[Transit] Draft LD Resolution in support of a measure to expand transit service in King County

[Sarah Reyneveld]

Yes, that's a helpful clarification. Thanks!

Sarah

On Sun, Apr 16, 2023 at 10:58 PM James McIntosh <
mcintoshjamesswc01 at centurylink.net> wrote:

> Hi,
>
> One Quick change I noticed:
>
> “this year’s heat dome”
>
> The big “heat dome” we All remember was in 2021 where the temperature
> reached 108 degrees in Seattle.
>
> So, you might just say “the Summer 2021 heat dome”.
>
> Certainly, summers have been much drier and drought conditions continue
> throughout the West.
>
> Thanks,
>
> James McIntosh - TRU
>
>
> On Sun, 16 Apr, 2023 at 3:37 PM, Sarah Reyneveld <sarahreyneveld at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> To: wes mills
> Cc: transit at transitriders.org; grants at seattlesubway.org
>
> Thanks, Wes! I don't think it is too late and think that is an excellent
> addition. I added that and made a few other revisions based on feedback
> from one of the 36th PCOs who works for Metro. Final revised version below.
> Thanks all!
>
>
>
> Resolution in support of a measure to restore and expand transit service
> in King County
>
>
> WHEREAS the effects of global climate change are already being felt here
> in Washington
> <https://www.pugetsoundinstitute.org/2020/02/new-report-describes-anticipated-climate-change-effects-in-washington-state/>
> with natural catastrophes like this year’s heat dome, rising sea levels,
> unprecedented droughts, and rampant wildfires,
>
>
>
> WHEREAS transportation is the largest contributor to greenhouse gas
> emissions of any sector in Washington, and transitioning to low emissions
> public transportation will be a crucial part of our survival as a species,
>
>
>
> WHEREAS King County Metro Transit service has languished since the
> pandemic, ridership has decreased by half, and transit riders have
> experienced canceled routes, delays in service, and a growing frustration
> that they are not a priority,
>
> WHEREAS challenges recruiting and retaining King County Metro bus
> operators
> <https://www.realchangenews.org/news/2023/03/08/king-county-metro-service-struggles-amid-bus-driver-shortage>
> and mechanics, and a general shortage of transit personnel has led to
> canceled routes and delays in service,
>
>
>
> WHEREAS lack of access to reliable, frequent, fast, and convenient
> transit adversely impacts every resident of our region, but
> disproportionately impacts those who depend on transit including youth,
> seniors, low-income workers and families, Black, Indigenous and communities
> of color, and people with disabilities;
>
> WHEREAS we are missing opportunities getting people out of cars and into
> environmentally sustainable and space-friendly transit.
>
> WHEREAS the most recent Commute Seattle Survey
> <https://www.commuteseattle.com/2022survey/> shows that to restore and
> increase ridership King County should invest in transit service to ensure
> it is frequent, fast, reliable, safe, and convenient.
>
>
> *WHEREAS* investments in transit service have historically paid
> substantial dividends, such as Puget Sound leading the nation
> <https://mynorthwest.com/1283506/sound-transit-touts-2018-ridership-growth/>
>  with increases in bus and train ridership in 2018 after our substantial
> additions to service, and added resiliency and efficiency to our region’s
> transportation system during times of major construction projects.
>
> THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the 36h District Democrats urges members of
> the King County Council to bring a revenue package to the people of King
> County to fund a Transportation Benefit District to restore and expand
> transit service in King County. The proposed revenue package should rely on
> a combination of sources and minimize to the extent possible regressive
> revenue. The revenue will be dedicated to:
>
>
>    - Restoring and expand Metro Transit service to increase frequency,
>    speed, reliability, accessibility, and safety;
>    - Providing bonuses, increased pay, flexibility and appropriate
>    incentives to help to recruit and retain bus operations and mechanics;
>    - Capital improvements to make buses more efficient, reliable, and
>    faster such as permanent, full time bus lanes, transit priority upgrades,
>    and business access and transit lanes;
>    - Expanding free and subsidized transit to those who are cost
>    burdened.
>
>
> BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be transmitted to
> the King County Council and Executive.
>
> On Sun, Apr 16, 2023 at 1:41 PM Wes Mills <wesmills at wesmills.com> wrote:
