everett – Water Service Rate