>>> ALL RIGHT.
WELL, GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
THE JUNE 4th, 2026 MEETING OF
THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON SEATTLE
TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT DISTRICT
WILL COME TO ORDER.
IT IS 9:32 A.M.
I AM ROB SAKA, CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE. WILL THE COMMITTEE
CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
COUNCILMEMBER LIN?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK?
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> HERE.
>> CHAIR SAKA?
>> HERE.
>> CHAIR, THERE ARE
SIX MEMBERS PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU.
LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT
THE REMAINING
COUNCILMEMBERS CURRENTLY ABSENT
ARE
EXCUSED UNTIL THEY ARRIVE.
NOW IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION,
THE
AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING AND SEEING NO
OBJECTION, THE AGENDA IS HEREBY
ADOPTED.
ALL RIGHT, GOOD MORNING, AGAIN,
COLLEAGUES, MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC.
EXCITING DAY TODAY.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.
AND FOR THOSE IN THE
AUDIENCE WHO MAY NOT HAVE -- OR
WHO HAVE
TUNED IN EXPECTING ONE OF
OUR REGULAR STEPS COMMITTEE
MEETINGS, WELCOME. WE ARE
CONVENING THE VERY
FIRST
SELECT COMMITTEE ON SEATTLE
TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT DISTRICT.
OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS
THIS COMMITTEE WILL UNDERTAKE
ONE
OF THE MOST IMPORTANT
TRANSPORTATION
POLICY DISCUSSIONS FACING
OUR CITY THIS YEAR.
THE DECISIONS WE MAKE WILL
HELP SHAPE HOW PEOPLE MOVE
THROUGHOUT
OUR CITY, ACCESS OPPORTUNITY,
AND CONNECT WITH OUR COMMUNITIES
FOR YEARS TO COME.
TRANSPORTATION AFFECTS
NEARLY EVERY ASPECT OF DAILY
LIFE.
IT AFFECTS WHETHER SOMEONE CAN
GET TO WORK, GO TO
SCHOOL, ACCESS HEALTH CARE,
SUPPORT
A LOCAL BUSINESS, OR SPEND
LESS TIME IN TRAFFIC AND MORE
TIME WITH FAMILY.
IT ALSO PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN
HELPING SEATTLE MEET ITS
AMBITIOUS CLIMATE GOALS
WHILE SUPPORTING A STRONG AND
VIBRANT
ECONOMY.
FOR MANY SEATTLEITES,
TRANSPORTATION IS NOT
SOME ABSTRACT POLICY DISCUSSION.
IT'S A DAILY REALITY.
I KNOW THAT PERSONALLY,
FIRSTHAND. I'VE BEEN RIDING
TRANSIT
FOR MOST OF MY LIFE.
GROWING UP, MY FAMILY RELIED
HEAVILY ON TRANSIT BECAUSE,
OFTENTIMES, CARS WERE UNRELIABLE
OR SIMPLY UNAVAILABLE.
WE DID NOT ALWAYS HAVE OPTIONS.
TRANSIT WAS HOW WE GOT TO WHERE
WE
NEEDED TO GO. THAT EXPERIENCE
TAUGHT
ME SOMETHING THAT HAS STAYED
WITH ME EVER SINCE.
AT THE END OF THE DAY
TRANSPORTATION IS ABOUT
OPPORTUNITY. WHEN TRANSPORTATION
SYSTEMS
WORK WELL, THEY CONNECT PEOPLE
TO
JOBS, SCHOOLS, HEALTH
CARE, FAMILY AND COMMUNITY.
WHEN THEY DO NOT, THEY CREATE
BARRIERS.
AS WE BEGIN THIS VITAL WORK, WE
MUST ALSO RECOGNIZE THE
REALITY FACING MANY SEATTLE
FAMILIES
TODAY. HOUSING COSTS REMAIN
HIGH.
EVERYDAY EXPENSES CONTINUE TO
RISE.
MANY PEOPLE ARE
CAREFULLY EVALUATING EVERY
SINGLE
DOLLAR THAT THEY SPEND.
THAT REALITY MUST REMAIN FRONT
OF MIND AND CENTERED
THROUGHOUT OUR UPCOMING
CONVERSATIONS AND
DELIBERATIONS.
NOW, AS ELECTED
OFFICIALS, WE HAVE A DUTY, A
RESPONSIBILITY,
TO ENSURE THAT EVERY
SINGLE DOLLAR ENTRUSTED TO US IS
AN
INVESTED THOUGHTFULLY, RESPONSE
PLAY AND IN A MANNER THAT
DELIVERS MEANINGFUL PUBLIC
BENEFIT. PUBLIC TRUST IS NOT
EARNED.
PUBLIC TRUST IS EARNED, NOT
ASSUMED.
OVER THE NEXT TWO MONTHS, SIX
WEEKS, REALLY, THIS
COMMITTEE WILL CAREFULLY REVIEW
THE PROPOSAL BEFORE US, HEAR
FROM
STAKEHOLDERS AND MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC, AND ENGAGE IN
THOUGHTFUL DISCUSSION ABOUT THE
BEST PATH
FORWARD. I ALSO WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE
THAT WE HAVE AN AMBITIOUS TIME
LINE BEFORE US, SIX WEEKS I
MENTIONED. THIS COMMITTEE HAS
BEEN ASKED
TO REVIEW A SIGNIFICANT PROPOSAL
ON
A VERY COMPRESSED SCHEDULE.
THAT REALITY MAKES
OUR RESPONSIBILITY EVEN GREATER.
WE MUST ENSURE THE PUBLIC HAS
CONFIDENCE THAT THIS COUNCIL IS
CONDUCTING A THOROUGH
AND THOUGHTFUL REVIEW OF THE
ISSUES
BEFORE US.
THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL IS A
CO- EQUAL BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT,
AND OUR ROLE IS AN IMPORTANT
ONE.
OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS NOT SIMPLY
TO RECEIVE PROPOSALS.
WE'RE NOT SIMPLY HERE TO PUT
A ROUND PEG IN A ROUND HOLE --
A SQUARE PEG IN A ROUND HOLE.
OUR RESPONSIBILITY, AGAIN,
DUTY, IS TO EVALUATE THEM
CAREFULLY, ASK QUESTIONS, WEIGH
TRADEOFFS, AND ENSURE THAT ANY
MEASURE ULTIMATELY SENT TO
VOTERS REFLECTS THE NEEDS AND
VALUES
OF THE PEOPLE WE SERVE.
NOW, AS WE UNDERTAKE
THIS WORK, I HOPE WE REMAIN
FOCUSED ON THE
ENTIRE TRANSPORTATION
EXPERIENCE.
PEOPLE DESERVE
TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS THAT ARE
RELIABLE.
PEOPLE DESERVE
TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS THAT ARE
ACCESSIBLE.
PEOPLE DESERVE
TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS THAT ARE
SAFE.
THAT MEANS SAFETY FOR TRANSIT
RIDERS, TRANSIT OPERATORS,
AND THE PEOPLE WALKING TO,
NAVIGATING TO AND FROM TRANSIT
EVERY SINGLE DAY,
BECAUSE TRANSIT TRIPS BEGINS AND
ENDS AT
THE END OF THE DAY WITH A
CONNECTION.
PEOPLE MUST BE ABLE TO REACH
TRANSIT SAFELY. THEY MUST BE
ABLE TO
LEAVE TRANSIT SAFELY.
AND OUR TRANSPORTATION
SYSTEM SHOULD SUPPORT SAFE
CONNECTIONS TO TRANSIT IN EVERY
NEIGHBORHOOD
ACROSS SEATTLE.
ACCESSIBILITY MUST
REMAIN CENTRAL TO OUR THINKING
AS WELL.
OUR TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM
SHOULD WORK FOR EVERYONE
REGARDLESS OF
AGE, INCOME, ABILITY, RACE,
GENDER, ZIP CODE.
THAT IS THE OPPORTUNITY BEFORE
US.
AGAIN, NOT MERELY TO RENEW OR
NOT RENEW A SPECIFIC MEASURE OR
PROPOSAL BUT TO
THOUGHTFULLY CONSIDER HOW WE CAN
CONTINUE
BUILDING A TRANSPORTATION
SYSTEM THAT IS SAFE,
ACCESSIBLE, RELIABLE AND WORTHY
OF A WORLD-CLASS CITY STATUS.
TODAY IS THE BEGINNING OF THAT
CONVERSATION.
OUR FIRST AGENDA ITEM IS A
BRIEFING FROM THE SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE REGARDING
THE PROPOSED RENEWAL MEASURE.
I WANT TO THANK OUR
EXECUTIVE BRANCH PARTNERS IN THE
MAYOR'S
OFFICE, SDOT, FOR THE
WORK DEVELOPING AND TRANSMITTING
THIS PROPOSAL.
CRAFTING LEGISLATION OF
THIS MAGNITUDE IS NO SMALL TASK,
AND I APPRECIATE THAT EFFORT
THAT
HAS GONE INTO BRINGING
THIS FORWARD.
THIS PROPOSAL WILL SERVE AS
A STARTING POINT FOR
DELIBERATIONS.
AND OUR SECOND AGENDA ITEM IS
A BRIEFING FROM THE
TRANSIT ADVISORY BOARD.
WE APPRECIATE THEIR SERVICE,
EXPERTISE, AND PARTNERSHIP.
COLLEAGUES, THE WORK AHEAD
IS SIGNIFICANT.
AGAIN, FOR SOME
TRANSPORTATION IS AN ECONOMIC
ISSUE.
FOR OTHERS, IT IS A CLIMATE
ISSUE, A SAFETY ISSUE,
AN ACCESSIBILITY ISSUE.
THE TRUTH IS IT'S ALL OF THOSE
THINGS. AND THAT IS WHY THIS
MOMENT
MATTERS. AND SOMEONE WHO HAS
RELIED
ON TRANSIT FOR MUCH OF MY LIFE.
GOOD OLD- FASHIONED JOE
METRO GROWING UP IN SOUTH KING
COUNTY.
AND IF YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW ABOUT
JOE METRO.
I KNOW FIRSTHAND THAT
TRANSPORTATION CAN OPEN
DOORS AND EXPAND OPPORTUNITY.
LET US APPROACH THIS WORK WITH
HUMILITY. LET US APPROACH IT
WITH
SERIOUSNESS, AND LET US APPROACH
IT WITH A SHARED UNDERSTANDING
THAT OUR RESPONSIBILITY
IS LARGER THAN ANY
SINGLE PROPOSAL OR POLICY
DEBATE.
OUR RESPONSIBILITY,
AGAIN, IS NOT MERELY TO RENEW A
MEASURE, OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS
TO RENEW
THE PUBLIC'S TRUST.
AND IF WE DO THAT WELL
TOGETHER, WE WILL BUILD
SOMETHING
EVEN MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANY
TRANSPORTATION PACKAGE.
WE WILL BUILD A
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM THAT
CONNECTS PEOPLE
TRANSPORTATION SERVICES.
TRANSPORTATION IS A HUMAN RIGHT
AS THEY CONNECT WITH LIGHT RAIL,
WHATEVER THEY NEED -- PEOPLE
NEED TO BE ABLE TO MOVE AROUND.
THE ROAD SYSTEM IS
NOT GOING TO BE INCREASING
UNLESS THERE'S
SOMETHING ELSE GOING ON.
THE POPULATION
IS INCREASING BY ALMOST 1,000
PEOPLE PER MONTH.
IF THAT CONTINUES, THERE'S
100 THOUSAND MORE PEOPLE.
THAT'S WHAT THIS LEVY DOES.
ALSO, CARS ARE LESS AFFORDABLE
FOR OBVIOUS REASONS.
WE'VE ALL SEEN AT THE GAS PUMP.
THE LEVY ALSO SUPPORTS THE
STREETCAR, WHICH IS ACTUALLY
VERY VITAL FOR THETHE HIGH-
DENSITY NEIGHBORHOODS IN SOUTH
LAKE UNION AND FIRST HILL.
ALSO,
PROVIDING FOR MORE SAFETY AND
SECURITY, WHICH IS VITALLY
IMPORTANT. PEOPLE NEED TO FEEL
--
EVERYONE NEEDS TO FEEL SAFE AND
SECURE ON
THE BUS OR THE TRAIN OR WHATEVER
YOU'RE DOING, THE STREETCAR,
YOU
NEED TO FAIL SAFE GOING OUT.
AND, ALSO, I THINK FOR
THE CITY OF SEATTLE, IT GIVES
YOU A
LITTLE MORE LEVERAGE HOW
SERVICE IS PLANNED AND
IMPLEMENTED
WITH KING COUNTY TRANSIT.
IT WILL GIVE YOU THAT EXTRA UMPH
ON THAT.
ANYWAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, SIR.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER
WILL BE PATRICK BRADEN.
NOAH WILLIAMS
AFTER.
>> GOOD MORNING.
I'M PATRICK.
I AM A DRIVER FOR ATU 16
YEARS, AND I'M ALSO A DISTRICT
6
RESIDENT.
YOU'RE GOING TO GET A LOT OF
INPUT TODAY AND I'LL JUST SHARE
TWO THINGS, REALLY, FROM
THE PERSPECTIVE OF BEING AN
OPERATOR.
ONE IS THAT I'M CURRENTLY
DRIVING A 106.
I APPRECIATE SOMETHING
CALLED PINCH POINTS ARE TO BE
ADDRESSED
IN
THIS, AND IT'S REALLY ABOUT --
FOR A DRIVER,
IT'S REALLY ABOUT MIRROR
CLEARANCES.
OUR CHALLENGE TO SET UP A
TURN, SPLIT A LANE, AVOID
GETTING
A MIRROR HIT OR HITTING OTHERS
IS SOMETHING THAT'S CONSTRAINED
BY HOW THIS CITY WAS BUILT, AND
THE ABILITY TO ADDRESS THAT.
THE SECOND THING I SEE AS AN
OPERATOR IS WITH PEOPLE PAYING
THEIR FARES.
AND SO TO SEE THE SUBSIDY FOR
HSA AND OTHERS, A
DRIVER'S ANXIETY AND
CONFIDENCE, IS
REALLY HELPED WHEN YOU SEE
EVERYBODY TAPS.
YOU KNOW THEY APPRECIATE IT'S A
RIGHT, IT'S A PRIVILEGE,
THAT THEY'RE PART OF A LARGER
SYSTEM.
AND TO PUT ORCA CARDS IN
THE HANDS OF MORE PEOPLE, I
THINK, IS A WAY TO WIDEN THAT
CIRCLE.
CHAIR, YOU MENTIONED THREE
THINGS ABOUT SPENDING MONEY,
THOUGHTFULLY, RESPONSIBLY AND
MEANINGFULLY, AND I FEEL
LIKE I HAVE
CONFIDENCE THAT THIS IS WHAT
THIS MEASURE WILL DO.
I WATCH METRO PARTICIPATE WITH
ALL OF YOU AND SO MANY OTHERS
IN THIS FIFA EFFORT, AND I'M
PROUD
OF METRO IN THAT THEY ARE UPPING
THIS CHALLENGE.
OPERATORS SEE IT IN DOZENS OF
WAYS, HOW METRO IS GEARING TO
PARTICIPATE AND TO SERVE THE
PUBLIC.
AND TO DO SO WITH SOME ENERGY
AND SOME ORGANIZATION,
AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO DO
THE SAME
WITH THIS.
THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, SIR.
>> AS A REMINDER, WHEN THE CHIME
GOES OFF, YOU HAVE TEN
SECONDS TO FINISH, BUT THANK
YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL
BE NOAH WILLIAMS FOLLOWED BY
DAVID HILL.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBERS.
MY NAME IS NOAH WILLIAMS.
I'M A RESIDENT OF D-1 AND A
MEMBER OF THE TRANSIT RIDERS
UNION.
THE PROPOSAL BEFORE US
TODAY ASKS ABOUT $58 A YEAR FROM
THE AVERAGE SEATTLEITE IN TAXES
OR ABOUT ONE TANK OF GAS PER
PERSON.
AND IN RETURN THEY GET A FREEDOM
OF MOVEMENT ALL AROUND SEATTLE
AT ALL TIMES OF DAY.
IT MEANS THE SHIFT WORKER CAN
GET TO THEIR JOB, THEIR MEDICAL
APPOINTMENT OR SEE THEIR PARTNER
AT WHATEVER TIME THEY MAY BE
ABLE. IT MEANS THEY CAN TAKE
THAT
JOB THAT WOULD HAVE
PREVIOUSLY REQUIRED A CAR SAVING
AROUND
$12,000 A YEAR.
WHEN POTUS DECIDED TO LAUNCH
AN ILLEGAL WAR EARLIER THIS YEAR
HE GREATLY WORSENED
THE AFFORDABILITY CRISIS FOR
MILLIONS OF PEOPLE, AND THAT
IS SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE AN
ABILITY TO MITIGATE, AT LEAST
FOR YOUR DISTRICT TODAY.
I KNOW THERE ARE A LOT
OF IMPORTANT
TRANSPORTATION PRIORITIES ON
YOUR PLATE THIS
YEAR, AND AS YOU THINK ABOUT
HOW TO PRIORITIZE THOSE, JUST
PLEASE RECOGNIZE THAT THE MONEY
IN
THIS PROPOSAL IS INTENDED FOR
SERVICE HOURS, TARGETED SPEED
AND
RELIABILITY IMPROVEMENTS
THAT MAKE EFFICIENT USE OF THOSE
SERVICE HOURS AND PROVIDING
TRANSIT PASSES FOR SOME OF OUR
MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE IN
SEATTLE.
PLEASE DIRECT IT TO THAT.
THIS IS THE CORE OF WHAT STARTED
THE TRANSIT RIDERS UNION AND
WE FEEL VERY STRONGLY IT STHUD
GO
TOWARDS THAT.
LASTLY, I WOULD BE REMISS IF
I DIDN'T MENTION TAXES.
WE UNDERSTAND THE DESIRE
FOR PROGRESSIVE REVENUE AND HAVE
THE STRONG SAME DESIRES
OURSELVES.
UNTIL THE WASHINGTON STATE
LEGISLATURE GIVES US THESE TOOLS
OR CASE LAW IS OVERTURNED
AND WE'RE ABLE TO USE
MORE PROGRESSIVE SOURCES OF
REVENUE, WE HAVE TO DRIVE THE
BUS
WITH THE FUEL THAT WE HAVE.
AND WHILE WE DON'T LIKE RAISING
REGRESSIVE TAXES, THIS IS THE
MOST PROGRESSIVE
USE OF TAX DOLLARS.
THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL
BE DAVID HILL FOLLOWED BY KATIE.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBERS.
MY NAME IS DAVID HILL.
I'M A CAR- FREE SEATTLE
RESIDENT
IN DISTRICT 4, AND I'M
THE TREASURER OF THE TRANSIT
RIDERS
UNION. I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE
OUTCOMES OF THE 2026 SEATTLE
TRANSIT MEASURE BECAUSE WORK IN
LOW-INCOME NEEDS SAFE,
RELIABLE BUSES AND EXPANDED FREE
TRANSIT
TO SURVIVE IN AN INCREASINGLY
UNAFFORDABLE CITY.