>
>> I like this quite a lot, thank you for doing it. :) The 46th’s meeting is
>> on Tuesday so I will work to get it on our next meeting calendar.
>>
>> If it’s not too late for suggestions, would a mention of how we’ve
>> expanded transit before—like when we had the STBD at full
>> effectiveness—that people have ridden because people want choices and to
>> support transit be useful?  Something in between the Commute Seattle
>> reference and losing major gains reference.  Like:
>>
>> Whereas, investments in transit service have historically paid
>> substantial dividends, such as Puget Sound leading the nation
>> <https://mynorthwest.com/1283506/sound-transit-touts-2018-ridership-growth/>
>> with increases in bus and train ridership in 2018 after our substantial
>> additions to service, and added resiliency and efficiency to our region’s
>> transportation system during times of major construction projects.
>>
>> Possible other links, if we don’t want to use MyNorthwest (I tried to
>> find a news article instead of a press release or an analysis that focused
>> on transit downward trends elsewhere):
>>
>>
>>    - Source graph:
>>    https://www.thetransportpolitic.com/2018/05/18/u-s-transit-systems-are-shedding-riders-are-they-under-threat/
>>    - Transit growth flattening, but still high:
>>    https://www.theurbanist.org/2019/12/19/transit-ridership-is-flattening-but-we-can-fix-that/
>>    - Ridership growth:
>>    https://www.masstransitmag.com/rail/press-release/21069558/sound-transit-sound-transit-light-rail-ridership-grew-61-percent-and-sounder-45-percent-in-2018
>>
>>
>> If this is too big of an addition to make at this point—I apologize for
>> missing the email earlier this week—or if it doesn’t fit a resolution—I’ve
>> never written one, lol—then I’m grand with what you’ve already done.  My
>> thinking is to add a specific “positive”, “we’ve done this before, we know
>> how to do it, we can do it again” kind of point.
>>
>> Wes
>>
>> On Sun, Apr 16, 2023, at 09:20, Sarah Reyneveld wrote:
>>
>> *Ok, I made a few updates to this. Let me know if any of you have any
>> final edits or would like to sign on. It is on the agenda for Wednesday's
>> 36th District Democrats meeting. Dave, I believe you are a PCO so happy to
>> add your name. Thanks!*
>>
>>
>> *Resolution in support of a measure to restore and expand transit service
>> in King County*
>>
>>
>> *WHEREAS *the effects of global climate change are already being *felt
>> here in Washington*
>> <https://www.pugetsoundinstitute.org/2020/02/new-report-describes-anticipated-climate-change-effects-in-washington-state/>
>> with natural catastrophes like this year’s heat dome, rising sea levels,
>> unprecedented droughts, and rampant wildfires,
>>
>>
>>
>> *WHEREAS* transportation is the largest contributor to greenhouse gas
>> emissions of any sector in Washington, and transitioning to low emissions
>> public transportation will be a crucial part of our survival as a species,
>>
>>
>>
>> *WHEREAS* King County Metro Transit service has languished since the
>> pandemic, ridership as been cut in half, and transit riders have
>> experienced canceled routes, delays in service, and a growing frustration
>> that they are not a priority,
>>
>> *WHEREAS* challenges recruiting and retaining *King County Metro bus
>> operators*
>> <https://www.realchangenews.org/news/2023/03/08/king-county-metro-service-struggles-amid-bus-driver-shortage>
>> and a general shortage of bus operators has led to canceled routes and
>> delays in service,
>>
>>
>>
>> *WHEREAS* lack of access to reliable, frequent, fast, and convenient
>> transit adversely impacts every resident of our region, but
>> disproportionately impacts those who depend on transit including youth,
>> elderly, those with fixed incomes, Black, Indigenous and communities of
>> color, and people with disabilities;
>>
>> *WHEREAS *we are losing major gains getting people out of cars and into
>> environmentally sustainable and space-friendly transit.
>>
>> *WHEREAS* the most recent *Commute Seattle Survey*
>> <https://www.commuteseattle.com/2022survey/> shows that to restore and
>> increase ridership King County should invest in transit service to ensure
>> it is frequent, fast, reliable, safe, and convenient.
>>
>> THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the 36h District Democrats urges members of
>> the King County Council to bring a revenue package to the people of King
>> County to fund a Transportation Benefit District to restore and expand
>> transit service in King County. The proposed revenue package should rely on
