Earlier this summer, we asked for your feedback on how Metro can better address the needs of our growing county in a way that is equitable and addresses the climate crisis. King County Metro has been working with the Equity Cabinet, a diverse group of community leaders from across the county, to develop the Mobility Framework.
We took the feedback we received from you and other stakeholders across the region to the Equity Cabinet, who finalized their recommendations in early October. The Mobility Framework was transmitted to the King County Council on Oct. 31 and will then move through the legislative process.
What is the Mobility Framework?
King County and the Puget Sound region is changing. The Mobility Framework includes ten guiding principles that help Metro respond to those changing demographics, our climate goals, and recent technological innovations in mobility services. The guiding principles fall into five thematic areas, which are:
- Investments
- Surrounding Land Use
- Innovation
- Workforce
- Engagement
The Mobility Framework provides overarching recommendations in each of these thematic areas. These recommendations will guide updates to Metro’s adopted policies, like how we plan future service in communities all across King County, as well as Metro’s budget and capital plan for building facilities, improving bus stops or RapidRide stations, and more. Metro will continue to work with the Equity Cabinet on these policy updates in 2020 to ensure that we make decisions that are centered on equity and sustainability.
Who is on the Equity Cabinet?
Metro built on the success and momentum of the Department of Natural Resources and Parks Open Space Equity Cabinet, which worked to embed an equity-based approach into how the region invests in its open space infrastructure to redress the disparities in access to parks and open spaces. Metro continued the Equity Cabinet this summer with many of the same members and some new members, to identify opportunities to center equity and sustainability in how the region grows, integrates new mobility choices, and invests in its public transit and related infrastructure.
Our recommendations are a product of community shared approaches with those impacted who are not usually at the table. — Paulina Lopez, Equity Cabinet Co-Chair and Executive Director, Duwamish River CleanUp Coalition/TAG
The cabinet is made up of 23 community leaders representing low-income communities, black, native and communities of color, immigrants and refugees, limited-English speaking people, and people with disabilities.
In order to respect their lived experience as members of these populations, Metro compensated cabinet members, provided food at meetings as well as childcare. This removed some of the traditional barriers that many community members face when participating in traditional engagement processes. Many of them had to take time off work or away from their other obligations to participate in the meetings, which alternated locations around King County twice a month.
The Equity Cabinet will continue to work with us through next year to update Metro’s policies in accordance with the Mobility Framework.
We’re pleased to share this video with you featuring the Equity Cabinet members discussing their experience co-creating the Mobility Framework with Metro.