THAT SAID, WE ARE
DISAPPOINT THAT HAD THIS MEASURE
RELIES
ON A REGRESSIVE SALES
TAX, SQUEEZING WORKING CLASS
FAMILY
BUDGETS TO PAY FOR A PUBLIC GOOD
IS OBVIOUSLY NOT OUR
PREFERENCE, THOUGH WE UNDERSTAND
THE
CITY'S FUNDING OPTIONS ARE
LIMITED
HERE. MAYOR WILSON CAMPAIGNED
ON PROGRESSIVE TAXATION YET OUR
BIG CORPORATIONS ARE STILL
GETTING A
FREE RIDE ON OUR PUBLIC
INFRASTRUCTURE. WE URGE YOU TO
PASS THIS
MEASURE BECAUSE RIDERS NEED
RELIEF
TODAY. BUT WE CALL ON THIS
COUNCIL TO
COMMIT TO PROGRESSIVE
REVENUE OPTIONS LIKE
AN EMPLOYER TAX OR AN UPDATED
PARKING TAX MOVING
FORWARD. LET'S BUILD THE WORLD-
CLASS TRANSIT SYSTEM WE NEED BY
TAXING THE CORPORATE CLASS NOT
THE
POOR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL
BE KATIE FOLLOWED BY JONATHAN
GONZALEZ.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBERS.
>> MORNING.
>> MY NAME IS KATIE.
I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF
TRANSPORTATION CHOICES COALITION
AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT
3.
TCC SUPPORTS THE DURATION
AND AMOUNT OF MAYOR WILSON'S
SEATTLE TRANSIT MEASURE
PROPOSAL.
OVER THE PAST SIX YEARS
SEATTLE HAS INVESTED IN A
TRANSIT NETWORK THAT PEOPLE
HAVE ORGANIZED THEIR LIVES
AROUND.
THIS MEASURE KEEPS THAT GOING
AND EXPANDS IT.
IT GETS US BACK TO 2019
SERVICE LEVELS.
THIS IS A HUGE MILESTONE FOR
THE CITY.
PEOPLE ARE FRUSTRATED AT
THE COSTS OF
LIVING. I GET IT.
I LIVE HERE.
IT'S ALSO REALLY EXPENSIVE TO
OWN A CAR.
GAS HAS SKYROCKETED.
IF WE DO NOT INVEST IN
TRANSIT, WE WILL BE TELLING
MORE PEOPLE THAT THEY NEED TO
BUY A CAR
TO GET AROUND.
THEY'LL NEED TO BUY
GAS, INSURANCE AND PAY FOR
PARKING.
WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY, AS YOU
SAID, CHAIR SAKA, TO INVEST
IN TRANSIT SO PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE
TO
LIVE THAT WAY.
TRANSIT IS ONE OF THE
MOST DIRECT TOOLS WE HAVE TO
MAKE
THE CITY MORE AFFORDABLE.
EVERY PERSON WHO
CAN RELIABLYRELIABLY GET TO
WORK, THE DOCTOR OR
TO A GROCERY STORE WITHOUT A CAR
IS SAVING MONEY.
EVERY AFFORDABLE ORCA PASS
IS MONEY THAT A PERSON CAN PASS
ON
FOOD, MEDICINE OR CHILD CARE.
I KNOW MANY OF YOU ARE
TRANSIT RIDERS WHETHER YOU'RE
COMING FROM WEST SEATTLE,
CAPITOL
HILL, BALLARD OR ANYWHERE ELSE
IN THE
CITY, AND I KNOW YOU WANT
BETTER ACCESS FOR YOUR
CONSTITUENTS.
THIS TRANSIT MEASURE IS
NOT ABOUT EXTRAS.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT YOUR
TRIPS, YOUR CONSTITUENTS'
TRIPS, AND
EVERYDAY LIVES BEING AFFECTED.
PLEASE KEEP THE AMOUNT AND
THE DURATION OF THE PROPOSAL
BEFORE
YOU. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL
BE JONATHAN GONZALEZ FOLLOWED BY
DAVID HAYNES.
>> HELLO.
I'M JONATHAN GONZALEZ.
I'M A VOLUNTEER WITH BALLARD
ANDAND ORGANIZER OF SAFE RAIL
AND
HERE TO SHOW SUPPORT FOR THE
TRANSIT MEASURE GIVEN LIMITED
TOOLS AVAILABLE FOR RAISING
REVENUE, AGGRESSIVE SALES TAX
ISN'T
IDEAL, BUT WITHOUT PUBLIC
TRANSIT WE WOULD
BE FORCED INTO CARS CLOGGING OUR
STREETS
AND POLLUTING OUR AIR.
WITH THE UNCERTAIN FUTURE OF
THE BALLARD LINK
EXTENSION, COMMUNITIES LIKE MINE
WILL
NEED TO CONTINUE TO RELY ON BUS
SERVICE. WE NEED TO KEEP
INVESTING IN
OUR PUBLIC TRANSIT NETWORKS SO
WE CAN ENSURE RELIABLE,
FREQUENT AND GOOD SERVICE.
100,000 MORE BUS TRIPS PER YEAR
HELPS US GET TO THAT GOAL.
I HOPE TO SEE THIS MEASURE
BREEZE THROUGH COUNCIL SO WEWE
VOTE ON IT IN NOVEMBER.
THANKS.
>> THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DAVID HAYNES
FOLLOWED BY NICK SOTELLI.
>> DAVID HAYNES.
WE NEED TRANSIT SIGNAL PRIORITY
TECHNOLOGY TO STRATEGICALLY
BE PLACED AT INTERSECTIONS
THAT SLOW UP THE LATE EIGHT
AND RAPIDRIDE BUSES WHETHER
THEY'RE GOING TO WEST SEATTLE,
SEATTLE CENTER OR BALLARD.
WE STILL NEED TO PROGRAM ALL THE
DISCOMBOBULATED TRAFFIC LIGHTS
ON THIRD AVENUE
THAT CREATE ALL OF THIS
CONGESTION
UNNECESSARILY, AND IF YOU WANT
TO REGULATE THE BUS
DRIVERS, MAYBE GIVE THEM A
WARNING
TO SLOW DOWN, BUT DON'T HARM
THEIR
INSURANCE.
THE SUPERVISORS OF TRANSIT NEED
TO HAVE THEIR VEHICLES TAKEN
AWAY FROM THEM FOR A PERIOD OF
TIME TO FORCE THEM INTO
THE SYSTEM TO REALIZE ALL THE
UNNECESSARY DELAYS AND PROBLEMS
THAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH.
AND THE BUS DRIVERS STILL
NEED TO SPEAK UP ABOUT ALL
THE HORRIBLE CRAP THAT'S GOING
ON
IN AND AROUND TRANSIT- ORIENTED
BUS
SYSTEMS, BECAUSE THE CITY --
EXCUSE ME, THE CITY OF
SEATTLE POLICE CHIEF, COPS AND
TRANSIT AUTHORITY AND THE KING
COUNTY SHERIFFS ARE ARGUING
ABOUT WHO
IS RESPONSIBLE, AND THEY KEEP,
LIKE, TRANSFERRING YOU TO
THE OTHER AGENCY SAYING IT'S
NOT
OUR PROBLEM BECAUSE SOMEBODY
JUST
STEPPED OUT OF THE BUS.
BUT THE TRANSIT SIGNAL
PRIORITY WILL EX PE DICE --
EXPEDITE
WITH SO MANY PEOPLE COMING
AROUND.
WHEN THE BUS COMES UP TO THE
INTERSECTION, THE LIGHT TURNS
GREEN.
WE STILL NEED PEDESTRIAN
CENTRIC BUT WHEN YOU'RE GOING
THROUGH THIRD AVENUE YOU CAN
PROGRAM IT
A LITTLE BIT BETTER.
AND IF THE BUS DRIVERS ARE
SPEEDING, TRANSIT CAN ADDRESS
THAT.
JUST GIVE THEM WARNINGS.
DON'T RUN THEIR DRIVER'S
LICENSE FOR INSURANCE.
BUT YOU HAVE TO, LIKE, IMPROVE
THE SERVICE.
YOU ALL ARE SAYING, WELL,
IT TAKES TOO LONG TO GO ON
RIDES. SO NOW WE'RE GOING TO
SPEND
$7 BILLION ON A TRANSIT --
EXCUSE
ME, A LINK- LIGHT RAIL THAT
GOES ONE STOP AND YOU GET
DROPPED OFF
AT ALASKA JUNCTION.
THAT'S KIND OF RIDICULOUS, MAN.
TRANSIT SIGNAL PRIORITY.
IT'S A HELL OF A LOT CHEAPER.
$5,000 PER INTERSECTION.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MR. HAYNES.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS NICK
SOTELLI FOLLOWED BY JASON LEE.
>> HELLO.
HELLO, COUNCILMEMBERS.
MY NAME IS NICK.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT 3.
I'M HERE FOR A MORE AFFORDABLE
SEATTLE.
TODAY THE MOST EXPENSIVE THINGS
IN A SEATTLEITE'S BUDGET
ARE HOUSING AND TRANSPORTATION.
ON HOUSING WE'RE FORCED TO LIVE
IN SOME OF THE FEW
NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE TRANSIT
RICH OR
FORCED TO BUY A CAR TO GET
AROUND.
THE MOST EXPENSIVE PART OF OUR
BUDGETS ARE THE COST OF DRIVING.
INSURANCE RATES ARE
SKYROCKETING
NATIONALLY. CAR PAYMENTS ARE
INSANE.
THE COST OF A NEW CAR NOW IS
$50,000.
GAS IS SKYROCKETING.
ON MY WAY HERE ALMOST $7 A
GALLON.
AND PARKING IS MORE
EXPENSIVE THAN EVER.
WE NEED MORE TRANSIT TO
GIVE PEOPLE OPPORTUNITIES TO GET
AROUND IN WAYS OTHER THAN
DRIVING. AS WE TALKED ABOUT
EARLIER, GETTING BACK TO 2019
SERVICE LEVELS WOULD BE
REVOLUTIONARY FOR THE CITY.
BEING ABLE TO GET TEN- MINUTE
BUS SERVICE IN ALL OF OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD LIKE THE WAY WE
HAD, BEING ABLE TO HAVE OFF
PEAK AND NIGHT SERVICE, MEANS
PEOPLE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO GET
AROUND
NOT JUST IN THE MIDDLE OF THE
DAY.
LUCKILY THERE'S A LIGHT AT
THE END OF THE TUNNEL FOR THIS
PROBLEM.
THE MAYOR'S PROPOSAL, WHILE
A REGRESSIVE SALES TAX,
AS WE TALKED ABOUT, IS NOT
IDEAL, IT WOULD COST THE MEDIAN
TWO-
PERSON HOUSEHOLD $29 A YEAR FOR
THIS
INCREASE.
THAT'S THE SAME AS FOUR HOURS
OF
PARKING IN BALLARD, FIVE
GALLONS OF GAS OR LESS THAN ONE
WEEK
OF TOTAL CAR OWNERSHIP.
THIS IS A HUGE OPPORTUNITY FOR
AN AFFORDABLE SEATTLE TO
HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO GET
AROUND WITHOUT DRIVING.
WE CAN'T FORCE PEOPLE IF
THEY WANT TO GO OUT TO EAT IN
BALLARD TO PAY FOR ALL THIS
PARKING.
WE CAN'T FORCE PEOPLE IF
THEY WANT TO GO OUT TO A SHOW
DOWN
TOWN TO PAY FOR GAS.
HAVING TRANSIT MEANS PEOPLE ARE
ABLE TO GET AROUND WITHIN
OUR CITY INSTEAD OF
LEAVING TO GO TO THE SUBURBS
WHERE THEY GET
FREE
PARKING. WE NEED TO HAVE MORE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE AND
MORE FREEDOM TO GET AROUND WHEN
THEY WANT TO GET AROUND, HOW
THEY WANT
TO GET AROUND ACROSS
THE ENTIRE CITY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JASON LEE
FOLLOWED BY JACK WISNER.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL.
ACCORDING TO THE SEATTLE
TIMES IN 2024 SEATTLE ADDED
13,000
DRIVERS COMMUTING ALONE TO
WORK IN JUST ONE YEAR.
WE ARE SO WORRIED ABOUT
THE TRAFFIC THAT
THE WORLD CUP WILL BRING, BUT IF
THIS
PATTERN DOESN'T START TO
CHANGE, THEN BY
THE END OF THE DECADE THE AMOUNT
OF NEW DRIVERS WE'VE ADDED
TO OUR ROADS COULD NEARLY FILL
LUMEN FIELD TO CAPACITY AND THE
TRAFFIC WE'VE BEEN PREPARING
FOR
AND DOING SO MANY THINGS TO
MAKE AN EXCEPTION TO MAKE SURE
THAT
GOES SMOOTHLY, THAT WILL
BE EVERY SINGLE DAY.
WE NEED SOMETHING TO CHANGE,
AND THIS PROPOSAL BY THE MAYOR
WILL DO EXACTLY THAT.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT
PEOPLE ARE SWITCHING FROM
DRIVING TO
TRANSIT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
THAT WILL NOT ONLY GIVE
PEOPLE THE FINANCIAL FREEDOM THE
OTHER COMMENTORS HAVE COMMENTED
ON
BUT THE INDEPENDENT FREEDOM TO
GO WHERE THEY WANT IF THEY
CAN'T
DRIVE.
TRANSIT IS THE BEST WAY TO
ENSURE THAT PEOPLE OF ALL
AGES AND ABILITIES CAN MOVE
AROUND
THE CITY AS THEY PLEASE LIKE
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA DISCUSSED.
RIGHT NOW TOO MANY PEOPLE
HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION
BETWEEN GETTING HOME ON TIME BY
LEAVING
THREE, FOUR, FIVE HOURS
EARLY FOR THE LAST DIRECT BUS,
WHICH
I KNOW, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS, YOU'RE VERY FAMILIAR
WITH,
OR BEING ABLE TO ENJOY
THEMSELVES FOR THE REST OF THE
NIGHT
BUT SPENDING SEVERAL TIMES
MORE GETTING HOME.
THE AMOUNTS THAT PEOPLE ARE
SPENDING IN TRAFFIC RIGHT NOW IS
ABSURD AND TRANSIT IS THE EASY
WAY TO FIX THAT.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THIS
CHOICE OF TRANSIT IS OBVIOUS.
RIGHT NOW TOO MANY PEOPLE FEEL
LIKE THEY'RE FORCED TO DRIVE
AND, BECAUSE OF THAT,
OUR STREETS ARE MORE UNSAFE THAN
EVER. WE NEED THE PEOPLE WHO
KNOW THEY'RE BAD DRIVERS TO BE
ABLE
TO TAKE THE OBVIOUS CHOICE
AND SWITCH TO TRANSIT.
RIGHT NOW THEY'RE JUST
DRIVING BECAUSE THAT'S THEIR
ONLY
OPTION
REALLY. IF WE DIDN'T HAVE -- IF
WE DIDN'T HAVE A SYSTEM
WHERE PEOPLE FEEL YOU ARE FORCED
TO
DRIVE, DROVE UP ON TO
MOUNT BAKER STATION.
TRANSIT IS VERY POPULAR IN
SEATTLE.
MAYBE A LITTLE TOO POPULAR
TO THE POINT DRIVERS
ARE TRYING TO GET ON TO THE
TRAIN STATIONS.
WE CAN MAKE IT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JACK
WISNER FOLLOWED BY JASON WILE.
>> GOOD MORNING, CHAIR SAKA,
MEMBERS OF THE TBD.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT 6.
YESTERDAY I WROTE YOU A NOTE.
I HOPE YOU CAN CHECK OUT YOUR
IN BOXES.
BECAUSE I
HAVE TWO MINUTES, I'LL MAKE TWO
POINTS FROM THAT NOTE.
I WOULD LIKE YOU TO CONSIDER
TWO CHANGES TO THE MAYOR'S
PROPOSAL.
ONE, CHAIR SAKA IN 2024 RAISED
THE ISSUE OF DELETING THE
SOUTH UNION STREETCAR.
I THINK YOU SHOULD
RECONSIDER THAT CAREFULLY.
IT IS REDUNDANT TO SEVERAL
BUS ROUTES THAT SERVE SOUTH
LAKE UNION AND THEY DO A MUCH
BETTER
JOB.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE FTA,
NATIONAL TRANSIT DATABASE
DATABASE COST, THE
COST TO RUN A STREETCAR
IS SIGNIFICANTLY MORE THAN THE
COST
TO RUN AN ELECTRIC TROLLEY
BECAUSE.
SECOND, I'D LIKE YOU TO
CONSIDER
ASKING THE VOTERS ABOUT
THE VEHICLE LICENSE FEE.
IT WAS PART OF THE 2014 MEASURE.
NOT PART OF THE 2020
MEASURE BECAUSE IT WAS ENTANGLED
IN
THE SUPREME COURT CASE.
BUT YOU COULD USE THE VLF AGAIN.
IT'S VERY CLUMSY TO GO TO
THE VOTERS TO ASK FOR THE
TBD
MEASURE. YOU MIGHT AS WELL ASK
FOR THE SALES TAX AND THE
VLF AT THE SAME TIME.
YOU MIGHT TARGET THE VLF
REVENUE TOWARD PAYMENT
MANAGEMENT.
I KNOW YOU HAVE YOUR TASK
FORCE ON TRANSPORTATION FUNDING,
BUT
THAT'S GOING TO TAKE A LONG
TIME.
AND HERE THE VOTERS WILL BE
ASKED ABOUT THIS.
GO AHEAD AND
ASK THEM NOW, TARGET THE VLF
REVENUE TOWARD
PAYMENT MANAGEMENT
WHICH HELPS ALL MODES, AND WHEN
YOU
FIX MAJOR ARTERIALS, SDOT
CAN ADDRESS SIDEWALKS,
ACCESS ACCESS AND DO SEVERAL
THINGS
AT ONCE.
SEVERAL OF THESE
ARTERIALS HAVE TRANSIT ROUTES
THAT NEED HELP.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MR. WISNER.
>> OUR FINAL IN- PERSON SPEAKER
WILL BE JASON WILE, AND
THEN WE'LL GO TO THE REMOTE
SPEAKERS.
>> HI, GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS JASON WILE.
I AM A DISTRICT 6 RESIDENT.
I'M A VOLUNTEER WITH SAVE
BALLARD RAIL. THANK YOU FOR
CONSIDERING THIS
MEASURE.
ALTHOUGH IT IS A REGRESSIVE TAX
BEING A SALES TAX
INCREASE, IT IS THE TOOL THAT WE
HAVE AND
I URGE US TO USE IT.
EVERYONE IN SEATTLE IS RIDING
TRANSIT. EVERYONE FROM STUDENTS
TO TOURISTS TO
PROFESSIONALS WORKING ALL OVER
THE CITY
ARE DEPENDING ON TRANSIT.
IT IS THE ULTIMATE AFFORDABILITY
HACK FOR $3 OR LESS YOU CAN
RIDE ALL OVER THE CITY AT A TIME
WHEN THE WORLD CUP IS COMING
UP, PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO GET
TO STADIUMS FOR SOME OF
THE CHEAPEST FARES IN THE
COUNTRY, AND THAT'S FANTASTIC
BECAUSE IT
GETS MORE CARS OFF THE ROADS
AND KEEPS OUR CITY MOVING.
ONE OF THE BEST WAYS
TO ADD TRUST TO A PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM IS TO ADD
TRIPS.
THE IDEA THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN I
WAS COMING DOWN HERE ON
THE RAPIDRIDE D LINE, I SAW A
BUS
DEPARTING, AND I WASN'T EVEN
MAD BECAUSE THE NEXT ONE WAS
COMING FIVE MINUTES IN THE
FUTURE,
AND IT
DID. AND ADDING MORE TRIPS IS A
GREAT WAY TO GET MORE PEOPLE OUT
OF THEIR CARS, ONTO
TRANSIT, RELYING ON IT,
RECOMMENDING IT
TO OTHERS, AND SO INCREASING THE
FREQUENCY AND THE
AVAILABILITY OF TRANSIT SHOULD
BE THE GOAL OF
ANY GROWING AND VIBRANT
CITY LIKE OURS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WE'LL NOW SWITCH TO
OUR REMOTE COMMENTERS.
