County’s transportation budget reduces staff, projects

This week, King County Executive Kurt Triplett submitted a proposed budget for 2010 that he described as “one of the most difficult budgets in the history of King County.”

King County Executive Kurt Triplett presented his proposed 2010 budget on Sept. 28.

For the King County Department of Transportation (KCDOT) and its five divisions, 70 staff positions will be eliminated. Some are vacant positions that have gone unfilled since a hiring freeze went into effect earlier this year.

Overall, funding is decreasing in the budgets for the King County International Airport, the Fleet Administration Division and the KCDOT Director’s Office. There are some modest increases in the budgets for the Marine, Transit and Road divisions. These increases stem mostly from expansion to year-round Elliott Bay water taxi service, previously planned Transit partnerships and new Rapid Ride service, and adjustments for inflation in the Roads budget. But, those divisions are also reducing staffing and cutting costs in other areas. All of the divisions operate with two-year biennial budgets.

King County Metro Transit is faced with a $213 million revenue shortfall over the next two years. Triplett laid out a nine-point plan this summer for balancing the transit budget to protect as much service as possible.

The proposed budget he submitted this week contains that transit plan, which combines the use of reserves with another fare increase in 2010, some deferred Transit Now service expansion, efficiencies, service reductions and various other program reductions. This approach preserves the bulk of the region’s bus service by maintaining nearly all existing routes and reducing service proportionally across the entire system.

For the Road Services Division, the 2010-2011 budget is built around several operating reductions as well as reprioritizing the workload. The division will once again focus on safety, preservation and maintenance of existing roads and bridges. There will be fewer positions for road construction and engineering.

Despite the decreasing funding and staffing, the Road Division must assume responsibility for the maintenance of new road miles added to the transportation network in the unincorporated areas in recent years. Also, the budget includes the purchase of additional snow-removal equipment.

The budget for operations at the King County International Airport at Boeing Field has been mostly preserved for 2010-2011, but some work on airport facilities will be deferred. Funding is still included in the capital budget for the restoration of Taxiway Alpha and continuation of the program to reduce noise in residences near the airport. Both projects are primarily funded by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The Marine Division budget maintains the enhanced passenger-only service levels for Vashon Island and year-round service for West Seattle beginning next April. The budget implements the most critical capital projects, including the procurement of three new vessels and a maintenance barge. Work on other demonstration routes would be deferred.

Delaying the replacement of some vehicles will be the biggest budget impact for the Fleet Administration Division. Also, the division has been working to better utilize the existing vehicles in the fleet so that the total number of cars and trucks can be reduced to save on operating and maintenance costs.

In the capital budgets, the Executive is proposing to defer many projects countywide. But, he did include approximately $800 million over two years for infrastructure investments that include: $257 million for roads and bridges; $124 million for new Metro Transit buses to help implement RapidRide service; and $37 million at the King County International Airport – which assumes $16 million from the FAA for Taxiway Alpha resurfacing.

The capital money earmarked for the Road Services Division includes some funding for the replacement of the severely deteriorated South Park Bridge, which would be packaged with $99 million the county is seeking in federal grant money. If that grant is not awarded, the bridge over the Duwamish River will need to be closed in 2010.

Triplett’s budget will now undergo review by the Metropolitan King County Council, which is scheduled to adopt a final budget in November. The Council is holding four public meetings. There are more details about the budget and the adoption process online.

Forbes Magazine noted the Seattle area's high carpool participation as one reason it ranks highly as a 'green commute' city.

Seattle area in top tier of national ‘green’ commute list

Forbes Magazine recently ranked American cities on their “green” commuting habits, based on accessible public transportation and high carpool rates. It’s probably no surprise that Seattle finished in the Top 5.

Forbes list of the greenest commuting cities, starting at the top is: San Francisco; Honolulu; Washington, D.C.; Seattle; and New York.

The magazine analyzed the metropolitan areas in three categories: percentage of workers commuting via mass transit; percentage of workers carpooling; and percentage of workers driving alone. The magazine only considered areas with at least 275,000 residents and a mass transit commuter-use rate of better than the 5.3 percent national average.

The magazine took special note of ridesharing in our region. “Seattle earns high marks across the board, especially for its 12.1 percent carpool rate, the best of any metro area in the lower 48 states.”

TRANSIT ALERT: 4th Avenue project could disrupt buses

Bus riders who travel through downtown Seattle and the SODO district should expect disruptions and delays starting this week, as the city begins a major resurfacing project on Fourth Avenue north of Jackson Street.

During Phase 1 of the project, traffic will be reduced to two travel lanes around-the-clock on Fourth Avenue between Jackson and James streets for the next several months (September to January). That will result in temporary bus stop closures and transit delays.

For information about the transit disruptions, visit Metro Online and click on “reroutes and service exceptions” under the Alerts tab. Or, call Metro Rider Information at (206) 553-3000.

Mariners’ final home stand tops this week’s special events

The Seattle Mariners close out the 2009 baseball season with a final home stand this week that runs through Sunday, Oct. 4

Say goodbye to Griffey, Ichiro and King Felix with one last trip to the ballpark this year. You can leave your car at home, because there is plenty of regular Metro bus service in the area. Use the online Trip Planner to plot out the trip most convenient for you.

There are other special events this weekend that will be closing down local streets and it could disrupt transit service. The American Heart Association’s Heart Walk will close streets in Pioneer Square and near the sports stadiums on Saturday, Oct. 3. Bus service will be rerouted away form downtown Issaquah on Saturday and Sunday for Salmon Days. And, on Sunday there will be short-term reroutes near downtown Burien, Magnuson Park, and downtown Bellevue for other events.

Check Metro Online fortransit disruptions, or call (206) 553-3000.

KCIA Director Bob Burke presents Kathleen Crabtree with her award.

Crabtree honored as airport volunteer of the year

Kathleen Crabtree was recently announced as the King County International Airport (KCIA) “Volunteer of the Year” for her service as a member of the airport’s advisory group.

Crabtree is the Tukwila representative on the KCIA Roundtable, and volunteered many hours and resources for the airport’s 80th Anniversary celebration in 2008.

Every year, KCIA hands out the volunteer award to a member of the aviation or local community who helps improve the quality of life and work at the county airport.