Transportation
Councilmember Phillips celebrates a milestone in building Seattle's light rail line by helping tie down the first rail of Central Link.
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Protecting and improving transportation options for people to get to and from work will continue to be a top priority for me in 2012. My Transportation Top 12 in 2012 priority list includes:
1. Seek long-term, stable funding for Metro Transit
In 2011, King County and our community partners successfully preserved transit service for at least two more years, through 2013. However Metro is surviving on reserves and one-time funding sources and therefore still faces a long-term budget shortfall due to reliance on volatile sales taxes as its funding source. Without long-term, stable funding, the region is still in jeopardy of facing deep transit cuts in the near future.
2. Implement Ballard/Uptown RapidRide
RapidRide D Line will provide bus service between Crown Hill and downtown Seattle via Ballard, Interbay, Uptown Queen Anne, and Belltown, giving riders frequent, fast connections to neighborhood activity centers and other key destinations in 2012. Additionally, Metro is proposing to restructure transit routes in northwest Seattle to reduce duplications, simplify the system, and improve connections. Those changes should be a net improvement to the community and should benefit more people than they inconvenience.
3. Plan for Aurora RapidRide
Metro Transit is planning to bring RapidRide bus service to Aurora Avenue N (State Route 99) in fall 2013. The RapidRide E Line will run between Shoreline and downtown Seattle. Planning and public outreach for the E Line will begin in 2012.
In 2011, King County followed the recommendations of the Regional Transit Task Force and implemented a new Strategic Plan and Service Guidelines for Metro Transit. The plan emphasizes transparency and guides Metro to make service planning decisions based on performance. In 2012, Metro will undertake the first service changes using the new Strategic Plan. Those changes should reduce and eliminate low performing or duplicative routes and reinvest those services in overcrowded routes and underserved areas.
5. Support efforts to advance a statewide transportation package for improving transportation
Multifaceted efforts are underway laying the groundwork for a potential package of statewide transportation infrastructure investments. Those efforts include the Governor’s Connecting Washington Task Force, the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce’s Transportation Partnership, and Transportation Choices Coalition’s Transportation for Washington campaign. I have been monitoring these efforts and working to ensure transit funding for King County is part of the discussion.
6. Pursue increased transit service in the Alaskan Way Viaduct corridor, beginning as construction mitigation and transitioning to permanent transit service
Increased transit in the Alaskan Way Viaduct corridor is necessary for providing northwest Seattle residents with adequate access to downtown after the loss of 1/3 of the Alaskan Way Viaduct’s capacity and the downtown ramps. Securing a funding source to provide additional transit in the SR 99 corridor is part of King County’s 2012 legislative agenda.
7. Monitor mitigation efforts and traffic flow in the 15th Avenue NW corridor
15th Avenue NW is a critical corridor for connecting northwest Seattle with downtown Seattle. With construction on the SR 99 tunnel project underway, maintaining traffic flow and transit movement on 15th Avenue NW and surrounding corridors is critical for maintaining access for people and goods in Ballard, Magnolia, and Interbay. Ensuring funding and construction of the Mercer West project is a critical component of these efforts.
8. Monitor elimination of the Ride Free Area to ensure a smooth transition
As a part of efforts to reduce costs and increase revenues to preserve Metro Transit service, the King County Council approved elimination of the Free Ride Area in downtown Seattle. The Ride Free Area will be eliminated in the fall of 2012, and while this action will raise an additional approximately $2.5 million per year for Metro, it poses a hardship to those using social services downtown and could potentially increase travel times downtown. Careful monitoring of those issues is necessary to ensure a smooth transition away from the Ride Free Area.
9. Support study of rail connections to Ballard
With the support of Councilmember Phillips, the Sound Transit Board approved moving up funding to partner with the City of Seattle in studying rail connection opportunities between Ballard and downtown Seattle. That study will get underway in 2012. Citizens have also put forward ideas for Ballard rail connections.
10. Keep Sound Transit system expansion projects on track, including University Link, North Link, East Link, the First Hill Streetcar, and the South and North Corridor high capacity transit projects
Sound Transit will be entering the fourth year of building out the 15-year Sound Transit 2 plan which includes 36 miles of light rail expansion. The agency is in critical phases of key projects to expand rail east, north, and south. Difficult financial times require strong project oversight while seeking opportunities to maximize job creation and transit-oriented development partnership opportunities.
11. Identify funding to purchase the Eastside Rail Corridor from the Port of Seattle and secure the corridor in permanent public ownership
The Eastside Rail Corridor provides public right-of-way connecting key east King County cities and future rail and trail opportunities. King County needs to reach an agreement with the Port of Seattle and identify funding for fee ownership of the corridor.