OUR FIRST REMOTE CALLER WILL
BE ALBERTO ALVAREZ.
AFTER THAT WE'LL GO TO BRANDON.
ALBERTO, PLEASE PRESS STAR 6.
ALBERTO ALVAREZ, CAN YOU HEAR
US?
>>
HELLO?
CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> WE CAN HEAR YOU.
>> OKAY, SORRY.
ONE MOMENT.
>> CAN YOU HEAR US?
>> SORRY ABOUT THAT.
I HEAR YOU.
I HEAR YOU NOW.
>> YEAH, WE CAN HEAR YOU.
GO AHEAD.
>> I REGRET MY SUPPORT FOR KATIE
WILSON, WITH TWO OPTIONS
TO RAISE REVENUE FOR
TRANSIT, INCREASE SALES TAX OR
FEES AND
TABS, THE MAYOR CHOOSING TO
HIT WORKING CLASS FAMILIES WITH
ANOTHER INCREASE IN THE COST OF
LIVING.
IT'S LAZY AT BEST, COWARDICE AT
WORSE.
IF YOU WANT TO ENCOURAGE
MORE PEOPLE TO TAKE THE BUS,
YOU NEED TO TAX THE VEHICLES
THEY WOULD
OTHERWISE BE DRIVING.
HOWEVER, THIS HITS FAMILIES
AND WORKING PEOPLE THE
HARDEST BECAUSE IT'S AN
INCREASE IN THE
COST OF LIVING.
THE MAYOR SAYING A FIGHT WOULD
BE TOO CONTROVERSIAL IS THE
SIGN THAT UNTIL THE STATE ALLOWS
MORE PROGRESSIVE TAXES, WHICH IS
NOT
LIKELY TO HAPPEN IN THE COMING
YEARS, THOSE OF US WITH THE
LEAST WILL ALWAYS BE PAYING THE
MOST.
TALK ABOUT A BAIT ANDAND SWITCH.
BETRAYED, DISAPPOINTED,
REGRESSFUL OF SUPPORTING KATIE
WILSON.
THANK YOU ALL AND HAVE A GOOD
DAY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT CALLER WILL BE
BRANDON.
PLEASE HIT STAR 6.
>> I WANT TO VOICE MY SUPPORT
FOR MAYOR WILSON'S
SEATTLE TRANSIT MEASURE
PROPOSAL. SINCE THE
ANNOUNCEMENT I'VE ALREADY HEARD
A LOT ABOUT
HOW SALES TAX IS
REGRESSIVE. YOU KNOW WHAT ELSE
IS
REGRESSIVE?
ON AVERAGE IT COSTS ABOUT
$1,000 A MONTH TO OWN A CAR,
WHICH
IS TOO EXPENSIVE FOR A
SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF OUR
NEIGHBORS IN
SEATTLE, MYSELF INCLUDED.
OUR OPTIONS ARE WALKING, BIKING
AND RIDING TRANSIT. IT'S VITAL
TO ENSURE
HIGH- QUALITY TRANSIT
FOR AFFORDABLE TRANSPORTATION IS
AVAILABLE FOR EVERYONE.
MAYOR WILSON'S PROPOSAL
WILL INCREASE KING COUNTY
METRO SERVICE HOURS BY ALMOST
60%.
THIS WILL ALLOW US TO NOT ONLY
RETURN TO BUT SURPASS PRE-
COVID LEVELS OF TRANSIT SERVICE.
WE'LL BE ABLE TO DOUBLE THE
AMOUNT OF FREE ORCA CARDS TO OUR
NEIGHBORS IN NEED.
BESIDES THE COUNTY JUST
PROPOSED A SIMILAR SALES TAX
HEIGHT,
0.1%, COMPARED TO THE 0. 5%,
THE COUNTY TAX IS ONLY FOR
COUNTY MAINTAINED ROADS AND
BRIDGES,
AND NO ONE IS COMPLAINING ABOUT
THAT. SO IF THEY'RE
GOING TO INCREASE OUR TAXES TO
MAINTAIN
THINGS THAT WE'LL PROBABLY
HARDLY EVER
USE, SURELY WE DESERVE A LARGER
FUND FOR TRANSIT
INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WILL
DIRECTLY MAKE
SEATTLE MORE NAVIGATABLE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT REMOTE CALLER
WILLWILL
BE CARLO ALCANTERRA.
PLEASE PRESS STAR 6.
>> HI.
MY NAME IS CARLO.
I'M A RESIDENT OF
D-5. I HELPED LEAD THE
REIMAGINE COALITION AND A RIDER
OF THE E,
361, 348, THE G LINE, THE D
LINE, THE LINK RAIL, AND
REALLY ANY OTHER
BUS THAT'S GOING TO GET ME
WHERE I NEED TO GO.
WHILE I DO OWN A CAR, IT'S NO
LONGER MY FAMILY'S PREFERRED
MEANS OF MOVING THROUGH THE
CITY.
DRIVING JUST ISN'T
CONVENIENT ANYMORE FOR MOST OF
THE TRIPS
WE NEED TO MAKE.
I LIVE IN LICTON SPRINGS AND
IT CAN TAKE THE SAME TIME ON THE
BUS OR LONGER WHEN TRYING TO
PARKING.
MY ONLY GRIPE REALLY IS
THE BUSES DON'T ARRIVE FREQUENT
ENOUGH.
I CAN'T REALLY
EMPHASIZE HOW MUCH LESS
STRESSFUL IT IS
WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE TO PLAN
AROUND AN
INFREQUENT BUS SCHEDULE,
BUT INCREASING THAT FREQUENCY
JUST
MAKES IT SO THAT YOU CAN SHOW UP
AT ANY TIME AND THE BUS WILL
BE THERE RELIABLY FOR YOU.
THE PROPOSED SEATTLE TRANSIT
MEASURE RENEWAL I THINK IS AN
INVESTMENT IN TRANSIT THAT
WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE TRANSIT
EVEN MORE CONVENIENT, MORE
ACCESSIBLE AND OPEN UP MORE OF
THE CITY.
MY ONE ASK HERE IS THAT WE HOLD
OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE
IN DEFINING WHAT IS A
MINIMUM REQUIRED OUTCOME FOR HOW
LATE
A BUS SHOULD BE OR HOW FREQUENT
IT
SHOULD COME.
AND THEN PRIORITIZE THOSE ROUTES
THAT DON'T MEET THAT OUTCOME OR
ARE MISSING THE MARK.
WE SAW THIS
WITH THE ROUTE 8. IT'S GOING TO
BE IMPROVED.
WE'RE GOING TO SEE BUS LANES
PUT IN ON DENNY WAY.
BUT I REALLY THINK WE
SHOULD EXAMINE THE ENTIRE SYSTEM
AND
FIND WHERE THOSE BUSES ARE
FAILING AND THE PRIORITY AND
SPEED THOSE THINGS
UP. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME
AND PLEASE SUPPORT THIS MEASURE.
>> OUR NEXT REMOTE CALLER
IS WES
STEWART. PLEASE HIT STAR 6.
WES STEWART.
>> MY NAME IS WES STEWART.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT 2 AND
I'M HERE REPRESENTING SIERRA
CLUB WASHINGTON STATE CHAPTER
AND OUR
30,000 MEMBERS WHO ORGANIZE
TO PROTECT WILD LANDS, WATER
AND AIR ACROSS THE STATE.
TRANSPORTATION CONTINUES TO BE
ONE OF THE LARGEST SOURCES
OF GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS IN
THE STATE AND OWNING A CAR IS
ONE
OF THE BIGGEST PRESSURES
ON HOUSEHOLD BUDGETS.
TRANSIT CAN BE A TOOL TO
EASE CLIMATE IMPACTS ON
OUR COMMUNITIES AND THE
FINANCIAL BURDENS OF GAS,
PARKING AND
INSURANCE.
SIERRA CLUB SUPPORTS THE
MAYOR'S
PROPOSED TRANSIT MEASURE,
PROVIDING PUBLIC TRANSIT PASSES
TO LOW- INCOME
RESIDENTS, BUILDING ON TRANSIT
PROGRAMS SEATTLE VOTERS HAVE
ALREADY
SUPPORTED, AND EXPANDING
BUS SERVICE ACROSS THE CITY WITH
MORE FREQUENT ROUTES,
SHORTER WAITS AND BETTER
RELIABILITY.
MY NEIGHBORS IN D-2
HEAVILY RELY ON PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION.
WORKING CLASS FAMILIES
COMMUTE, SEND THEIR KIDS TO
SCHOOL,
GET THEIR ELDERS TO MEDICAL
CARE, VISIT SIBLINGS TO
PROVIDE CHILD
CARE AND HAUL GROCERIES HOME ALL
ON THE BUS.
THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED
MEASURE HELPS EXPAND SERVICE FOR
PEOPLE
WHO
DEPEND ON SERVICE MAKING
PRACTICAL AND AFFORDABLE OPTIONS
FOR EVERYONE. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT CALLER IS GREG
WOODFILL.
GREG, PLEASE HIT STAR 6.
>> HELLO.
GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS GREG WOODFILL.
I'M PRESIDENT OF ATU
587 REPRESENTING ABOUT 5,000
TRANSIT WORKERS.
I'M IN AN AIRPORT IN D.C.
SORRY FOR THE SOUND.
GOOD MORNING, CHAIR SAKA, AND
DISTINGUISHED CITY
COUNCILMEMBERS.
I WOULD LIKE YOU TO KNOW
OUR UNION IS FULLY IN FAVOR OF
THE
MAYOR'S PROPOSAL IN HE
CAN TENDING THE SEATTLE
TRANSIT MEASURE INCLUDING HER
BOLD DECISION TO USE THE FULL
FUNDING
AVAILABLE. I WANT TO DIRECTLY
ADDRESS
OUR FRIENDS ON THE CITY COUNCIL
WHO HAVE BEEN GREAT
ADVOCATES FOR PUBLIC TRANSIT.
WE UNDERSTAND HOW
DIFFICULT IT IS IN THIS
ENVIRONMENT TO PASS
NEW TAXES.
WE UNDERSTAND THE WHOLE
ISSUE WITH REGRESSIVE TAXES.
THIS IS WHAT WE'VE GOT.
WE CANNOT AFFORD TO GO
BACKWARDS.
SEATTLE WILL NOT -- SEATTLE AND
KING COUNTY AND THE REGION
WILL NOT REACH ITS FULL
POTENTIAL WITHOUT CONTINUED
INCREASED
INVESTMENT IN PUBLIC TRANSIT.
PUBLIC TRANSIT IS A PUBLIC
UTILITY.
IT'S A NECESSARY PUBLIC RIGHT.
WE'RE JUST ASKING YOU,
PLEASE, WITH ALL THE PRESSURES
AND CONSIDERATIONS YOU HAVE,
EACH
AND EVERY ONE OF YOU ON THE
COUNCIL, HOPEFULLY YOU
WILL DECIDE TO FULLY SUPPORT
ASKING
FOR THE FULL FUNDING THE PUBLIC
IS DEMANDING SAFE PUBLIC
TRANSIT.
JUST, FINALLY, TO ANSWER
THE ISSUE OF REGRESSIVE TAXES.
YES, NOBODY IS IN FAVOR OF THAT.
WE'RE NOT IN FAVOR OF THAT
EITHER, BUT, IN SOME
INSTANCES, REGRESSIVE TAXES AT
LEAST WE
CAN SAY THEY'RE GOING MORE TO
THE PEOPLE THAT NEED THEM.
SO A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T HAVE A
CHOICE ABOUT USING THE BUS.
THAT'S HOW THEY HAVE TO GET TO
WORK, THEIR APPOINTMENTS OR
MEDICAL.
PLEASE SUPPORT THE FULL FUNDING.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT REMOTE CALLER IS LAM
HO.
PLEASE HIT STAR 6.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL
MELS. MY NAME IS LAM HO, HERE
IN SUPPORT OF THE MAYOR'S
PROPOSED
SEATTLE TRANSIT MEASURE.
THE TRANSIT RIDERS UNION
HAS ALWAYS BEEN COMMITTED TO A
SAFE, RELIABLE, EFFICIENT
TRANSIT SYSTEM ESPECIALLY FOR
LOW- INCOME
RIDERS.
AND TO ADVANCING PROGRESSIVE
PROGRAMS THAT MAKE OUR CITY
MORE EQUITABLE AND AFFORDABLE
FOR
ALL. THE PROPOSAL BY THE
MAYOR ALLIANCE WITH THE TRANSIT
RIDERS UNION'S MISSION AND
VALUES, EXPAND BUS SERVICE SO
PEOPLE
EXPAND SHORTER WAITS, MORE
FREQUENT TRIPS AND SERVICE
THAT ACTUALLY MATCHES THE
SCHEDULES
AND ROUTES RIDERS DEPEND ON
EVERY DAY.
FOR SO MANY RESIDENTS, INCLUDING
MYSELF, A LIFELONG TRANSIT
RIDER WHO DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO
DRIVE, THIS IS OUR PRIMARY WAY
IF
NOT THE ONLY WAY OF GETTING TO
WORK, TO SCHOOL, TO GET
GROCERIES.
THE MAYOR'S PROPOSAL IS THE
WAY TO GETTING US THE
INCREASED FREQUENCY AND THE
OPTIONS
WE NEED TO LEAD OUR LIVES.
WHILE OBVIOUSLY INCREASING SALES
TAX IS NOT IDEAL, IT IS
AN AFFORDABLE INVESTMENT
INTO PROGRESSIVE PROGRAMS AND
RESULTS.
ESSENTIAL COMPONENT OF THIS
MEASURE IS A 22,000 FREE
TRANSIT PASSES FROM LOWER INCOME
RESIDENTS.
MORE THAN DOUBLING THE
CURRENT NUMBER OF BENEFICIARIES
UNDER THE CURRENT MEASURE.
THESE PASSES ARE NOT A BROAD
SUBSIDY.
THEY ARE A TARGETED BENEFIT FOR
PEOPLE WHO ALREADY SPEND A
DISPROPORTIONATE SHARE OF
THEIR INCOME JUST GETTING AROUND
THE
CITY. AS MANY HAVE MENTIONED,
DRIVING IS BECOMING MORE
EXPENSIVE
AND WE NEED REAL ALTERNATIVES --
GAS, PARKING, INSURANCE AND
CAR OWNERSHIP KEEPS RISING.
THIS MEASURE EXPANDS SERVICE
TO MORE PEOPLE CAN CHOOSE
TRANSIT
AND SAVE MONEY ESPECIALLY
THOSE WHO FEEL THE FINANCIAL
PRESSURE MOST ACUTELY.
AN EFFICIENT TRANSIT
SYSTEM ENABLES RESIDENTS TO SAVE
MONEY BY NOT NEEDING TO OWN A
CAR.
THE TRANSIT RIDERS
UNION STRONGLY URGES YOU TO
SUPPORT MAYOR WILSON'S PROPOSED
MEASURE AT THE LEVEL SHE
PROPOSED.
THANK YOU.
>> OUR FINAL CALLER IS HARPER
NALY. PLEASE PRESS STAR 6.
>> OKAY.
HOLD ON.
OKAY.
SORRY.
I AM IN SCHOOL.
SO ANYWAY, HELLO.
I'M HERE TO DEMAND THE
COUNCIL FOLLOW -- AND GO BOLD ON
TRANSAT THIS TIME SUNDAY.
FOR THOSE OF US WHO USE IT AS
TRANSPORTATION NOT AN
ALTERNATE, THE DIVIDING LINE
BETWEEN US
AND ACCESS TO JOBS,
OPPORTUNITY, LIFE AND
AFFORDABILITY.
AS SEATTLEITES GAVE UP THEIR
CARS, THE NEED FOR
IMPROVEMENT IN TRANSIT BECOMES
INCREASINGLY
PRONOUNCED.
THIS TAX WILL MAKE MY LIFE
CHEAPER.
I SPEND ROUGHLY $5,000 A YEAR
IN NONRENT, NONGROCERY EXPENSES.
AND, AS A RESULT, THE FIRST TIME
I DON'T HAVE TO SPEND $5 FOR
AN UBER OR A LIME BIKE THANKS
TO EXPANDED BUS SERVICE, THIS
TAX
INCREASE WILL HAVE PAID FOR
ITSELF. THANK YOU.
>> WE HAVE NO MORE PUBLIC
COMMENTERS.
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.
LET THE RECORD
REFLECT COUNCILMEMBERS
RINCK, HOLLINGSWORTH HAVE JOINED
US.
WELCOME, VICE- CHAIR, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, AND COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS HAS JOINED US IN PERSON.
WELCOME.
ALL RIGHT.
WE WILL -- LET'S SEE.
THERE ARE NO
ADDITIONAL REGISTERED SPEAKERS.
WE'LL NOW PROCEED TO
OUR ITEMS OF BUSINESS.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM
1 INTO THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM 1, BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION, EXECUTIVES PROPOSED
2026 SEATTLE TRANSIT MEASURE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU.
AND WILL OUR PRESENTERS
PLEASE JOIN US AT THE TABLE, AS
IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE DOING NOW.
WELCOME.
WHEN YOU'RE READY,
PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELVES AND
BEGIN YOUR PRESENTATIONS.
COLLEAGUES, I'LL ASK
THAT YOU
HOLD YOUR QUESTIONS UNTIL THE
END.
THANK YOU.
>> ARE WE ALL READY?
HELLO, EVERYONE.
I'M ANGELA BRADY.
I WORK FOR THE SEATTLE D.O.T.
, THE ACTING DIRECTOR.
DO YOU WANT TO GO DOWN THE
LINE AND MAKE SOME
INTRODUCTIONS FIRST?
>> JEN MALLEY- CRAWFORD, SDOT.
>> FRANCISCA STEFAN, SDOT.
>> SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
HAVING US HERE TODAY.
WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THE
MAYOR'S PROPOSAL FOR THE
2026 SEATTLE TRANSIT MEASURE
RENEWAL FOR COUNCIL'S
CONSIDERATION.
A MEASURE LIKE THIS TAKES
CAREFUL, PROFESSIONAL WORK.
IT REQUIRES STRONG DATA, SOUND
FINANCIAL PLANNING, AND
CLOSE COORDINATION WITH OUR
PARTNERS ALONG WITH A CLEAR
UNDERSTANDING OF HOW
PEOPLE ACTUALLY MOVE AROUND
SEATTLE EVERY DAY.
AT SDOT OUR ROLE IS TO HELP
TURN THESE INVESTMENTS INTO REAL
SERVICE.
REAL ACCESS AND
REAL IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE PEOPLE
WHO RELY ON TRANSIT.
THAT MEANS ADMINISTERING
THESE FUNDS RESPONSIBLY.
IT MEANS WORKING WITH METRO
ON TRANSIT SERVICE PRIORITIES.
IT MEANS INVESTING IN CITY-
OWNED TRANSIT SERVICE WITH THE
SEATTLE STREETCAR.
IT MEANS MAKING SURE FREE
ORCA PASSES REACH REACH THE
PEOPLE THEY
INTENDED TO SERVE.
