[Transit] 46th LD “edition”, Draft Resolution in support of a measure to expand transit service in King County

[Wes Mills]

Hello everyone!

I’m starting a new thread based off of our success at the 36th LD, thanks again to Sarah for getting this off the ground. :)  I am also adding Daniel Heppner who is a PCO in the 46th, transit devotee, and agreed to be a PCO co-sponsor.

I took our resolution text to the Policy Committee at the 46th LD and they were quite supportive; they had a few suggestions as well.  They were:
 • Call out impacts on LGBTQ individuals as they tend to be fall into several other disadvantaged categories, like being lower income and health issues;
 • Call out whether/that ridership has improved—as in, people are riding and would ride more—relative to the pandemic lows (wish I’d thought of this!);
 • Mention specific impacts to the 46th LD (this was in the context of my mentioning work that TRU members have done in rider surveys in Lake City around the Northgate Link service change).
To that end, I made some additions, highlighted in yellow.  I wanted to make sure the group is good with these and whether anyone has more ideas or wants to copy-edit my new words.

They also asked if we should include other people, like Rod Dembowski specifically.  I said “probably not” since Rod isn’t on the transit committee at the county, but while I was typing I thought of adding our two council members here, especially since CM Juarez has historically supported transit and CM Pedersen (yeah I know) is, as we all know, on the Transportation Committee at the city.

As long as I get a final copy back to the Policy Committee by the 2nd of May, in time for the 46th’s Executive Board meeting, I believe we will be on the agenda for the next meeting on the 16th of May.  I would like to send them our “proposed final” text no later than Tuesday afternoon, just in case there is one more round of discussion.

Thank you everyone!  The text follows below, here is a link to propose changes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/11EwL0UVz6Bq93e4o9-JHNt3yMe5gcl1k8VeG0EQBCxU/edit?usp=sharing

*Resolution to bring a countywide transportation benefit district funding package to the voters of King County in order to restore and expand transit service *


*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 last 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_ <https://ecology.wa.gov/Air-Climate/Reducing-Greenhouse-Gas-Emissions/Tracking-greenhouse-gases/GHG-inventories> 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 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 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 are more likely to depend on transit including youth, LGBTQ individuals, 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 for every resident of King County;


*WHEREAS* ridership has rebounded from early pandemic lows but _continues to be hobbled by buses that run late or are canceled_ <https://www.theurbanist.org/2022/12/01/as-king-county-focuses-on-metro-fleet-turnover-buses-are-getting-slowed-down-by-traffic/> due to traffic- and staffing-related shortages;


*WHEREAS* bus service in northeast Seattle, particularly in Lake City which is home to a large population of transit-reliant people and some of the city’s increasingly-scarce affordable housing, has been reduced due to lower city and county funding, resulting in a dramatic turnaround from impressive, very-frequent transit towards half-hour weekend buses and long-proposed cross-town routes being removed or postponed;


*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 46th District Democrats urges the King County

Council to place a countywide Transportation Benefit District funding package on the ballot for the people of King County 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:

 • Restore and expand Metro Transit Service to ensure that every rider has access to frequent, quick, reliable, safe, and convenient transit service; 

 • Provide bonuses, increased pay, and flexibility to help to recruit and retain bus operators 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 Dow Constantine, Seattle Councilmember Deborah Juarez, and Seattle Councilmember Alex Pedersen.


Submitted by Wes Mills, PCO (3728); co-sponsored by Hadeel Jeanne, PCO (1311) and Daniel Heppner, PCO (3805)

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