Eastside and South County elected officials, road users, and bus riders continue the discussion of financial challenges facing the region’s transportation infrastructure
Thanks to everyone who attended the Eastside Transportation Town Hall last week. The event brought together cities from all over the eastside to discuss transportation issues. Sound Cities Association, Washington State Department of Transportation, King County Road Services Division, King County Metro Transit, and the cities of Bellevue, Bothell, Redmond, Kenmore, Kirkland, Lake Forest Park, Kent, Renton, Tukwila, and Covington, all provided information to attendees during the open house. And, the moderated panel discussion featured elected officials from all over the county:
- Bellevue Deputy Mayor Jennifer Robertson
- Auburn Mayor Pete Lewis
- Kenmore Mayor Dave Baker
- Kirkland Mayor Joan McBride
- Mercer Island Mayor Bruce Bassett
- Sammamish Councilmember Don Gerend
- King County Councilmember Jane Hague
- King County Councilmember Rod Dembowski, and
- Deputy King County Executive Fred Jarrett.
You can watch the moderated panel discussion in its entirety here.
The event also featured a graphic facilitator who asked open house attendees how less transit service or road maintenance would affect their communities and what ideas they had for sustainably funding transit. The facilitators also recorded comments made during the moderated panel discussion. Here are the final graphics:
Here are some of the things attendees had to say:
Putting money into bus service and infrastructure is an investment. – King County Councilmember Jane Hague
Cities and counties need to be given options to raise money. – Kiva, Duvall
Can we wait for the economy to get stronger? We can’t wait. Now’s the time to do projects.– Sammamish Councilmember Don Gerend
Spend more of what monies KC has on operation and maintenance over more expensive capital projects. – Anonymous, Kirkland
More traffic = more headaches! – Augusta, Bellevue
People understand Metro is a #1 economic development tool and a #1 social service tool. – King County Councilmember Rod Dembowski
We’ve seen a tremendous increase in traffic. We also worry about losing our bus service. – Kenmore Mayor Dave Baker
Reduce unnecessary stops that are not efficiently spaced. – Josh, Seattle
King County is the economic engine of the state. 29% of the population; 40% of the jobs; 50% of the payroll. – King County Councilmember Jane Hague
It would decrease the ability to provide equitable access to services such as healthy food, affordable housing, education and health services. Furthermore, it will demobilize low-income households. – Theo
Cities in King County adopt resolutions
Twenty-five cities throughout King County have adopted resolutions or took other actions to support urging the state Legislature to pass a transportation package this year.
As the state Legislature’s special session wraps up, many await the outcome. It remains to be seen whether elected officials will pass a transportation package that may offer a funding solution.
Learn more about Metro’s funding shorfall.