IT MEANS INVESTING IN PRACTICAL
STREET IMPROVEMENTS THAT HELP
BUSES MOVE MORE SAFELY AND MORE
RELIABLY. AND IT MEANS TRACKING
RESULTS
SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO IMPROVE
OVER
TIME.
THIS PROPOSAL IS THE CULMINATION
OF ANALYSIS, STAKEHOLDER
ENGAGEMENT, AND A
COLLABORATION THAT SUPPORTS THE
SEATTLE
TRANSPORTATION PLAN, IS
ALIGNED WITH OUR CITY'S
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN GOALS, AND
MOVES US
CLOSER TO OUR VISION OF AN
IRRESISTIBLY GOOD TRANSIT
NETWORK THAT
IS FREQUENT AND RELIABLE SEVEN
DAYS
A WEEK.
WE ARE EXCITED AND HONORED TO BE
HERE TO SHARE MORE DETAILS
ABOUT THE MAYOR'S PROPOSAL
TODAY.
YES, IT IS AMBITIOUS BUT IT IS
ALSO VERY GROUNDED.
IT IS ABOUT MORE TRIPS, BETTER
SERVICE, BROADER ACCESS, AND
THE DAY-TO- DAY DETAILS THAT
MAKE TRANSIT WORK REALLY WELL.
I'M PROUD OF MY SDOT TEAM
AND OUR METRO PARTNERS FOR
THE PROFESSIONALISM AND THE
CARE THAT WENT INTO THIS
PROPOSAL,
AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR
THE OPPORTUNITY TO DELIVER A
TRANSIT SYSTEM THAT SUPPORTS A
MORE
AFFORDABLE, CONNECTED
AND ACCESSIBLE SEATTLE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US
TODAY.
>> THANK YOU.
THE PURPOSE
OF OUR PRESENTATION TODAY IS TO
REALLY DO TWO
THINGS. IT'S TO TALK ABOUT THE
WAY
IN WHICH THE EXISTING
SEATTLE TRANSIT MEASURE HAS BEEN
SERVING
AND CONTRIBUTING TO
AFFORDABLE, ACCESSIBLE AND SAFE
TRANSPORTATION FOR EVERYONE
HERE IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE AND
TO SHARE THE MAYOR'S VISION FOR
THE RENEWAL OF THIS MEASURE,
WHICH
MEETS THE OVERWHELMING DEMAND
FOR BETTER BUS SERVICE AND
LOWERS BARRIERS TO
ACCESSING TRANSIT AND MEETS A
VERY IMPORTANT GOAL, WHICH IS
TO RETURN SEATTLE TO 2019 LEVELS
OF TRANSIT SERVICE.
>> A LITTLE BIT OF
HISTORY BEFORE WE GET INTO THE
CURRENT
STM.
STM WAS PASSED ORIGINALLY IN
2014 AFTER A COUNTYWIDE
MEASURE TO INVEST IN TRANSIT
SERVICE FAILED TO PASS AT THE
COUNTY
LEVEL.
IT PASSED WITH
62% OF SUPPORT OF THE VOTERS OF
THE CITY
OF SEATTLE AND AT THE TIME WAS A
0. 1% SALES TAX AND $60 WORTH
IN CAR TABS.
IN 2020 MAYOR DURKIN PROPOSE ADD
RENEWAL OF THAT MEASURE WHICH
WAS ADOPTED AS A 0. 15% SALES
TAX AND PASSED WITH 80%
VOTE APPROVAL OF THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
A LITTLE FUN FACT ABOUT THAT
IS THAT AT THE TIME IT WAS
THE HIGHEST ANY MEASURE ON
ANY SUBJECT HAD EVER BEEN
APPROVED IN THE HISTORY OF
SEATTLE
AND HAS SET A NATIONAL RECORD
FOR THE HIGHEST ANY TRANSIT
MEASURE HAS EVER BEEN APPROVED
IN
THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES
OF
AMERICA.
THAT MEASURE WAS PASSED FOR A
SIX- YEAR DURATION WHICH BRINGS
US NOW TO 2026, AN
IMPORTANT TIME FOR RENEWING
THESE
INVESTMENTS.
>> STM IS A UNIQUE TOOL THE
CITY HAS TO BUILD THE TRANSIT-
RICH
CITY SEATTLE HAS BEEN WORKING
TOWARDS. A CITY WHERE TRANSIT
CONNECTS PEOPLE TO
OPPORTUNITY, STRENGTHENS OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS, SUPPORTS OUR
ECONOMY AND
MAKES DAILY LIFE A LITTLE
EASIER.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, IT
HAS FUNDED MORE BUS SERVICE IN
SEATTLE, ABOVE THE
BASELINE LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT
KING
COUNTY METRO PROVIDES.
SINCE 2020, THIS MEASURE HAS
ADDED MORE THAN
850,000 ADDITIONAL BUS SERVICE
HOURS IN
SEATTLE.
IN 2025 THAT MEANT AN ADDITIONAL
3,200 WEEKLY BUS TRIPS WITH 88%
OF THOSE TRIPS IN THE EVENINGS,
AT NIGHT, ON WEEKENDS, AND
MIDDAY.
WITH EVERY TRANSIT TRIP WE
HAVE PURCHASED THE CITY HAS
CONTRIBUTED TO METRO'S
TRANSIT SAFETY INITIATIVES
INVESTING $14
MILLION OVER THE LIFE OF THIS
MEASURE.
STM HAS ALSO EXPANDED ACCESS TO
TRANSIT INCLUDING PROVIDING
FREE ORCA CARDS TO LOW-
INCOME RESIDENTS THAT
SAVED PARTICIPANTS MORE THAN $4.
5
MILLION IN 2025 ALONE.
IT HAS FUNDED LOW- INCOME --
IT HAS FUNDED TRANSIT EDUCATION
PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH AND AGING
ADULTS, CAPITAL
PROJECTS, SEATTLE STREETCAR
SERVICE, AND
THE CITY STAFFING WE NEED
TO SUPPORT THE PLANNING
AND PERMITTING OF SOUND
TRANSIT PROJECTS IN SEATTLE.
THIS IS NOW A PROVEN
FUNDING SOURCE WITH A LONG TRACK
RECORD OF HELPING PEOPLE GET
WHERE THEY
NEED TO GO.
PROVIDING MORE TRANSIT
SERVICE HAS ALWAYS BEEN AT THE
CORE
OF THIS MEASURE.
SDOT USES THE CITY'S
FREQUENT TRANSIT NETWORK AS THE
GUIDING FRAMEWORK FRAMEWORK
SDOT'S
TRANSIT SERVICE INVESTMENTS.
IT'S THE CITY'S VISION FOR A
WELL-CONNECTED, FREQUENT
AND RELIABLE TRANSIT SYSTEM
WHERE TRAVELING BY BUS
THROUGHOUT SEATTLE IS CONVENIENT
AND
EASY TO CHOOSE NO MATTER WHAT
TIME OF
DAY YOU NEED TO TRAVEL.
COMMUNITY FEEDBACK SHAPED
THIS VISION WHEN IT WAS MOST
RECENTLY UPDATED IN 2024 THROUGH
THE SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION PLAN
AS
ADOPTED BY YOU ALL, CITY
COUNCILMEMBERS.
THROUGH THE STP
ENGAGEMENT PROCESS WE HEARD LOUD
AND
CLEAR SEATTLEITES WANT MORE
FREQUENT TRANSIT SERVICE AT ALL
TIMES OF
DAY.
WE REFLECTED THIS FEEDBACK IN
AN UPDATED NETWORK VISION
WHILE ALSO FACTORING IN
ANTICIPATED
POPULATION AND EMPLOYMENT
GROWTH, IDENTIFIED IN THE
SEATTLE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN,
AND OUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE IMPACT
OF THE GROWING REGIONAL LIGHT
RAIL
NETWORK.
THE CITY'S NEW FREQUENT
TRANSIT NETWORK HAS TARGETS THAT
NOW APPLY SEVEN DAYS PER WEEK,
ALL STM TRANSIT SERVICE
INVESTMENTS BRING SEATTLE CLOSER
TO
THIS FREQUENT TRANSIT NETWORK
VISION.
HOW EXACTLY DO WE DO THIS?
WE START BY LOOKING AT THE
GAPS THAT EXIST BETWEEN
EXISTING SERVICE AND THE TARGETS
OUTLINED IN THAT NETWORK.
THIS GIVES US OUR UNIVERSE
OF POTENTIAL INVESTMENTS.
UNSURPRISINGLY THE BIGGEST GAPS
ARE IN THE EVENING,
NIGHTS, WEEKENDS AND MIDDAY.
WE KNOW THE NEED TO GET
AROUND DOES NOT STOP OUTSIDE OF
PEAK
COMMUTE TIMES.
PEOPLE ARE TRAVELING TO JOBS,
SCHOOL, MEDICAL
APPOINTMENTS, CHILD CARE,
GROCERY
STORES, COMMUNITY EVENTS AND
FAMILY
RESPONSIBILITIES AT ALL TIMES
OF DAY.
RIDERSHIP HAS REBOUNDED
THE FASTERS AT OFF- PEAK TIMES
POST
PANDEMIC. FOR EXAMPLE, WEEKEND
RIDERSHIP
IS NOW AT NEARLY 100% OF
PREPANDEMIC LEVELS AND GROWING.
IN ADDITION, WE PRIORITIZE
FREQUENT SERVICE TO
EQUITY PRIORITY NEIGHBORHOODS T.
THE RESULT IS THAT OVER 80% OF
STM BUS SERVICE INVESTMENTS ARE
AT OFF PEAK TIMES AND SERVE
EQUITY PRIORITY POPULATIONS.
WE KNOW STM INVESTMENTS
ARE EFFECTIVE BECAUSE WHERE OUR
SERVICE INVESTMENTS
GO, RIDERSHIP FOLLOWS.
THERE ARE SEVERAL EXAMPLES ON
THIS SLIDE.
I'LL START WITH JUST THE FIRST
ONE. THE ROUTE 60 WHICH
CONNECTS COUNCIL DISTRICTS 1, 2,
AND 3.
WE ADDED BUS SERVICE ON WEEKENDS
MAKING BUSES COME EVERY
15 MINUTES UP FROM METRO'S
BASELINE OF EVERY 30 MINUTES
FROM
6:00 A.M. TO 7:00 P.M.
AFTER WE MADE THIS
INVESTMENT, RIDERSHIP INCREASED
27% ON
SATURDAYS AND 41% ON SUNDAYS.
THROUGH OUR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT,
FOLKS HAVE TOLD US THAT IT
IS IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO FEEL
SAFE TRAVELING TO, WAITING FOR,
AND RIDING ON TRANSIT.
THANKFULLY EVERY STM
DOLLAR SPENT ON TRANSIT
SERVICE CONTRIBUTES TO METRO'S
SAFETY AND SECURITY INVESTMENTS.
AS METRO HAS INCREASED THEIR
INVESTMENTS, SDOT'S
CONTRIBUTION HAS ALSO INCREASED.
BETWEEN 2023 AND 2026 THE
AMOUNT SDOT HAS CONTRIBUTED TO
METRO'S SAFETY AND SECURITY
INVESTMENTS THROUGH STM HAS
TRIPLED.
THESE SIGNIFICANT
INVESTMENTS ARE IN ADDITION TO
THE
$9 MILLION IN DEDICATED FUNDING
FOR TRANSIT PASSENGER SAFETY
THAT
IS PART OF THE 2024
TRANSPORTATION
LEVY.
THESE FUNDS HAVE BEEN USED TO
PROVIDE INCREASED
OFFICER
PRESENCE ALONG THIRD AVENUE AND
SOUTH JACKSON STREET.
STM HAS PROVIDED LOW-
INCOME ACCESS TO TRANSIT WITH
FULLY SUBSIDIZED ORCA CARDS
SINCE THE
FIRST VERSION OF THIS MEASURE IN
2014.
OUR TRANSIT PASS
PROGRAMS PROVIDE FREE ORCA CARDS
TO 10,000 SEATTLEITES EVERY
YEAR.
OUR LONGEST RUNNING PROGRAM
IS OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE
RELATE HOUSING AUTHORITY WHICH
SERVES
OVER 6,000 PEOPLE EVERY YEAR
AND SAVES PARTICIPANTS MORE THAN
$600 ON AVERAGE IN
TRANSPORTATION COSTS.
WE ALSO HAVE PARTNERSHIPS
WITH SEATTLE COLLEGES AND THE
SEATTLE PRESCHOOL PROGRAM CUP
WILLING EARLY CHILDHOOD
EDUCATION WITH
RELIABLE ACCESS TO
TRANSPORTATION TO SUPPORT
LOW- INCOME FAMILIES.
PARTICIPANTS IN OUR ORCA
SUBSIDY PROGRAMS TELL US TIME
AND
AGAIN HOW IMPACTFUL HAVING THIS
RESOURCE IS TO THEIR LIVES.
AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THESE
QUOTES, THIS IS A PRACTICAL
AFFORDABILITY INVESTMENT.
WHEN PEOPLE HAVE
RELIABLE TRANSIT AND A PASS IN
THEIR
POCKET, THEY HAVE MORE
FREEDOM TO GET WHERE THEY NEED
TO
GO WITHOUT WORRYING ABOUT HOW TO
PAY FOR IT.
TRANSIT CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS
HAVE BEEN A SMALL PART OF
EACH OF THE PAST SEATTLE
TRANSIT MEASURES COMPLEMENTING
OUR
SERVICE INVESTMENTS.
THE SIZE AND SCALE OF
THE CAPITAL PROGRAM AND THE
CURRENT MEASURE WAS INCREASED
WELL
ABOVE WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY
PLANNED
BY COUNCIL PARTWAY THROUGH
THE MEASURE DURING A PERIOD OF
TIME
WHEN SERVICE AND RIDERSHIP
WERE STILL RECOVERING FROM THE
PANDEMIC.
SDOT INVESTED THESE
INCREASED CAPITAL FUNDS IN
ALIGNMENT WITH
VOTER INTENT.
OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS WE
HAVE SUPPORTED OVER 100 TRANSIT
CAPITAL PROJECTS ACROSS THE
CITY THAT HAVE RANGED IN SIZE,
SCOPE AND SCALE BUT
ULTIMATELY THEY HAVE IMPROVED
BUS TRAVEL
TIMES, THE PASSENGER EXPERIENCE,
AND MADE IT
EASIER AND SAFER TO GET TO AND
FROM THE BUS.
THESE INVESTMENTS COMPLEMENT THE
CITY'S PRIMARY FUNDING
SOURCE FOR TRANSIT
INFRASTRUCTURE
IMPROVEMENTS.
$151 MILLION IN THE
TRANSPORTATION LEVY.
>> THIS BRINGS US TO THE
MAYOR'S PROPOSAL FOR THE SECOND
RENEWAL OF THE SEATTLE TRANSIT
MEASURE.
THIS HAS -- BRINGS US TO
THE FUTURE HERE, SO WE HAVE 0.
3% SALES TAX.
THE SALES TAX AUTHORIZED FOR
TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT
DISTRICTS, AS MANY PUBLIC
COMMENTERS HAVE SHARED HERE, IS
LIMITED BY THE OPTIONS
PROVIDED BY THE WASHINGTON STATE
LEGISLATURE.
SO I WANT TO RECOGNIZE
WHERE THAT USE COMES FROM AND
THE FULL
DURATION THEN OF TEN YEARS.
SO THIS PROPOSAL IS REALLY
ABOUT IMPROVING TRANSIT SERVICE
AT ALL
TIMES OF DAY AND ON THE
WEEKENDS. WE KNOW THAT WHAT THIS
WILL
DO IS IT WILL INCREASE BOTH
THE ACCESS TO TRANSIT, AS YOU
HEARD MANY PEOPLE TALK ABOUT
FARES
AND AFFORDABILITY, CONNECT
PEOPLE TO
THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT MEET THE
NEEDS OF THEIR DAILY TRAVEL.
WE WILL TALK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT CHANGING TRAVEL PATTERNS,
AND
HELPS US MOVE FORWARD TOWARDS
SEATTLE'S ADOPTED GOALS
AROUND
AFFORDABILITY, EQUITY AND
CLIMATE.
>> SO THIS SLIDE SPEAKS A
LITTLE BIT TO THE NEED TO INVEST
HERE.
SO SEATTLE IS A GROWING CITY.
SINCE THIS MEASURE WAS ADOPTED
FIVE YEARS AGO, WE'VE ADDED
80,000 NEW RESIDENTS.
AND DURING THAT TIME AS
SEATTLE, LIKE EVERY CITY IN
THE UNITED STATES AND ACROSS THE
WORLD IS
RECOVERING FROM PANDEMIC-
RELATED IMPACTS, WE'VE SEEN
TRANSIT
RIDERSHIP ON WEEKDAYS DOUBLE.
NOW YOU SEE HERE THE NUMBERS --
THESE ARE
JUST SEATTLE TRANSIT
NUMBERS. WE HAVE NEARLY 200,000
PEOPLE ARE CHOOSING PUBLIC
TRANSIT EVERY DAY, TAKING THOSE
TRIPS.
THIS IS NOT INCLUDING
LINK, WHICH IS ANOTHER 100,000
FOLKS.
SO WE SEE BOTH A STRONG
GROWTH IN TRANSIT RIDERSHIP.
DURING THIS SAME TIME
PATTERNS AROUND HOW PEOPLE
TRAVEL HAVE
FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGED, AND THE
TRANSIT SYSTEM HAS EVOLVED
WITH THEM TO MEET THOSE NEEDS.
SO WE SEE BOTH IN RIDERSHIP
AND IN WHAT PEOPLE TELL US THAT
PEOPLE ARE TAKING TRANSIT NOW
MORE FOR NONWORK TRIPS
AND AT OFF PEAK TIMES.
WE ALSO AT THE SAME TIME
HAVE GROWN OUR TRANSIT NETWORK
TO MEET THIS DEMAND, SO HERE
IN SEATTLE WE'VE SEEN FOUR
NEW LIGHT RAIL STATIONS OPEN
DURING THE TENURE OF THIS
MEASURE
AS WELL AS TWO NEW RAPID RIDES.
THE RAPIDRIDE H AND
THE RAPIDRIDE G.
THIS HAS MADE IT EASIER
FOR PEOPLE TO CHOOSE TRANSIT AS
A
COMMON SENSE OPTION FOR THEIR
TRIPS.
AT THE SAME TIME AS WE'VE
ADDED NEW RESIDENTS, WE HAVE
NOT ADDED -- WE'VE ADDED VERY
FEW
NEW CARS. IN FACT, WE NOW KNOW
THAT 19% OF
SEATTLE HOUSEHOLDS DO NOT OWN A
CAR, AND ANOTHER 45% OF
HOUSEHOLDS HAVE ONLY ONE CAR.
AND SO WE KNOW THAT TRANSIT IS A
VERY IMPORTANT PIECE OF CREATING
AFFORDABILITY AND
ALTERNATIVES TO CAR OWNERSHIP.
AS YOU'VE HEARD PEOPLE SAY
AAA TELLS US THAT THE AVERAGE
COST OF OWNING A CAR AND
OPERATING
IT IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE IS
$1,000 A MONTH, AND SO WE KNOW
THAT
AN ORCA CARD COSTS $108, WHICH
IS
ONE- TENTH OF THAT PRICE.
I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT
MANY PEOPLE LIVE CAR FREE OR
CAR LIGHT, AND THAT IS
NOT NECESSARILY AN OPTION THAT
CAN WORK FOR ALL PEOPLE, SO IT
IS IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE
THAT PROVIDING A PUBLIC
TRANSIT SYSTEM THAT ALLOWS
PEOPLE TO
DRIVE SOME OF THE TIME OR PART
OF THE WAY IS AN IMPORTANT
PART
ABOUT CREATING OPTIONS THAT MEET
PEOPLE'S NEEDS.