>> a combination of sources and minimize to the extent possible regressive
>> revenue. The revenue will be dedicated to:
>>
>>
>>    - Restoring and expand Metro Transit service to increase frequency,
>>    speed, reliability, accessibility, and safety;
>>    - Providing bonuses, increased pay, flexibility and appropriate
>>    incentives to help to recruit and retain bus operations;
>>    - Capital improvements to make buses more efficient, reliable, and
>>    faster such as permanent, full time bus lanes, transit priority upgrades,
>>    and business access and transit lanes;
>>    - Expanding free and subsidized transit to those who are cost
>>    burdened.
>>
>>
>> *BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED* that a copy of this resolution be transmitted
>> to the King County Council and Executive.
>>
>> Submitted by Sarah Reyneveld, 36th District Democrats PCO and Transit
>> Riders Union member (Additional names)
>>
>> On Wed, Apr 12, 2023 at 12:48 PM Sarah Reyneveld <
>> sarahreyneveld at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> Hello, I am following-up on the great idea to introduce a resolution in
>> support of a measure to expand Metro Transit service in King County to
>> build momentum and support. I am hoping to introduce a version of this
>> resolution at the April meeting of the 36th District Democrats. Can you
>> please provide me with any feedback? Dave, Wes, or others connected with
>> the LDs, are you interested in signing on and/or helping to present? Thanks
>> in advance for your thoughts!
>>
>>
>> Sarah
>>
>>
>> ___________
>>
>> *Resolution in support of a measure to restore and expand transit service
>> in King County*
>>
>>
>> *WHEREAS *the effects of global climate change are already being *felt
>> here in Washington*
>> <https://www.pugetsoundinstitute.org/2020/02/new-report-describes-anticipated-climate-change-effects-in-washington-state/>
>> with natural catastrophes like this year’s heat dome, rising sea levels,
>> unprecedented droughts, and rampant wildfires,
>>
>>
>>
>> *WHEREAS* transportation is the largest contributor to greenhouse gas
>> emissions of any sector in Washington, and transitioning to low emissions
>> public transportation will be a crucial part of our survival as a species,
>>
>>
>>
>> *WHEREAS* King County Metro Transit service has languished since the
>> pandemic, ridership as been cut in half, and transit riders have
>> experienced canceled routes, delays in service, and a growing frustration
>> that they are not a priority,
>>
>> *WHEREAS* challenges recruiting and retaining *King County Metro bus
>> operators*
>> <https://www.realchangenews.org/news/2023/03/08/king-county-metro-service-struggles-amid-bus-driver-shortage>
>> and a general shortage of bus drivers has led to canceled routes and delays
>> in service,
>>
>>
>>
>> *WHEREAS* lack of access to reliable, frequent, fast, and convenient
>> transit adversely impacts every resident of our region, but
>> disproportionately impacts those who depend on transit including youth,
>> elderly, those with fixed incomes, communities of color, and people with
>> disabilities;
>>
>> *WHEREAS *we are losing major gains getting people out of cars and into
>> environmentally sustainable and space-friendly transit.
>>
>> *WHEREAS* the most recent *Commute Seattle Survey*
>> <https://www.commuteseattle.com/2022survey/> shows that to restore and
>> increase ridership King County should invest in transit service to ensure
>> it is frequent, fast, reliable, safe, and convenient.
>>
>> THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the 36h District Democrats urges members of
>> the King County Council to bring a revenue package to the people of King
>> County to fund a Transportation Benefit District to restore and expand
>> transit service in King County. Specifically, the funding package should do
>> the following:
>>
>>
>>    - Restore and expand Metro Transit service to increase frequency,
>>    speed, reliability, accessibility, convenience, and safety;
>>    - Provide bonuses, increased pay, flexibility and appropriate
>>    incentives to help to recruit and retain bus operations;
>>    - Expand free and subsidized transit to those who are cost burdened.
>>
>>
>> *BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED* that a copy of this resolution be transmitted
>> to the King County Council and Executive.
>>
>> Submitted by Sarah Reyneveld, 36th District Democrats PCO and Transit
>> Riders Union member (PLEASE ADD YOUR NAME…..)
>>
>>
>>
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