Via Downtown Seattle Association Public Policy Advocacy
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Action Requested:
Contact King County legislators using the link below, and urge them to develop a solution for funding King County Metro and pass a comprehensive state transportation package:
Move King County Now contact link
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King County Metro transit service is at risk. The special session in Olympia has provided another chance to secure a funding package that will preserve transit service, but that window will soon close. We’ve reached a critical period in which we need to impress upon lawmakers how important Metro service is to the Downtown, and regional, economy and the ability for tens of thousands of commuters to get between work and home each day.
Commuters and employers alike stand to be severely impacted if the state legislature does not adopt a transportation package. Faced with a budget shortfall, Metro cuts will amount to a loss of 17 percent of service, affecting eight out of every 10 riders, with more than 70 routes eliminated completely – click on the map to get a visual depiction of the massive scale of the route reduction:
Reductions in bus service will place an estimated additional 30,000 vehicles on our roadways each day and make getting around King County more difficult, whether you’re in a car, bus or truck.
What’s at Risk Without a Funding Solution:
- 74 routes eliminated across the county (35% of Metro system)
- 107 routes will have services reduced or revised (50% of system)
- Only 33 routes unchanged but would likely become more crowded (15% of system)
- 600,000 service hours to be reduced
- 17% cuts to transit will affect 8 out of every 10 transit riders and make it harder to get to work
- All areas of the county will be impacted (kingcounty.gov/am/future/)
- Cuts would mean a loss of 14 million rides annually
- Of the impacted routes, 43% are peak, 56% are all day and 1% are “night owl” routes
- Metro’s level of service will be the same as in 1997, despite adding 360,000 more King County residents
- An estimated 30,000 additional vehicles will be put back on the road due to transit service reductions
- This is not just a King County problem; failure to pass a funding package will put our state at a competitive disadvantage
DSA Public Policy Advocacy Since DSA was founded in 1958, we have been a leader in the revitalization and development of Downtown into a thriving, world-class destination, business center and collection of neighborhoods. Successful leadership and partnerships have earned DSA its reputation as an expert on issues facing Downtown. The strength of our advocacy program is driven by the work and support of distinguished volunteers who lend their expertise to the achievement of our mission to champion a healthy, vibrant urban core. Read our strategic plan.