AND SO WE BELIEVE THAT THE
STM PROVIDES MOBILITY
FOR SEATTLEITES AND SUPPORTS OUR
POPULATION TODAY AS WE CONTINUE
TO GROW.
STM IS PART OF A LARGER REGIONAL
TRANSIT SYSTEM.
SO STM IS HOW WE -- SEATTLE
ADDRESSES LOCAL MOBILITY NEEDS
IN THE CONTEXT OF A MUCH LARGER
REGIONAL NETWORK AND
INCREASES SERVICE BEYOND
METRO'S BASELINE.
SO KING COUNTY METRO DELIVERS
SEATTLE'S BASELINE
TRANSIT SERVICE AND PROVIDES 93%
OF
THE TRANSIT THAT PEOPLE HAVE
HERE
IN OUR CITY.
HOWEVER, METRO, AS YOU HEARD IN
PUBLIC COMMENT, HAS
THEIR SERVICE PRIORITIES, WHICH
THEY APPLY ACROSS THE COUNTY.
AND SO STM ALLOWS US TO
REALLY ADDRESS OUR OPEN LOCAL
MOBILITY NEEDS AND ALLOWS US TO
GO
BEYOND
THAT. YOU'VE HEARD TALK ABOUT
HOW WE
INVEST IN LATE NIGHTS,
EARLY MORNINGS AND WEEKENDS AS
PART OF
HOW WE GROW BEYOND THE BASELINE
SERVICE PROVIDED.
STM ALSO ALLOWS US TO DIRECTLY
INVEST IN PLACES OF THE HIGHEST
NEED, AND AS WE SPOKE ABOUT
THE BASELINE HERE, YOU CAN SEE
THAT THIS ALLOWS US TO INVEST
USING OUR EQUITY PRIORITY
FRAMEWORK.
T FOR ACCESS HERE.
AND SO BECAUSE OF THESE
INVESTMENTS, ONE OUT OF EVERY
13 TRIPS IN SEATTLE IS PAID FOR
THROUGH THE STM AND ALLOWS US
TO DO PROGRAMMATIC THINGS LIKE
THE 10,000 FULLY SUBSIDIZED
ORCA CARDS WE DISTRIBUTE TO
SEATTLE
HOUSING AUTHORITY RESIDENTS AND
OTHERS.
AND IF THIS MEASURE IS SET TO
EXPIRE IN APRIL OF 2027, SO
RENEWAL WOULD BE NECESSARY
TO
MAINTAIN AND GROW CURRENT
SERVICES.
WHICH BRINGS US BACK TO THE
MEASURE HERE, THE PROPOSAL
FROM MAYOR WILSON, APPOINT 3%
SALES TAX FOR TEN YEARS,
DELIVERS ON
SEATTLE'S COMMITMENT OF
CREATING A WORLD- CLASS TRANSIT
NETWORK.
SO AT THE 0. 3% RATE, THE
MEASURE WOULD RAISE ABOUT $138
MILLION
A YEAR OVER
THE DURATION OF THE MEASURE.
86.5% OF WHICH WOULD BE DIRECTED
INTO TRANSIT SERVICE IN FIXED
ROUTE AS WELL AS THE SEATTLE
INVESTMENTS IN OUR TWO
STREETCAR LINES.
THIS REFLECTS THE CORE
PURPOSE OF THE MEASURE AND WHAT
WE'VE
HEARD FROM THE COMMUNITY
OVER AND OVER AGAIN, PEOPLE
WANT TRANSIT THAT COMES MORE
OFTEN
AND TAKES THEM TO PLACES
THEY WANT TO GO.
THE OTHER ELEMENTS THE PROPOSAL
INVESTS IN IS A MORE THAN
DOUBLING OF THE ACCESS
PROGRAMS, THE ABILITY TO DELIVER
SOUND TRANSITION QUICKLY THROUGH
BOTH
DESIGN, PLANNING AND OTHER
NECESSARY WORK TO HAVE THE
CITY'S LARGEST
INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT IN ITS
HISTORY
DELIVERED AS FAST AND
EFFICIENTLY
AS PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR AND
INVEST IN ADDRESSING TRANSIT
INFRASTRUCTURE, CAPITAL
PROGRAMS WHICH ALLOW US TO MAKE
GOOD
USE OF THE RESOURCES WE HAVE AND
ENSURE TRANSIT HOURS
ARE NOT WASTED IN CONGESTION.
AND THIS SLIDE HEREHERE TO
A LOT OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
THAT
HAS GONE INTO THIS.
WE HAVE DONE A LOT OF
OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT WITH
DOZENS OF
STAKEHOLDERS.
WE'VE CONDUCTED ROUNDTABLES,
ONE-ON-ONES. WE'VE SPOKEN WITH
BOTH THE
TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY
BOARD AND THE TRANSPORTATION
EQUITY
WORK GROUP.
AND COLLECTED THAT FEEDBACK
INFORMED BY A ROBUST
TRANSPORTATION PLAN.
AS YOU CAN SEE HERE WHAT
WE'VE HEARD AND HOW WE'VE
ADDRESS THAT
HAD IS A GOOD FEEDBACK OF
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
>> THIS PROPOSAL IS GROUNDED IN
FINDINGS FROM OUR RACIAL
EQUITY TOOL KIT WHICH HELPED US
CAREFULLY ASSESS HOW TO
BALANCE THE BURDENS ASSOCIATED
WITH
THE FUNDING SOURCE AGAINST
THE BENEFITS IT DELIVERS TO THE
COMMUNITY.
THE TOOL KIT HIGHLIGHTED
THE MOST IMPACTFUL STRATEGIES
FOR SUPPORTING TRANSIT DEPENDENT
AND
LOWER INCOME COMMUNITIES ARE
EXPANDING SERVICE TRANSIT
HOURS AND INCREASING ACCESS TO
ORCA
SUBSIDY PROGRAMS.
THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF
THIS PROPOSAL WE ENGAGED
REGULARLY WITH SDOT'S EQUITY
WORK GROUP
WHO MADE IT CLEAR THAT
DESPITE THE REGRESSIVETY OF OUR
AVAILABLE FUNDING SOURCES THE
PROPOSALS SHOULD NOT MAKE
CUTS TO THE SERVICE AND ACCESS
INVESTMENTS THAT MOST
DIRECTLY BENEFIT LOW- INCOME
PEOPLE OF
COLOR.
TRANSIT SERVICE HAS BEEN
THE FOUNDATION OF THIS MEASURE
FROM
THE BEGINNING, AND IT
REMAINS THE LARGEST SHARE OF THE
PROPOSAL.
THIS PROPOSAL WOULD INCREASE THE
CITY'S INVESTMENT IN
TRANSIT SERVICE IN SEATTLE BY
50%.
WE WOULD CONTINUE TO
INVEST WHERE THE NEED IS HIGHEST
WITH
A FOCUS ON HIGH- EQUITY AREAS
AND TIMES OF DAY PEOPLE RELY
ON TRANSIT MOST AND WE HAVE
THE BIGGEST SERVICE GAPS TO
FILL.
IN ADDITION, THE CITY
WOULD CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN
EAST/WEST TRAVEL, SUPPORTING
IMPROVED
CONNECTION TO THE GROWING
LIGHT RAIL NETWORK.
EVERY BUS ROUTE THAT RECEIVES
STM FUNDING CONNECTS TO AT LEAST
ONE LIGHT RAIL STATION.
OUR SERVICE INVESTMENTS AT
THE LEVELS WE ARE PROPOSING
TODAY COMBINED WITH METRO'S
PLANNED RESTORATION OF SERVICE
IN SEATTLE WOULD BRING SERVICE
IN
THE CITY BACK TO LEVELS WE
HAVE NOT SEEN IN ALMOST A
DECADE.
THIS IS SO IMPORTANT NOW
AS RIDERSHIP IS INCREASING
EVERY YEAR AND WE KNOW THAT MORE
SERVICE DRIVES EVEN MORE DEMAND.
THE SEATTLE TRANSIT MEASURE
IS POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF THE
STRONG PARTNERSHIP WE HAVE WITH
KING COUNTY METRO.
THIS MAP SHOWS WHERE
METRO OPERATES BUS SERVICE
TODAY.
STM CANNOT ADD NEW ROUTES
TO THIS MAP.
WE CAN ONLY ADD SERVICE
ONTO ROUTES KING COUNTY METRO
HAS PLANNED AND IMPLEMENTED IN
OUR
CITY. THEIR NETWORK IS THE
BASELINE
FOR THIS MEASURE.
ANY BUS ROUTE WITH 65% OR MORE
OF BUS STOPS WITHIN SEATTLE OR
RAPIDRIDE LINES ARE ELIGIBLE
FOR STM FUNDING.
BY THE END OF 2026 WE WILL BE
INVESTING 180,000 SERVICE
HOURS ACROSS 32 ROUTES IN EVERY
CORNER OF THE CITY PROVIDING
MORE SERVICE TO MORE PLACES
AT MORE HOURS OF THE DAY.
THIS ADDS UP TO 7% OF THE BUS
SERVICE IN SEATTLE.
THIS MAP HERE SHOWS THE
ROUTES AND DEGREEDEGREE
INVESTMENT WE
HAVE CITYWIDE CURRENTLY.
WITH THIS RENEWAL WE WOULD ADD
100,000 MORE SERVICE HOURS
FOR RIDERS ABOVE WHAT STM
CURRENTLY
PROVIDES.
THIS LEVEL OF INVESTMENT
WOULD ALLOW US TO IMPROVE
SERVICE ON 10 TO 15 BUS ROUTES
ACROSS THE
CITY.
THE MAP YOU SEE HERE IS AN
ILLUSTRATIVE PLANNING TOOL
TO HELP YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT
100,000 HOURS COULD LOOK LIKE ON
THE GROUND.
THIS SLIDE SHOWS SOME
MORE TANGIBLE EXAMPLES OF WHAT
THIS
INCREASED LEVEL OF INVESTMENT
COULD LOOK
LIKE.
AND I'LL SELECT ONE TO SPEAK
ABOUT.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE ROUTE
21 CONNECTS COUNCIL DISTRICTS 1
AND
7, ARBOR HEIGHTS IN WEST SEATTLE
TO SOTO AND DOWNTOWN.
I'M NOTICING THE PICTURE
HERE IS NOT QUITE UPDATED.
AFTER PASSING THROUGH
DOWNTOWN, BECAUSE IT'S NOT
GOING TO
SHOW THIS PART, IT BECOMES THE
ROUTE
5.
SERVING COUNCIL DISTRICTS 5 AND
6, CONNECTING FREMONT,
GREENWOOD AND BITTER LAKE TO
SHORELINE COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
WITH THIS PROPOSAL WE
COULD DOUBLE WEEKEND SERVICE ON
THESE CONNECTED ROUTES TO FILL
GAPS
AND CREATE CONSISTENT 15-
MINUTE SERVICE SEVEN DAYS A WEEK
UP FROM EVERY 20 TO 30 MINUTES
ON
WEEKENDS.
WE BELIEVE THAT THESE POTENTIAL
INVESTMENTS, ALONG
WITH IMPROVEMENTS ON MANY OTHER
ROUTES, WOULD MAKE
CHOOSING TRANSIT EASIER AT ALL
TIMES OF
DAY FOR THOUSANDS OF
SEATTLEITES.
THIS AL WOULD ALSO
CONTINUE SUPPORTING BOTH
SEATTLE STREETCAR LINES.
OUR STREETCAR SYSTEM
PROVIDES VITAL CONNECTIONS TO
HOSPITALS,
SCHOOLS, COLLEGES, SPECIAL EVENT
VENUES AND THE REGIONAL
LIGHT RAIL NETWORK.
THE STREETCAR IS THE ONLY
SDOT- OWNED AND MANAGED
SERVICE IN SEATTLE WHICH GIVES
US
THE UNIQUE ABILITY TO TAILOR
SERVICE, EVEN MORE SHARPLY TO
LOCAL NEED.
RIDERSHIP ON OUR
STREETCAR SYSTEM IS INCREASING
EVERY YEAR.
ROUGHLY 1.
6 MILLION TRIPS WERE TAKEN IN
2025 UP FROM 1.
4 MILLION IN 2024.
THE FIRST HILL STREETCAR IS
BACK AT 2019 RIDERSHIP LEVELS
AND
STILL CLIMBING AND SLU LINE
CONTINUES TO SEE SIGNIFICANT
RIDERSHIP GROWTH YEAR OVER YEAR.
THIS PROPOSAL WILL ALSO
EXPAND THE NUMBER OF LOW- INCOME
SEATTLE
RESIDENTS WHO RECEIVE FULLY
SUBSIDIZED ORCA CARDS TO
22,000 PEOPLE BRINGING FREE TO
TRANSIT
THE MAJORITY OF LOW-
INCOME SUBSIDIZED HOUSING
RESIDENTS
CITYWIDE.
IT WOULD CONTINUE
SERVING THE 10,000 LOW- INCOME
RESIDENTS, FAMILIES WITH YOUNG
CHILDREN AND
YOUNG ADULTS WHO ARE SERVED
BY OUR TRANSIT PASS PROGRAMS
TODAY.
WE WOULD ALSO EXPAND
OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE
SEATTLE HOUSING AUTHORITY TO
OFFER
FULLY SUBSIDIZED ORCA CARDS TO
ALL HOUSING CHOICE
VOUCHER PARTICIPANTS SERVING
12,000 MORE
LOW- INCOME RESIDENTS.
THE PROPOSAL ALSO
CONTINUES TRANSIT EDUCATION
PROGRAMS THAT
HELP YOUNG PEOPLE AND
AGING ADULTS BUILD CONFIDENCE
USING PUBLIC TRANSIT
INDEPENDENTLY.
THIS PROPOSAL WOULD
CONTINUE SUPPORTING SOUND
TRANSIT
THREE DELIVERY BY FUNDING
CITY STAFFING TO ENSURE WE KEEP
THE WEST SEATTLE AND BALLARD
LINK EXTENSION AND GRAHAM
STREETS
MOVING.
FUNDING FOR STAFFING ALLOWS
THE CITY TO PROACTIVELY PARTNER
IN DELIVERING THESE PROJECTS
AND ADVANCE PLANNING EFFORTS
FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS FOR ACCESS
TO THE NEW STATION AREAS.
THIS ESSENTIAL
INVESTMENT SUPPORTS A DEDICATED
TEAM OF
TRANSPORTATION PLANNERS,
ENGINEERS AND PROJECT MANAGERS.
TRANSIT CAPITAL INVESTMENTS ARE
A SMALLER SHARE OF THE MEASURE
BUT THEY PLAY AN IMPORTANT
SUPPORTING ROLE.
THEY HELP THE CITY GET
MORE VALUE FROM ITS TRANSIT
SERVICE
INVESTMENTS BY IMPROVING
RELIABILITY, ACCESS AND RIDER
EXPERIENCE.
THE PROPOSED CAPITAL BUDGETS IS
$3. 5 MILLION EACH
YEAR, CONSISTENT WITH THE PLAN
AND
PRIOR MEASURES.
THOSE FUNDS WOULD
SUPPORT TARGETED IMPROVEMENTS AT
PLACES WHERE DELAY, ACCESS OR
SAFETY ISSUES
AFFECT TRANSIT
PERFORMANCE. THEY COULD ALSO BE
USED
TO LEVERAGE ADDITIONAL
GRANT FUNDING TO DELIVER LARGER
AND MORE TRANSFORMATIVE CAPITAL
PROJECTS.
>> I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT
ONE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ.
>> OH, I FORGOT I'M UNMUTED.
SORRY.
>> ALL GOOD.
I'M ROCKING WITH YOU.
ALL GOOD.
>> IT AIN'T LOOKING GOOD.
I'M JUST GOING TO PUT IT OUT
THERE.
THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO
SPEAK DIRECTLY TO THE RATE OF
THE SALES TAX HERE.
I WANT TO START
WITH ACKNOWLEDGING THAT COSTS
HAVE RISEN 26% SINCE THE MEASURE
WAS
PASSED IN 2020.
THOSE -- WE ALL SEE
THAT, GOVERNMENT AND TRANSIT
AGENCIES ARE NOT IMMUNE TO THE
LARGER ECONOMIC FACTORS SUCH AS
INFLATION, SUPPLY CHAIN
DISRUPTIONS, TARIFFS, ET CETERA.
AND SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT
ANYTHING LESS THAN A 0.
2223% SALES TAX WOULD REQUIRE
CUTS
TO THE INVESTMENTS AND SERVICES
AND BENEFITS THAT YOU'VE HEARD
US
DESCRIBING HERE.
AT THE SAME TIME OTHER
TRANSPORTATION SOURCES HAVE
DECLINED .
SORRY, BILL.
COULD YOU GO BACK?
THANKS.
HAVE PLATEAUED OR DECLINED
SUCH AS THE COMMERCIAL PARKING
TAX.
AS HOUSEHOLDS FEEL THIS COST
PRESSURE, MORE PEOPLE
NEED ACCESS TO THE PUBLIC
SERVICES THAT PROVIDE AFFORDABLE
OPTIONS
RELATIVE TO PRIVATIZING THE
COST BURDEN OF THINGS LIKE
MOBILITY, AND WE KNOW AND FEEL
THAT THE
STATUS QUO IS NOT GOOD
ENOUGH FOR THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
SEATTLE DESERVES IMPROVEMENT
AND IS ASKING US FOR MORE AND
BETTER
TRANSIT SERVICE AND WE WANT TO
DELIVER ON THAT.
NEXT SLIDE.
SALES TAX HERE.
WE WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT
EVERYONE IN SEATTLE
CONTRIBUTES TO THE SALES TAX.
RESIDENTS AND WORKERS BUT
ALSO BUSINESSES AND VISITORS.
ACCORDING TO VISIT SEATTLE,
NEARLY 40 MILLION PEOPLE
VISITED SEATTLE IN 2025 AND
SPENT OVER
$8 BILLION CONTRIBUTING
HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
TO
OUR CITY THROUGH SALES TAXES.
IN WASHINGTON MOST EVERYDAY
ESSENTIALS ARE EXEMPT FROM
SALES TAX INCLUDING
GROCERIES, OVER-THE- COUNTER
AND PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS,
RENT
AND MORTGAGE PAYMENTS, AND
WITH NEW LAWS PASSED IN OLYMPIA
THIS LEGISLATIVE
SESSION, PERSONAL CARE AND BABY
PRODUCTS ARE EXEMPT FROM THE
SALES TAX AS
WELL.
THROUGH STM,
EVERYONE CONTRIBUTES TO A FUND
THAT THE
CITY USES TO MOVE PEOPLE
FURTHER.
SPEAKING HERE TO THE COST TO
TAXPAYERS, THE CURRENT 0.
15% SALES TAX COST AS MEDIAN
INCOME
TWO- PERSON HOUSEHOLD $29 A
YEAR.
AT 0. 3%, WE ESTIMATE THIS
MEASURE WOULD COST THAT SAME
TWO- PERSON MEDIAN
INCOME HOUSEHOLD ABOUT $58 A
YEAR
OR ANOTHER $4.83 A MONTH.
WE ALSO TALK ABOUT A LOW- INCOME
TWO- PERSON HOUSEHOLD MAKING
$38,000 A YEAR AND THE IMPACTS
THAT THIS PRE POSAL WOULD HAVE
TO THEM.