12. Support actions to address the backlogged maintenance of King County roads and bridges
Up to 40% of King County’s 1,750 miles of roadway are at risk of failure over the next decade and 28 of the county’s 184 bridges need to be replaced. Current funding sources for unincorporated King County do not provide enough revenue to make a sizable impact on those needs. Funding to begin addressing King County’s road and bridge maintenance backlog may be a component of statewide transportation investment efforts.
2011 Transportation Highlights
More work on transportation:
Sound Transit votes to approve $2 million to plan for high capacity transit from Ballard to Downtown
Phillips applauds funding to replace Metro's trolley bus fleet in King County's 2012 budget
Metro on Target to Increase Productivity, Efficiency
50 King County leaders join state transportation movement
Council adopts transit funding plan that includes efficiencies, Congestion Reduction Charge
Overflow audience calls for preservation of Metro service
New vision for public transportation in King County with Council adoption of transit strategic plan
Committee to host special meetings on possible reduction of transit service, proposed Congestion Reduction Charge
Regional leaders support new vision for public transportation in King County
Metro service changes reflect arrival of RapidRide in east King County
Council sets fees for County vehicle plug-in stations
Funding in place to begin construction of new South Park Bridge
Phillips to focus on Economy, Transportation, Environment in 2011
Council signals support for Regional Transit Task Force recommendations
Phillips thanks transit operators for helping preserve bus service
Transit Task Force report provides path for stabilizing Metro, uniting region on service allocations
Council asks Congress to reauthorize energy grants, surface transportation funding
Council approves funding for County share of South Park Bridge replacement
Phillips opposes plan to cut transit to pay for unincorporated area cops
"Rapid Ride" arrives as part of fall transit service improvements
Plug and drive: Council adopts policies for electric vehicle charging station program
Council confirms appointments to Regional Transit Task Force
Council adopts guidelines that will direct Regional Transit Task Force
Phillips pushed for King County budget with no transit cuts
Phillips-sponsored Transit Performance Audit helps Council find efficiencies to avert cuts to Metro bus service
King County Council adopts tax-neutral financing that maintains Metro bus service despite steep decline in revenues
Phillips: low bid on light rail tunnel means University Link is on track
County Council calls on Metro Transit to become more entrepreneurial
County Council integrates Metro bus service around new Link light rail system
Sound Transit plans for transit-oriented development at Capitol Hill light rail station
Council approves agreements to increase bus service during Viaduct construction
Performance audit of Metro Transit ordered by King County Council
Light Rail Expansion Package Advances
Metro Transit, city of Seattle team up to increase transit service
More bus service on major routes throughout the county thanks to new transit partnerships
Leftover Monorail money will benefit Ballard and West Seattle transit
"Rail corridor on the right track"
Phillips Re-appointed to Sound Transit Board
Archived Articles:
- Council adopts agreement to enable South Lake Union Streetcar to roll
- Phillips applauds Sound Transit on "Going Greener"
- Transit partnership to increase bus service to Children's Hospital
- County Council creates King County Ferry District to enable operation of local waterborne transit
- Sound Transit adds BNSF corridor rail study to ST2 package
- Phillips and Constantine Add Study of Light Rail to Ballard and West Seattle to ST2
- "Transit Now is driven by results," Seattle P-I op-ed by Larry Phillips and Julia Patterson
- Statement from County Council Chair Larry Phillips on Voter Approval of "Transit Now"
- Phillips Praises Sound Transit's Advancement of Transit Solution for First Hill
Council Approval of County-City Trolley Barn Plan "Opens View of Olympics for Decades to Come "
- Council Calls for Dedication of the Front Seat in all Metro Transit Buses in Honor of Rosa Parks
- Phillips Asks Sound Transit to Study Ballard Rail Connection
- Phillips wants Study of Ballard Commuter Rail Station
- Council Committee to Discuss Southwest Airlines Proposal Council Committee to Discuss Southwest Airlines Proposal
- Sound Transit to Explore Less Risky Rail Connection to First Hill
- Councilmembers Vow Taxpayers Should Not Pay for Cost to Provide Any Commercial Passenger Service at King County International Airport
- Phillips: New County-City Trolley Barn Plan Clears Way for Olympic Sculpture Park
- Phillips Calls for 520 Design that Accommodates Access to Light Rail
- Councilmembers Applaud Decision Placing North Link on 12th Avenue
- Council asks voters for their preference of tax source
for congestion relief transportation projects
- Phillips Praises Sound Transit Decision on Route for North Link Extension
- Phillips Praises Sound Transit Recommendation on Route for North Link Extension
- Phillips: I-776 Leaves Transportation Projects on the Side of the Road
- Council Hears that Regional Transit System is Already Increasing Transportation Mobility
- Preservation of Services, Transportation Solutions Highlight King County's State Legislative Agenda
- Phillips Joins Sound Transit Board
- Metropolitan King County Council Honors Flexcar
Proclamation Recognizes Flexcar's Impact on Mobility Options for King County
- Read my Seattle Times OpEd:
" Getting the most bang for our transportation bucks "
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