I'D LIKE TO SPEAK DIRECTLY TO
VLF.
THOUGH IT IS AN ALLOWING
FUNDING SOURCE WE CHOSE -- THE
MAYOR
CHOSE NOT TO ADD VLF FOR SEVERAL
REASONS.
FIRST, VLF IS A FLAT
FEE. EVERYONE PAYS THE SAME
AMOUNT REGARDLESS OF INCOME OR
CIRCUMSTANCE. FLAT TAXES ARE
MORE REGRESSIVE.
CAR TABS ARE DUE IN FULL EVERY
YEAR WITH NO OPTION FOR
INCREMENTAL PAYMENT.
BY OUR ESTIMATION THE
AVERAGE MEDIAN INCOME HOUSEHOLD
IN
SEATTLE WOULD PAY $58 A YEAR
IN SALES TAX UNDER THIS
PROPOSAL.
ADDING A $50 VLF
WOULD NEARLY DOUBLE THAT AMOUNT
OF THE
ANNUAL COST WITH ONLY ONE
VEHICLE
AND TRIPLE OR QUADRUPLE THE COST
TO HOUSEHOLDS WITH TWO OR MORE
VEHICLES.
AT THE SAME TIME ADDING A $50
VLF WOULD ONLY BRING IN AN
ADDITIONAL 15% MORE REVENUE
EACH YEAR FOR DOUBLING THE COST
ON CAR OWNING HOUSEHOLDS.
AND, LASTLY, WE HEARD
VERY STRONG OPPOSITION TO VLF
FROM THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE
ENGAGED
THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
AS DESCRIBED IN SDOT'S
RACIAL EQUITY TOOL KIT, WE SEE
THIS
IN THE RESULTS OF OTHER
OPPORTUNITIES
THAT SEATTLEITES HAVE HAD TO
CONSIDER THIS
QUESTION.
SO WHY RENEW?
PEOPLE HAVE ORGANIZED, SPOKE UP,
SHOWED UP AND KEPT
INSISTING THAT TRANSIT
IS ESSENTIAL TO A FAIR AND
AFORMEDABLE CITY.
FOR MANY PEOPLE TRANSIT IS NOT
A BACKUP PLAN.
IT'S HOW THEY GET TO WORK, TO
SCHOOL, TO CHILD CARE,
TO MEDICAL
APPOINTMENTS, THE
GROCERY STORE AND BACK HOME
AGAIN.
WE KNOW THESE
ARE COMPELLING FOLKS LIKE NURSES
GOING
TO HARBOR VIEW FOR EARLY
SHIFTS, SERVERS GETTING HOME
FROM
THE JUNCTION AFTER LAST CALL,
THE STUDENT TAKING THE BUS
TO BALLARD HIGH SCHOOL, THE
PARENT ON BEACON HILL HEADED TO
DAYCARE.
SENIORS IN THE INTERNATIONAL
DISTRICTS AND ON AND ON AND
ON. THESE ARE THE TRIPS THAT
MAKE
IT POSSIBLE FOR SEATTLE TO BE A
FUNCTIONAL CITY.
AND THIS USES THE
TOOLS AVAILABLE TO US AND
DIRECTS THE BENEFITS WHERE THEY
MATTER MOST.
MORE SERVICE, MORE ACCESS AND
MORE SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE
WHO
DEPEND ON OR WOULD LIKE TO
CHOOSE TRANSIT.
THIS MAKES IT POSSIBLE TO BE A
CHOICE NOT A REQUIREMENT OR FOR
A CAR NOT TO BE THE ONLY
WAY, THE ONLY CHOICE FOR ALL OF
THE TOTALITY OF YOUR TRIPS.
THIS IS WHAT A WORLD-
CLASS TRANSIT SYSTEM LOOKS LIKE
AND THIS IS WHAT SEATTLEITES
DESERVE
AND EXPECT.
WE'RE EXCITED TO BE SHARING
THIS
PROPOSAL WITH THE CITY COUNCIL
TODAY.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING
WITH YOU ALL ON THIS PLAN AS
WE CONTINUE TO MOVE IT FORWARD.
ULTIMATELY I LOOK FORWARD
TO GIVING SEATTLE VOTERS
THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONSIDER
THESE
INVESTMENTS AND BENEFITS AS
WE BUILD A TRANSIT SYSTEM OUR
CITY NEEDS FOR THE NEXT DECADE.
THANK YOU.
>> THAT CONCLUDES OUR
PRESENTATION, YES.
>> FIRST OFF, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
REALLY APPRECIATE THE
PRESENTATION, RIGHT ON THE MONEY
THERE WITH THE TIMING.
REALLY APPRECIATE
THE PRESENTATION AND, AS I
MENTIONED EARLIER, MORE
IMPORTANT THAN
THAT, THE THOUGHTFUL
ATTENTION AND WORK THAT WENT
INTO
CRAFTING THIS PROPOSED PACKAGE
BEFORE US.
SO, COLLEAGUES, I HAVE A
FEW QUESTIONS TO KICK US OFF
HERE
AND FRAME THE CONVERSATION
AND THEN WE'LL TURN IT OVER TO
YOU ALL FOR YOUR QUESTIONS AND
COMMENTS.
SO, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR
THE PROPOSAL AND THANK YOU FOR
KIND OF WALKING US THROUGH
YOUR APPROACH WITH RESPECT TO
THE VEHICLE LICENSE
FEE COMPONENT
AND THE TRADEOFFS INVOLVED
THERE.
ASIDE FROM THE FEE, CAN
YOU WALK US THROUGH THE MAJOR
POLICY
TRADEOFFS THE
EXECUTIVES CONSIDERED IN
DEVELOPING
THIS PROPOSAL AND SPECIFICALLY
WHICH
ALTERNATIVES WERE CONSIDERED
BUT ULTIMATELY NOT INCLUDED?
>> YEAH, I'M HAPPY TO
DISCUSSDISCUSS
THAT.
I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE
THAT PLANNING FOR THE RENEWAL OF
THE
TRANSIT MEASURE WAS WELL UNDER
WAY WHEN MAYOR WILSON CAME
INTOINTO
OFFICE.
WE EXPLORED OPTIONS WHICH
AS A BASELINE DID NOT DO ANY
REDUCTIONS.
SO ALL OPTIONS WERE INCLUDED
AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT SEATTLEITES
WANT
NO REDUCTION IN THEIR BASELINE
SERVICE.
MOVING FROM THERE WE CONSIDERED
OPTIONS THAT ADJUSTED DIALS
SO THERE'S FIXED COSTS, THINGS
LIKE THE STAFFING THAT WAS
APPROVED
BY LEGISLATION BY THIS BODY LAST
YEAR FOR THE POSITION RELATIVE
TO SUPPORTING SOUND TRANSIT AS
WELL AS THE FIXED
COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE
DELIVERY
OF THESE SEATTLE STREETCAR
LINES.
THROUGH THAT WE HAD THREE
DIALS, SERVICE, CAPITAL, AND
ACCESS
PROGRAMS.
WE KNOW THAT ACCESS -- THAT
THE CAPITAL PROGRAM, AS JEN HERE
MENTIONED, IS A SMALL
BUT IMPORTANT PART, SO WE HELD
STEADY ON THAT, AND LOOKED
AT OPTIONS THAT COULD
EITHER INCREASE TRANSIT ACCESS
PROGRAMS
OR INCREASE THE LEVEL OF
SERVICE AND WE ENDED RIGHT IN
THE MIDDLE
OF THE PARTNERSHIP WITH
KING COUNTY METRO IN HELPING US
TO BE
ABLE TO REALLY MEET THE NEED
FOR THE FARE ACCESS PROGRAM
WHILE BEING EXTREMELY MINDFUL,
RESPONSIBLE AND EFFICIENT
WITH OUR COSTS.
>> THANK YOU.
FARE ACCESS, RIDERSHIP RECOVERY
AND LONG- TERM TRANSIT
SUCCESS, ULTIMATELY PUBLIC
CONFIDENCE.
CAN YOU HELP US UNDERSTAND
HOW THE EXECUTIVE CONSIDERED
TRANSIT
SAFETY AND SECURITY NEEDS
WHEN DEVELOPING THIS
PROPOSAL PARTICULARLY WITH
RESPECT
TO OPERATOR SAFETY, RIDER
SAFETY AND LOCAL IMPLEMENTATION
OF
RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE
REGIONAL TRANSIT SAFETY
TASK FORCE FROM A LOCAL CITYCITY
SEATTLE GOVERNMENT PERSPECTIVE.
>> SURE.
I CAN TRY TO ANSWER THAT,
COUNCILMEMBER.
AS MENTIONED IN THE
PRESENTATION, WE CONTRIBUTE
TO ALL OF METRO SAFETY AND
SECURITY INVESTMENTS THROUGH OUR
SERVICE PURCHASES AND AS METRO
HAS
INCREASED THEIR
INVESTMENTS WE HAVE AS WELL.
LOOKING FOR SOME OF MY
TALKING POINTS HERE.
I BELIEVE THAT THERE HAS
BEEN OVER 200 ADDITIONAL TRANSIT
SECURITY OFFICERS ADDED IN
THE LAST FIVE YEARS BY KING
COUNTY METRO AND WE'VE INVESTED
ININ
THAT.
AS METRO IS RESPONDING TO
THE TASK FORCE AND IMPLEMENTING
DIFFERENT COMPONENTS OF THAT
PLAN, MANY OF THE COSTS WILL BE
REFLECTED IN THE
SERVICE CONTRACT AS WELL.
THERE IS ONLY ONE DIRECT
OUTCOME FOR SDOT SPECIFICALLY IN
THE TASK FORCE AND THAT WAS
TO PROVIDE YOUNG ADULTS WITH
OPPORTUNITIES TO UNDERSTAND HOW
THEY CAN BE A PART --
PARTICIPATE OR GET A JOB IN
THE TRANSIT AND TRANSPORTATION
SYSTEM.
WE HAVE A YOUTH PROGRAM THROUGH
OUR TRANSPORTATION
ACCESS PROGRAM FUNDED BY THE
SEATTLE TRANSIT MEASURE ALREADY
THAT ADDRESS THAT.
WE HAVE YOUTH WHO COME FOR
A MONTH IN THE MONTH OF AUGUST
AND ARE GETTING EXPOSED TO ALL
OF
THE DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR
EMPLOYMENT AND CAREERS
ESSENTIALLY, CAREER EXPLORATION.
THAT'S ONE SPECIFIC THING.
AGAIN, AS METRO IS INCREASING
OR ADJUSTING WHAT THEIR
INVESTMENTS ARE, POLICE,
OFFICERS, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
SPECIALISTS, TRANSIT AMBASSADORS
AS WELL
AS TRAINING FOR INTERNAL
STAFFING
FOR OPERATORS, ET
CETERA, WE
WOULD BE PAYING OUR PORTION OF
THAT.
>> THANK YOU --
>> IF I MAY, I WANTED TO ADD TO
THAT. THIS IS A KEY PRIORITY
WE'VE HEARD FROM EVERYONE, BUT
FROM TWO STAKEHOLDERS IN
PARTICULAR, OBVIOUSLY ATU 587 AS
WELL AS THE
TRANSPORTATION EQUITY WORK
GROUP, GROUPS WE'VE WORKED
WITH IN DEEP CONSULTATION
WHILE BRINGING FORWARD THIS
PROPOSAL
IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT
THOSE KEY PRIORITIES ARE
ADDRESSED
IN THE INVESTMENTS PUT FORWARD.
>> THANK YOU.
SO IF I HEAR CORRECTLY NO
ADDITIONAL OR DEDICATED
FUNDING FOR TRANSIT SAFETY AND
SECURITY.
IT WOULD BE INCLUDED IN OUR
STANDARD PURCHASE FOR
EXTRA SERVICE WITH KING COUNTY
METRO.
WHAT THEY'RE ALREADY GOING TO
COVER, IT'LL BE INCLUDED
AND BAKED INTO THAT COST.
SO NO LOCAL DEDICATED FUNDING
SPECIFICALLY FOR TRANSIT SAFETY
AND SECURITY BEYOND WHAT
WE PURCHASE?
>> SO WE DO HAVE $9 MILLION
IN THE 2024 TRANSPORTATION LEVY
DEVOTED TO TRANSIT PASSENGER
SAFETY.
SO THAT STILL REMAINS AS A
DEDICATED FUNDING SOURCE.
BUT THROUGH THE SEATTLE TRANSIT
MEASURE, IT IS SPECIFICALLY
OUR SUPPORT OF THE FUNDING FOR
THE SEATTLE STREET CAR THAT
INCLUDES SAFETY AND SECURITY AS
WELL, WHICH IS DELIVERED BY
METRO,
AND THROUGH OUR PURCHASE OF
SERVICE
I THINK WE BELIEVE STRONGLY THAT
METRO SHOULD LEAD ON TRANSIT
SAFETY AND SECURITY
INVESTMENTS AND WE SHOULD
SUPPORT THEM AND
HAVE THEM BE THE ONES MAKING
THE DECISIONS SINCE THEY'RE
THE OPERATORS AND OWNERS OF THAT
TRANSIT SYSTEM.
>> YEAH.
IN THE 2024 TRANSPORTATION
LEVY WAS A COMPLETELY
DIFFERENT FUNDING VEHICLE.
TODAY WE ARE DISCUSSING
THE PROPOSED RENEWAL
OF THE TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT
DISTRICT.
THAT SAID, THERE'S ALSO A
SHARED RESPONSIBILITY -- ONE
OF THE THINGS THAT WE LEARNED
FROM
THE KING COUNTY REGIONAL
TRANSPORTATION OR TRANSIT SAFETY
AND SECURITY TASK FORCE IS
THAT THE RESPONSIBILITY IS
SHARED FOR
IMPLEMENTING THOSE VARIOUS
RECOMMENDATIONS.
IT'S NOT JUST SOLELY, YOU
KNOW, WE NEED TO AVOID
A COUNTERPRODUCTIVE
FINGER POINTING WHO IS ON FIRST
SITUATION AND CONFUSION AROUND.
THE RESPONSIBILITY IS SHARED
AND EVERY
JURISDICTION HAS A
RESPONSIBILITY TO IMPLEMENT
LOCALLY THOSE.
I'M HEARING THERE'S NO
DEDICATED
FUNDING SOURCE SPECIFICALLY FOR
THAT. IT WOULD JUST BE INCLUDED
IN WHAT THE BASE LEVELS OF
POTENTIAL SAFETY AND
SECURITY SERVICES OR UPGRADES
THAT
METRO HAS PLANNED BASED OFF OF
OUR
REGULAR PURCHASE OF SERVICE.
BUT THANK YOU FOR THAT.
I WOULD --
>> MAY I?
>> -- I HAVE A DIFFERENT VIEW OF
THE INFRASTRUCTURE -- I HEARD
THE INFRASTRUCTURE LEVELS
OF FUNDING ARE CONSISTENT WITH
PRIOR LEVELS IN THE
SEATTLE TRANSIT MEASURE.
I WOULD DISAGREE WITH THAT VIEW,
OR AT LEAST I HAVE A DIFFERENT
ONE, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU LOOK AT
THE ACTUALS AND THE REVISIONS
THAT WERE MADE OVER TIME.
THAT SAID, WE'LL LEARN MORE
ABOUT THAT DURING OUR NEXT
MEETING FROM CENTRAL STAFF
ANALYSIS.
BUT THANK YOU FOR THE
ADDITIONALADDITIONAL CLARITY
HERE.
COLLEAGUES, I WILL NOW TURN IT
OVER TO YOU.
STARTING FIRST
WITH VICE-CHAIR
RINCK. THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR
SAKA, AND THANK YOU TO ALL OF
OUR PANELISTS WHO CAME BEFORE US
TO PRESENT ON
THIS PROPOSAL. YOUR TIME IS
APPRECIATED.
THANK YOU FOR PRESENTING THIS IN
DETAIL AND THANK YOU TO OUR
PARTNERS AT ATU AND A HUGE THANK
YOU TO ALL OF
THE ADVOCATES WHO CAME OUT TODAY
TO CHAMPION
TRANSIT. THANK YOU FOR THE WORK
THAT YOU
DO. I'VE SAID IT BEFORE AND
I'LL
SAY IT AGAIN, I'M A CAR-
FREE COUNCILMEMBER UP HERE
PROUDLY REPRESENTING THE 20% OF
SEATTLE HOUSEHOLDS WHO DON'T
OWN A CAR.
MUCH OF MY ADULT LIFE --
I DIDN'T OWN A CAR NOT ON
A PRINCIPLED STANCE BUT
I LITERALLY COULDN'T AFFORD
ONE.
NOW I'M ABLE TO LIVE A LIFE
WITHOUT A CAR, AND I MAKE
IT WORK FOR MYSELF, BUT I UPLIFT
TO SAY THERE ARE SO MANY FOLKS
IN OUR CITY WHO QUITE
LITERALLY RELY ON OUR TRANSIT
SYSTEM WHETHER IT BE LIGHT RAIL
OR OUR
BUSES, AND SO I WANT TO START
MY REMARKS BY UNDERSCORING THAT
POINT THAT SO MANY RESIDENTS
ARE REALLY RELYING ON US TO
DELIVER ON RELIABLE, FREQUENT,
SAFE
TRANSIT.
TO THAT POINT, I HAVE A
COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR TODAY.
ONE JUST BRINGING US TO THIS
POINT ABOUT JUST TAX BURDEN.
I WANT TO START OFF ON THE
NOTE THAT WE'VE HEARD ABOUT IN-
PUBLIC
COMMENT AND ALREADY IN
SOME OF THE DISCOURSE
CONSTERNATION ABOUT SALES TAX.
I DO WANT TO NOTE FOR THE
RECORD THAT MY OFFICE ENGAGED
WITH STATE LEGISLATORS AHEAD OF
OUR MOST RECENT LEGISLATIVE
SESSION IN THE HOPES WE WOULD
SEE A
BILL IN SESSION THAT WOULD
EXPAND OPTIONS TO JURISDICTIONS
ON
HOW WE CAN FUND OUR
TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT
DISTRICTS.
I DID NOT WANT THE CITY TO BE
IN THIS POSITION OF BEING
SO CONSTRAINED AND CONFINED
WITH THE OPTIONS THAT WE HAVE,
BUT I WAS DISAPPOINTED TO SEE US
GET SOMETHING THROUGH THE
SESSION BUT OPTIMISTIC ABOUT
FUTURE
SESSIONS. I AM WONDERING IF WE
CAN GO TO
SLIDE 32, BECAUSE I
APPRECIATE THE INFORMATION
YOU'RE
PROVIDING ON HOW THIS SALES TAX
WOULD
IMPACT RESIDENTS, BUT
REALLY HITTING ON THE POINT
ABOUT HOW
WE'RE USING THESE INVESTMENTS
TO REALLY HAVE A SOLID RETURN ON
INVESTMENT AS WELL.
SO I'M WONDERING IF YOU
CAN SPEAK TO -- EXPAND A LITTLE
MORE ON THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT
FOR THE AVERAGE BUS RIDER FOR
THIS SALES TAX AS WELL AS
RECIPIENTS FOR THE NEW ORCA
PASSES THAT
YOU'RE INTENDING TO PROVIDE TO
THE LEVY.
>> I'M HAPPY TO SPEAK TO THAT,
AND THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION,
COUNCILMEMBER.
THE WAY THAT I LIKE TO THINK
ABOUT TRANSPORTATION AND
MOBILITY IS THAT THERE REALLY
ISN'T A LOT OF ALTERNATIVES.
PEOPLE HAVE TO GET THE
PLACES THAT THEY HAVE TO GO.
SO WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
THE COST OF PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION,
I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO
SITUATE THAT WITH A FAIR
COMPARISON ABOUT THE OTHER
CHOICES PEOPLE
MAKE.
YOU'VE HEARD THE WORD CHOICE A
LOT.
OBVIOUSLY I WANT TO BE
CLEAR THAT SOME PEOPLE, ACTUALLY
FAR TOO MANY PEOPLE,
FACE TRANSIT INSECURITY AND
TRANSPORTATION
INSECURITY. IN FACT, I READ A
RECENT REPORT
THAT SHOWED THIS IS ACTUALLY THE
NUMBER- ONE HARDSHIP, 17%
OF AMERICANS REPORT THAT THEY
MISS IMPORTANT THINGS IN THEIR
LIVES BECAUSE OF A LACK OF
TRANSPORTATION ACCESS TO DO
THAT. I WANT TO BE REALLY
CLEAR THAT IS, IN FACT, A RECENT
STUDY SHOWS A MORE
SIGNIFICANT HARDSHIP AND A MORE
COMMON HARDSHIP EVEN THAN FOOD
INSECURITY IN THIS COUNTRY.
SO WHEN PEOPLE HAVE TO
GET SOMEWHERE AND THEY CAN'T
GET THERE WITH PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION, THEIR
OPTIONS ARE TO NOT GO, AS WE
DISCUSSED, TO IF YOU HAVE ACCESS
TO A CAR
TO ASK FOR A RIDE OR TO PAY
FOR
THE CAR YOURSELF. GAS RIGHT NOW
IS $6. 56 A
GALLON IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, SO
THAT'S
MORE THAN THE MONTHLY COST FOR
A SINGLE GALLON OF GAS THERE.
OTHER ALTERNATIVES, OF
COURSE, ARE OWNING A VEHICLE.
AS I MENTIONED AAA
ESTIMATES THAT IN THE STATE OF
WASHINGTON IT IS $12,000 OR
ABOUT $1,000 A
MONTH TO OWN AND OPERATE A
VEHICLE.
YOUR OTHER ALTERNATIVES
THERE WOULD BE, OF COURSE,
BICYCLE,
IF THAT WORKS FOR YOU.
IT WORKS FOR SOME PEOPLE,
NOT
FOR EVERYONE. LET'S BE CLEAR
ABOUT THAT.
OR TNC'S UBER, LIFT AND TAXI,
WHICH, FOR MANYMANY A
CROSS RIDE COULD BE WELL OVER
$40
TO GET ACROSS TOWN ON A SINGLE
UBER.
SO AS WE START TO THINK ABOUT
WHAT ARE THE ACTUAL CHOICES
THAT PEOPLE HAVE AND WHAT DO
THOSE CHOICES COST, THAT IS AN
OVERVIEW OF WHAT OPTIONS PEOPLE
HAVE. SO NOT GOING SOMEWHERE,
TAKING
TRANSIT, ASKING FOR A RIDE
OR PAYING FOR THAT RIDE YOURSELF
IN A CAR IF YOU ARE ABLE TO
OWN ONE OR TAKING A TNC, A LIFT
OR AN
UBER.
DID THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION,
COUNCILMEMBER?
>> THANK YOU.
DID YOU WANT TO CHIME IN?
>> I CAN CHIME IN.
>>
PLEASE.
>> YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LOOK AT
THE COST OF THE FREE ORCA
CARD IN PARTICULAR, SO THESE
ARE FOLKS WHO ARE LIVING --
MOSTLY LIVING AT THE 30% OF THE
MEDIAN
INCOME, THAT'S $38,000 A YEAR
OR LESS, THE VALUE OF THAT,
JUST THE ORCA CARD UNRELATED TO
THE ACTUAL SERVICE INVESTMENT IS
67 TIMES GREATER THAN THE
AMOUNT THEY PAY IN ACTUAL COST
FOR THE
TAX, AND I HAVE A QUOTE FROM
A MESSAGE THAT WAS SENT IN
FROM SOMEONE FROM THE SEATTLE
HOUSING
AUTHORITY WHO THE ORIGINAL
EMAIL WAS IN SPANISH, BUT I'LL
JUST READ WHAT THIS PERSON SAID.
I AM ROGALIO.
I RECEIVE A RETIREMENT
PENSION OF $401 A MONTH, AND, AS
YOU
CAN SEE, IT IS NOT MUCH.
WITH THAT MONEY I HAVE TO
PAY FOR ELECTRICITY, WHICH IS
NOT CHEAP FOR ANYONE, AND
TRANSPORTATION, RENT, SENIOR
INTERNET, PHONE AND OTHER
SERVICES.
THE MONEY IS NOT ENOUGH FOR ME.
IF IT WEREN'T FOR THE ORCA
CARD, I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO PAY
FOR
TRANSPORTATION TO GO TO
THE DOCTORS AND PAY FOR SOME
MEDICATIONS THAT MY INSURANCE
DOESN'T COVER.
I RECENTLY RECEIVED
INFORMATION THAT THIS CARD WILL
ONLY
BE VALID FOR THIS YEAR.
WHAT SOLUTION CAN I MAKE?
SINCERELY, MR. PEREZA.
>> I REALLY APPRECIATE THOSE
RESPONSES, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AND KIND OF SHIFTING GEARS FOR A
MOMENT, I'M SURE FOR MANY OF
MY COLLEAGUES -- I
DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR ANYONE
AT ALL --
BUT IN SO MANY WAYS, I KNOW
I'M THINKING ABOUT ALL THE
DIFFERENT
ROUTES I'VE TAKEN AND PERHAPS
MY COLLEAGUES ARE THINKING ABOUT
THE ROUTES WITHIN THEIR
DISTRICTS OR THE TIMES
THAT THEY HAVE HAD TO WAIT 30
MINUTES
FOR THE BUS, AND I REALLY
APPRECIATE THE SLIDE SEVEN WHICH
REALLY HIGHLIGHTS IN THE CURRENT
STM HOW THOSE INVESTMENTS WERE
ABLE TO INCREASE FREQUENCY
ON SPECIFIC ROUTES.
I THINK THIS BEGS THE
QUESTION AROUND HOW ARE WE
MAKING TERMINATIONS FOR THE
UPCOMING
RENEWAL EFFORT?
CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH
THE STEPS THAT SDOT IS REALLY
MAKING IN COLLABORATION WITH
KING COUNTY METRO IN
IDENTIFYING WHICH ROUTES WILL
BENEFIT FROM
INCREASED INVESTMENT?
>> YES.
I THINK IT'S THE SLIDE BEFORE
THIS.
YES.
WE WOULD BE USING THE SAME
DATA- DRIVEN EQUITY CENTERED
INVESTMENT STRATEGY THAT WE USE
TODAY.
SO WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FIRST
AT WE HAVE OUR FREQUENT
TRANSIT NETWORK WHICH IS OUR
VISION
FOR BEING ABLE TO GET ACROSS
THE CITY AT ALL TIMES OF THE
DAY WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE TO
LOOK
AT A SCHEDULE.
YOU JUST KNOW YOUR BUS
IS COMING.
SO WE START WITH THAT
FREQUENT TRANSIT NETWORK AND WE
COMPARE IT TO WHAT'S ON THE
GROUND
TODAY.
THAT'S OUR LIST OF INVESTMENTS.
THEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THE
DEMOGRAPHICS OF EACH
NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE HAVE AN EQUITY
BASED METHODOLOGY THAT
ACTUALLY MIRRORS WHAT KING
COUNTY METRO
HAS FOR THEIR EQUITY
INVESTMENT AND WE SEE THOSE
ROUTES CONNECTING -- GOING
THROUGH
THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS IF IT'S
A HIGHER EQUITY PRIORITY AREA
THAT
ROUTE GETS -- THOSE TRIPS GET
A HIGHER SCORE.
SO WE GO THROUGH A VERY
MATHEMATICAL PROCESS WHERE
WE'RE RANKING DIFFERENT
POTENTIAL
INVESTMENTS AND WE ALSO ARE
ABLE TO ACTUALLY SEE THE TIMES
OF
DAY WHEN REDUCED FARE TRIPS
ARE TAKEN EITHER WITH A
SUBSIDIZED ANNUAL PASS OR AN
ORCA LIFT CARD
AND THEY WILL RECEIVE A HIGHER
SCORE AND THEN WE'RE ABLE TO
LOOK AT ALL OF THOSE AND
COORDINATE WITH KING
COUNTY METRO IN TERMS OF WHAT
THEY'RE
ABLE TO DELIVER.
SO THAT'S REALLY -- WE'RE ALSO
LOOKING AT WHERE DENSITY IS
HAPPENING IN THE COMPREHENSIVE
PLAN, THINKING ABOUT
THAT, THINKING ABOUT CONNECTING
ACROSS EAST/WEST WHICH WE ALL
KNOW IS
CHALLENGING IN OUR CITY.
WHAT I'M MOST EXCITED ABOUT
IS THAT THIS 100,000 HOURS LETS
US GET BACK TO THOSE PRE- 2019
SERVICE
LEVELS. IF YOU GO TO THE SLIDE
-- I
THINK IT'S THE ONE THAT
LOOKS LIKE THIS BUT SHOWS WHERE
WE'RE GOING TO BE INVESTING
GOING
FORWARD, THESE ARE NOT -- KEEP
GOING, SORRY.
>> SORRY.
>> THAT'S OKAY.
>> THESE ARE NOT THE EXACT
INVESTMENTS BUT THESE ARE
USING OUR INVESTMENT
PRIORITIZATION
METHODOLOGY, THESE ARE
ROUTES AND REALLY SPECIFIC
INVESTMENTS ON THE NEXT SLIDE
THAT WE
WOULD CONSIDER MAKING.
KING COUNTY WILL BE INVESTING
OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS,
A SERVICE RECOVERY PROJECT
THEY CAN SPEAK TO BETTER THAN WE
CAN BUT WE'LL HAVE PUBLIC
OUTREACH AND WE'LL KIND OF
REBASELINE
THE SERVICE LEVELS IN SEATTLE
AND
WILL BE ABLE TO ADD ON TOP OF
THAT. IT'S A LITTLE HARD TODAY
TO
TELL YOU EXACTLY WHERE SERVICE
INVESTMENTS WILL GO SINCE
METRO'S INVESTMENTS ARE
CHANGING, BUT ALL THINGS
BEING EQUAL WE THINK THIS IS
A POSSIBLE REPRESENTATION OF
WHERE WE MAY MAKE THOSE
INVESTMENTS.
AND THE NEXT SLIDE REALLY TALKS
ABOUT KIND OF WHAT THOSE MIGHT
LOOK LIKE WHICH I THINK
ARE REALLY SUBSTANTIAL GOING
FROM EVERY 20 OR 30 TO EVERY 15
MINUTES ON WEEKENDS OR
EVEN EVERY TEN MINUTES ON THE D
LINE, THE THIRD HIGHEST
RIDERSHIP ROUTE IN THE CITY AND
ON
THE WEEKENDS IT DOESN'T HAVE
SERVICE EVERY TEN MINUTES.
>> UNDERSTANDING THAT IT'S
A COMPLICATED FORMULA
TRYING TO MEET THIS POINT AND
REALLY PROVIDE EQUITABLE
SERVICE,
I'M WONDERING IF IN THE CURRENT
STM
THERE WERE ANY
SHIFTS SPECIFICALLY BETWEEN
ROUTES
JUST ACROSS THE COURSE OF THE
CURRENT STM,
IF THERE WERE ANY NOTABLE SHIFTS
IN TERMS OF WHERE
WE SHIFTED THAT SERVICE.
>> YES.
THERE ARE SOME INVESTMENTS
THAT WERE CARRIED FORWARD FROM
THE
VERY FIRST MEASURE AND THEN AS
KING COUNTY METRO DELIVERS WHAT
ARE CALLED MOBILITY PROJECTS,
SO, LIKE, WHEN THERE'S A
NEW LIGHT RAIL STATION OPENING
OR SOME LARGE CHANGE TO THE
NETWORK, THEY WILL LOOK AT THE
SERVICE THAT'S IN A CERTAIN
AREA
AND GO THROUGH A COMMUNITY
PROCESS WHERE THEY'RE
ASKING HOW THAT MIGHT NEED TO
CHANGE, HOW
THAT SERVICE MIGHT NEED TO
CHANGE, AND WE ALSO CHANGE OUR
INVESTMENTS DURING THAT TIME.
SO, ACTUALLY, IF YOU GO TO
THE SLIDE THAT LOOKS LIKE
THIS, CURRENT INVESTMENTS, AN
EXAMPLE WOULD IT BE THE LINWOOD
LINK
MOBILITY PROJECT.
SO THIS EXAMPLE ON THE FAR RIGHT
HERE, THE ROUTE 75 AND 77.
SO AS PART OF THE LINWOOD LINK
PROJECT, MOBILITY PROJECT
THAT KING COUNTY LED, WE CHOSE
TO
INVEST HERE IN A BRAND NEW
ROUTE, THE ROUTE 77 THAT
METRO'S CREATING THAT IS EVERY
30
MINUTES AND WILL BE EVERY 15
MINUTES.
WE ALSO HAVE INVESTED IN METRO
FLEX.
IN DISTRICT 1 WE WERE ABLE
TO ADD SERVICE IN THE SOUTH
PARK AND DELRIDGE NEIGHBORHOODS
THAT HAVE CHALLENGING HILLS
ESSENTIALLY.
ANOTHER WAY WE'VE INVESTED,
CHOSE EBB BY
LOOKING AT WHERE THE HIGHEST
EQUITY NEEDS ARE.
>> MY LAST QUESTION FOR TODAY,
I WANT TO TELL YOU I
APPRECIATE
THE DATA PRESENTED TODAY,
SPECIFICALLY HIGHLIGHTING THE
WAYS THAT OUR INVESTMENTS
AND EXPANDING TRANSIT SERVICES
ALSO DIRECTLY TRANSLATED
INTO INCREASED RIDERSHIP
NUMBERS.
I THINK IT'S REALLY
COMPELLING TO REALLY LIFT UP
THAT
POINT, AND THERE'S BEEN A LOT
OF DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT HAS
KIND OF GONE INTO SHAPING
THE PROPOSAL BEFORE US TODAY
AND YOU'VE SPOKEN TO SOME OF
THE ENGAGEMENT THAT HAS GONE
INTO
THIS. I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT
AND
ZOOM IN SPECIFICALLY
ON THE RACIAL EQUITY TOOL KIT
WORK.
I'M WONDERING IF YOU
COULD EXPAND ON WHAT THAT KIND
OF
OUTREACH LOOKED LIKE AND KIND OF
UNPACK SOME MORE AROUND SOME OF
THE WORK THAT WENT
INTO THE
RACIAL EQUITY TOOL KIT AS
PROVIDED.
>> ARE YOU ASKING ABOUT THETHE
OUTREACH AND ALSO --
>> SPECIFICALLY --
GENERALLY WHEN YOU'RE TALKING
ABOUT CULTURALLY RELEVANT
OUTREACH, WHAT DID THAT LOOK
LIKE
AND ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO
UNPACK ABOUT THE WORK THAT WENT
INTO RACIAL EQUITY TOOL KIT.
>> WE MET CLOSELY --
MET REGULARLY WITH THE
TRANSPORTATION EQUITY WORK
GROUP. I CAN'T REMEMBER HOW
MANY PEOPLE
ARE ON THAT, IN THAT GROUP,
BUT THEY ARE PAID COMMUNITY
REPRESENTATIVES WHO SUPPORT
BUT COME TOGETHER TO PROVIDE
POLICY
RECOMMENDATIONS TO SDOT THE
BURDEN OF A SALES TAX
INCREASE AND THE BENEFITS IT
PROVIDED,
WE DID MULTIPLE WORKSHOPS TO,
LIKE, LOOK AT SPECIFIC INSTANCES
FOR
THIS PARTICULAR PERSON
OR SOMEONE LIVING IN THIS
NEIGHBORHOOD, WHAT WOULD THE
INVESTMENT -- WHAT WOULD THE
BENEFIT BE FOR THEM?
SO THAT'S A LOT OF, LIKE,
THAT SPECIFIC OUTREACH WE DID --
I'M JUST TRYING TO THINK
OF OTHER PIECES HERE.
>> A LITTLE SUPPORT COMING
FROM OUR SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS.
>> WE ALSO PROVIDED IN LANGUAGE
COMMUNICATIONS ABOUT STM
AT COMMUNITY HUBS THROUGHOUT
THE CITY AS WELL.
WE'VE TALKED WITH ALL OF
OUR PARTNERS THAT WE WORK
WITH THROUGH THE
TRANSPORTATION ACCESS PROGRAM,
SO WHETHER THAT'S THE
RESIDENTS, SEEN
NIOR HOUSING WHERE WE DO
OUTREACH
OR SEATTLE PRESCHOOL
PROGRAM, TALKING TO THEM.
THAT'S WHAT I WOULD SAY.
>> GREAT.
GREAT TO HEAR THAT WAS
IN- LANGUAGE OUTREACH DONE.
THANK YOU.
THAT WAS A REALLY
IMPORTANT POINT FOR ME TO
UNDERSTAND.
CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES MY
QUESTIONS TODAY.
THANK YOU AGAIN SO
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, VICE-CHAIR.
ALL RIGHT.
COLLEAGUES, WHAT OTHER
QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, THOUGHTS
DO YOU ALL HAVE?
LET'S SEE, COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER.
THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHAIR.
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH TO OUR
PRESENTERS.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE TIME
AND THE INFORMATION COMING FROM
YOU
ALL. I WILL -- EXCUSE ME.
OKAY.
I WILL BE FAIRLY BRIEF WITH MY
QUESTIONS. I DID WANT TO ASK
JUST FOR
AN EMAIL FOLLOW-UP.
I REALLY APPRECIATED THE
OVERVIEW OF THE DECISION
MAKING PROCESS AROUND WHY YOU
CHOSE THE
SALES TAX FOCUS AS OPPOSED
TO THE VEHICLE LICENSE FEE
FOCUS BUT I DIDN'T CAPTURE
EVERYTHING
AND I WANT TO REVISIT THAT.
IF I CAN ASK YOU SEND THAT
VIA FOLLOW-UP EMAIL THAT WOULD
BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.
I WANTED TO ASK A MORE
GLOBAL QUESTION JUST AROUND THE
STRATEGY, AND I
REALLY APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS
AROUND THESE INVESTMENTS
ALLOWING US
TO RETURN TO 2019 SERVICE
LEVELS AND I'VE HEARD QUESTIONS
AROUND
TRENDS IN TRANSIT RIDERSHIP
AND BOTH HOW THEY ARE CHANGING,
AND I THINK, ALEX, YOU
SPOKE TO THAT, WE'RE SEEING
MORE
PEOPLE NOT USE TRANSIT FOR WORK
BUT
USE IT FOR LATE NIGHTS,
WEEKENDS,
EVENINGS. I'VE HEARD QUESTIONS,
DO WE
NEED TO DO THIS INVESTMENT TO GO
BACK TO 2019?
I WONDER IF YOU CAN SPEAK TO THE
INCREASED SERVICE WILL HAVE ON
INCREASED TRANSIT RIDERSHIP.
>> YEAH.
I'M HAPPY TO SPEAK TO THAT
AND I'LL PROBABLY TURN IT OVER
TO
JEN. I'LL START BY SHARING
ANOTHER INTERESTING EXAMPLE,
DATA
POINT, THAT ILLUSTRATES THIS
TREND.
THIS IS ABOUT THE LIGHT RAIL
SERVICE.
NOT FIXED ROUTE BUS SERVICE,
BUT AT WESTLAKE STATION AS OF
LAST
YEAR, SATURDAYS HAVE
HIGHER RIDERSHIP THAN DAYS OF
THE WEEK.
SO WE'RE SEEING VERY
CLEARLY THAT TRANSIT -- SEEING
BY
PEOPLE'S BEHAVIOR -- THAT THEY
THINK OF TRANSIT AS AN
IMPORTANT PART OF THEIR WHOLE
LIVES
AND THAT IS REFLECTED IN
THEIR CHOICES AND BEHAVIORS
THEY'RE
MAKING AND SHOWING THAT WE SEE
THINGS LIKE HIGHER RIDERSHIP ON
WEEKENDS.
FOR TRANSIT NERDS LIKE ME, THIS
IS A MIND- BLOWING FACT.
SO I HOPE YOU FIND
THAT INTERESTING AS WELL.
IT'S VERY CLEAR, AND JEN HAS
A LOT OF DATA WE CAN PULL UP
HERE WHERE WE'VE SEEN THOSE
INVESTMENTS THAT CHOICE IS
AN IMPORTANT PART OF -- AND
YOU'VE HEARD MANY PEOPLE TALK
ABOUT HAVING SCHEDULE- FREE
ACCESS.
SO ROUTES LIKE THE G LINE HAVE
ADDED, FOR EXAMPLE, TENS
OF THOUSANDS OF NEW RIDERS IN
THE
MADISON CORRIDOR THAT HAVE
NOT BEEN INDUCED FROM COMING
FROM OTHER ROUTES.
THEY'RE CHOOSING TRANSIT
BECAUSE IT IS FAST AND RELIABLE
AND YOU CAN LOOK AT IT WITHOUT A
SCHEDULE.
WHEN WE MAKE TRANSIT BE
AN OPTION THAT COMES MULTIPLE
TIMES
IN AN HOUR, IT MAKES IT
AN EASIER AND A LOWER RISK
CHOICE FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE.
I LIKE TO THINK ABOUT
SOMETIMES, AGAIN, VERY
EQUIVALENT, IF
YOUR GARAGE DOOR OPENED ONLY
ONCE EVERY 30 MINUTES AND YOU
HAD TO
BE IN YOUR CAR IN ORDER TO ZIP
RIGHT OUT OF THERE, THAT
WOULD BE A CRISIS WE WOULD TREAT
LIKE
AN EMERGENCY.
THAT IS THE LIVED EXPERIENCE
FOR HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF
TRANSIT
RIDERS EVERY DAY.
AND SO WHEN WE MAKE THOSE
OPTIONS EASIER TO SAY CAN YOU
GO OUT THERE AND TRY TRANSIT
AND IT WILL COME EVERY TEN
MINUTES
AS OPPOSED TO EVERY 15
MINUTES, THAT'S A LOWER RISK
OPTION
THAT RESPECTS PEOPLE'S TIME
MORE.
AND WE HAVE A LOT OF
EXAMPLES HERE ABOUT WHERE WE'VE
SEEN
THOSE INVESTMENTS.
I WOULD ALSO POINT TO CHANGES
IN THE OVERALL ECONOMY.
SO DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGES BOTH IN
TERMS OF PEOPLE CHOOSING SORT OF
AN URBAN AND CAR- FREE OR
CAR-LIGHT LIFESTYLE
ARE REFLECTED IN THE RATES AT
WHICH ARE
GETTING THEIR DRIVER'S LICENSES
THANKS TO THE STATE OF
WASHINGTON FOR
MAKING TRANSIT FREE FOR
EVERY YOUNG PERSON IN THIS STATE
19 AND UNDER.
WE'RE SEEING BEHAVIOR REFLECT
IN THOSE DEMOGRAPHICS.
AGAIN, WE'RE SEEING THIS VERY
CLEARLY
THE MOMENTUM TOWARDS TRANSIT AS
IT RELATES TO
THE LINKING KEY DESTINATIONS
WITH
THINGS LIKE THE LINE TWO,
MAKING MORE DESTINATIONS
OPPORTUNITIES
AND REGIONS ACCESSIBLE HAS
CREATED A CATALYTIC
IMPROVEMENT IN TRANSIT RIDERSHIP
AND AS HAS
THE OVERALL COST
BURDEN ASSOCIATED WITH SOME OF
THE
NONTRANSIT ALTERNATIVES.
DID THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION,
COUNCILMEMBER?
>> IT DID BUT I ALSO SEE JEN
LEANING INTO THE MIC, SO
I WANTED TO LET HER --
>> I WAS JUST GOING
TO SAY THAT -- IF YOU GO TO
SLIDE 13,
I THINK MAYBE YOU'RE LOOKING AT
THESE ARE THE TRANSIT TRENDS FOR
SEATTLE ROUTES.
SPECIFICALLY THOSE THAT HAVE
65% OF STOPS IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE,
YOU CAN SEE THAT THE RIDERSHIP
ON THE WEEKENDS IS NEARLY AT
PREPANDEMIC TIMES OR
AMOUNTS AND WEEKDAY RIDERSHIP IS
REBOUND ING
SIGNIFICANTLY.
SO FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE
A CAR OR ARE TRYING TO GET
AROUND
BY TRANSIT, DO HAVE A CAR BUT
A CHOOSING TO GO CAR LIGHT, YOU
KNOW, TRAVELING BY TRANSIT
ISN'T JUST, LIKE, A WEEKDAY
PEAK HOUR
SITUATION.
THEY NEED SERVICE AT ALL TIMES
OF DAY.
AND SO THERE'S SOMETHING --
A LATENT DEMAND PIECE HERE IF
YOU
ADD MORE SERVICE, THEY WILL
COME, AND I HOPE THAT SOME
OF THE DATA WE PROVIDED HERE
AND CAN PROVIDE TO YOU IF YOU
NEED TO SEE ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION, BUT HOW WE'VE
INCREASED RIDERSHIP -- OR
INCREASED
SERVICE, IT HAS RESULTED
IN INCREASED RIDERSHIP.
WE BELIEVE THAT WILL CONTINUE
TO HAPPEN AS WE ADD THESE
ADDITIONAL 100,000 HOURS TO
THIS PROPOSAL.
SO I THINK IT DOES SPEAK FOR
ITSELF.
THIS IS -- THESE RIDERSHIP
PATTERNS, ALEX SPOKE TO THIS ON
THIS SLIDE ORIGINALLY.
THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF CHANGES
AND IN THE SYSTEM ITSELF,
SO TRANSIT -- BUS TRAVEL IS
NOT GOING TO GO BACK EXACTLY IN
THE SAME WAY, EVEN THAT 2019
SERVICE LEVEL SLIDE, THOSE
INVESTMENTS, IT'S NOT GOING TO
BE THE EXACT
SAME NUMBER OF SERVICE HOURS ON
EACH ROUTE AS IT WAS IN
2019 BECAUSE TRAVEL PATTERNS
HAVE
CHANGED, AND THOSE EVENINGS,
NIGHTS, WEEKENDS, MIDDAY
SERVICE IS WHEN PEOPLE ARE
RIDING MORE.
AND THAT'S WHERE OUR
BIGGEST GAPS ARE IN THE SERVICE
LEVELS THAT WE
HAVE TODAY. SO WE REALLY BELIEVE
THAT IT WILL RESULT IN MORE
RIDERSHIP
AND GIVE TRUST IN PEOPLE SO
THEY CAN -- PEOPLE HAVE MORE
TRUST IN
THE SYSTEM THAT THEY DON'T
HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IS IT
TEN MINUTES TODAY OR IS IT 30
MINUTES
TODAY WHEN I GO TO THE BUS STOP?
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> JUST TO ADD ONE
THOUGHT, WHICH HASN'T BEEN
BROUGHT UP YET
WHICH IS ONE OF THE
ISSUES WITH BEING ABLE TO BE
RELIANT ON
THE TRANSIT SYSTEM IS TO HAVE
SOME
REDUNDANCY.
WE LIVE IN A DYNAMIC CITY
WHERE THINGS HAPPEN, THERE ARE
EVENTS, CONGESTION POINTS, THERE
ARE
UNPREDICTABLE THINGS THAT
HAPPEN ON A DAILY BASIS.
HAVING THE REDUNDANCY OF A BUS
NETWORK REGARDLESS OF
WHETHER PEOPLE RIDE LIGHT RAIL
OR
USE OTHER MODES OTHER TIMES IS A
REALLY IMPORTANT PART OF
PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO SORT OF
DRIVE
RIDERSHIP AND RIDE REGULARLY.
SO I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT
PIECE.
STAFF HAS BEEN CALCULATING AS
PART OF THIS PROPOSAL WHAT
THIS PROPOSAL COULD BRING AND
ARE ESTIMATING ABOUT 50,000
ADDITIONAL WEEKLY RIDES FROM THE
INVESTMENTS THAT WE WOULD MAKE
THROUGH THE STM
PROPOSAL.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
I WANT TO TURN NOW TO JUST
A QUESTION AROUND THE LENGTH OF
THE PROPOSAL AND THE FOCUS
AND SOME OF THE CHANGES IN OUR
CITY.
THIS IS GOING TO BE -- THIS IS
PROPOSED AT TEN YEARS FOR THIS
NEW PACKAGE AND I'M SURE
THAT OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS
HAVE QUESTIONS AROUND THIS BUT
I'LL DO A LEAD- IN TO IT, WE'RE
AT
A MOMENT WHERE WE'RE SEEING --
WE'VE SEEN DECISIONS FROM
OUR SOUND TRANSIT BOARD IN
REGARDREGARD
THE FUTURE OF LIGHT RAIL SERVICE
IN THE CITY AND WHAT WE KNOW
IS COMING AND WHEN.
AND AS OF RIGHT NOW WE
OBVIOUSLY DON'T HAVE A DATE FOR
BALLARD LIGHT RAIL EXTENSION.
CAN YOU SPEAK TO HOW
THE DECISION MAKING ABOUT THESE
INVESTMENTS IS MEANT TO SORT
OF REFLECT CHANGES IN THE REST
OF OUR TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM?
JUST USING BALLARD AS AN
EXAMPLE, WE KNOW IT'S AN
AREA WHERE WE ARE
INTENTIONALLY PLANNING FOR
GROWTH, AND IT'S --
WE'RE SEEING MORE RESIDENTS
THERE. CAN YOU SPEAK TO HOW
WE'RE
GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE
INVESTMENTS THAT WE BUY FROM
KING COUNTY ARE ABLE TO ADAPT
AND FOCUS ON OUR
GROWING POPULATION CENTERS WHEN
THOSE POPULATION CENTERS MAY BE
EXPERIENCING DIFFERENT
THAN PLANNED OR ANTICIPATED
LEVELS
OF SERVICE FROM OTHER AGENCIES.
AND I ASK THIS
QUESTION UNDERSTANDING THIS
TRANSIT MEASURE IS NOT DESIGNED
TO
ADD ADDITIONAL FIXED ROUTES THAT
WE CAN ONLY BUY SERVICE FROM
METRO, BUT I DO SEE THIS AS
SOMETHING
THAT'S OF GROWING CONCERN TO OUR
RESIDENTS.
>> SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE
I UNDERSTAND THE
QUESTION, COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER.
YOU'RE ASKING HOW THIS TEN-
YEAR MEASURE -- ARE YOU ASKING
WHY TEN YEARS?
NO, YOU'RE ASKING
SPECIFICALLY HOW WE'RE ABLE TO
ADJUST, HOW
WE REMAIN FLEXIBLE THROUGH THE
FUNDING SOURCE?
>> YEAH, AND, ALSO, YOU SPOKE TO
ALREADY SOME OF THE DECISION
MAKING PROCESSES
TO COUNCILMEMBER RINCK'S
QUESTION
IN TERMS OF WHERE YOU'RE
GOING TO BE FOCUSING ON THE
INVESTMENTS, AND I'M
CURIOUS ABOUT HOW POPULATION
GROWTH
AND ACCESS TO OTHER TYPES OF
SERVICE
IS ALSO GOING TO COME INTO
PLAY IN THOSE DECISIONS.
>> OKAY, GREAT, THANK YOU.
I WOULD SAY THE WAY THE
PROPOSAL IS SET UP AND OUR
RELATIONSHIP WITH METRO, IT IS
-- IT
DOES ALLOW US TO HAVE A LOT OF
FLEXIBILITY.
WE BUY ON TOP OF WHAT METRO
DELIVERS, RIGHT?
BUT WE CAN CHANGE OUR
INVESTMENTS OVER TIME, AND
WILL, TO REFLECT WHATEVER IS
HAPPENING IN THE MOMENT.
SO, LIKE AS, FOR EXAMPLE,
METRO IS DELIVERING THEIR
SERVICE
AREA RECOVERY PROJECT,
THEY'RE GOING TO BE WORKING
WITH COMMUNITY
AND DECIDING, USING THEIR
OWN SERVICE GUIDELINES THAT HAVE
A
COUNTYWIDE FOCUS WHERE THOSE
INVESTMENTS ARE GOING TO
GO AND THEN WE WOULD BE ADDING
ON
TOP OF THAT SO THAT ALLOWS US TO
ADJUST OVER TIME AS NEW
LIGHT RAIL STATIONS OPEN UP
LIKE GRAHAM STREET
STATION, FOR EXAMPLE, IS
SCHEDULED TO OPEN
DURING THE TIME FRAME OF
THIS MEASURE AND THERE IS A NEW
BUS LINE THAT METRO IS LOOKING
AT THAT ACTUALLY GOES DOWN
GRAHAM
STREET THAT WILL CONNECT TO
THE LIGHT RAIL STATION.
THAT WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY,
I ASSUME A TYPE OF
MOBILITY PROJECT THAT METRO
WOULD
UNDERGO AND RESTRUCTURE THEIR
SERVICE
IN THAT AREA AND WE WOULD USE
THESE
RESOURCES TO PARTNER WITH
THEM TO FIGURE OUT WHERE WE
MIGHT
WANT TO INVEST ON TOP -- ADD ON
TOP AS AN EXAMPLE.
IN TERMS OF THE POPULATION
GROWTH, YOU KNOW, THE
FREQUENT TRANSIT NETWORK IS
CODIFIED IN
THE SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION PLAN,
AND IT ALREADY TAKES
INTO ACCOUNT THE COMPREHENSIVE
PLAN GROWTH CENTERS, BUT IF
THOSE
ARE CHANGING AND AS THEY CHANGE
WE
CAN UPDATE THAT VISION
FOR OUR SEATTLE -- THE FREQUENT
TRANSIT NETWORK TO REFLECT THOSE
GROWING
POPULATION CENTERS SO THAT WOULD
RESULT IN INCREASES AND
FREQUENCIES TO PLACES
WITH MORE -- GREATER AMOUNT OF
POPULATION, THAT SORT OF THING.
IN A TEN- YEAR TIME FRAME I
WOULD IMAGINE THAT WE WOULD WANT
TO
UPDATE THOSE POLICY DOCUMENTS TO
REFLECT GROWTH PATTERNS AS THEY
CHANGE.
>> GOT
IT. THAT'S HELPFUL.
YOU THAT SEE MOVE.
THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER. WE'LL MOVE NEXT TO
COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA FOLLOWED BY
COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ. YOU DON'T HAVE YOUR
HAND UP
FORMALLY, BUT I HEARD YOU SPEAK
A MOMENT AGO.
SO FIRST OFF COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR.
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE
AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT
I'M GOING TO THANK YOU IN
ADVANCE. I KNOW WE HAVE A
BRIEFING
SCHEDULED NEXT WEEK, AND I HAVE
MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SLIDES.
I JUST WANT TO ASK HERE FOR THE
PUBLIC -- WELL, LET ME SAY
SOMETHING BEFORE I ASK
MY QUESTION AND THAT IS I REALLY
APPRECIATE THE MEMBERS OF
ATU WHO SHOWED UP.
I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL
OUR TRANSIT DRIVERS AND WANT TO
MAKE SURE WE'RE PROVIDING A
SAFE SYSTEM FOR OUR TRANSIT
DRIVERS.
THEY'RE OUR GREAT PARTNERS, AND
I APPRECIATE THEM TAKING
THE TIME TO COME DOWN HERE AND
TALK TO US AND GIVE PUBLIC
COMMENT.
THE NEXT THING I WANT TO SAY IS
I ACTUALLY COULD NOT BE
MORE SUPPORTIVE OF PUBLIC
TRANSIT HAVING GROWN UP IN NEW
YORK
CITY AND NOT HAVING A
DRIVER'S LICENSE UNTIL I WAS 30
YEARS OLD, AND I ALSO LIVED ININ
OTHER WASHINGTON, D.C. , WHERE I
ALSO USED PUBLIC TRANSIT.
I GOT A LICENSE RIGHT BEFORE
I MOVED TO SEATTLE.
SO I LIVED IN D.C. FOR
MANY, MANY YEARS USING PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION, BOTH
BUSES TO GET TO THEIR METRO
SYSTEM
AND THEN THE METRO, SO I HAVE A
LOT
OF EXPERIENCE WITH PUBLIC
TRANSIT, AND I AM SO
PLEASED THAT WE HAVE NOW A LIGHT
RAIL
SYSTEM. THAT WAS NOT HERE WHEN I
GOT
HERE, AND I WAS A FREQUENT
BUS DRIVER -- EXCUSE ME, BUS
RIDER, WHEN I GOT HERE 25 YEARS
AGO.
ALL THAT TO SAY I HAVE A LOT
OF EXPERIENCE WITH THE TRANSIT
SYSTEM.
I WOULD -- SO MY QUESTION
IS WHAT IS THE SPENDING PLAN FOR
THIS NEXT TEN YEARS OF THIS
PROPOSAL? IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO
SEE BECAUSE THERE ARE BUCKETS
AND YOU KIND OF TALKED --
YOU HAD THE ONE $19 MILLION A
YEAR FOR
SERVICE, BUT THERE ARE OTHER
PIECES TO THIS.
A BILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENT OVER
TEN YEARS.
I WOULD LOVE TO SEE WHAT THE
SPENDING PLAN IS IN DETAIL
FOR EACH OF THE BUCKETS JUST AS
A POINT OF TRANSPARENCY AND
IT'S IMPORTANT TO SHOW THE
PUBLIC WHAT WE'RE GETTING FOR
THOSE
DOLLARS.
WHEN CAN WE SEE A SPENDING
PLAN, I GUESS, IS MY QUESTION.
>> I BELIEVE IT'S IN OUR
SUMMARY AND FISCAL NOTE IN
DETAIL BY
YEAR. THIS PIE CHART IS AN
AVERAGE OVER TEN YEARS, SO IT
WON'T BE
$138
MILLION IN REVENUE EVERY YEAR,
AND THE SPENDING WON'T
BE EXACTLY LIKE THIS EVERY YEAR.
THE IDEA ON AVERAGE THESE ARE
THE AMOUNTS AND BECAUSE
COSTS WILL GO UP OVER TIME, OVER
THIS
TEN- YEAR PERIOD, YOU
SHOULD EXPECT LOWER REVENUE AND
LOWER SPENDING IN THE BEGINNING
AND
INCREASING TO HIGHER AMOUNTS
OF REVENUE IN THE END AND HIGHER
AMOUNTS OF SPENDING IN THE END.
>> THANK YOU.
AND I GUESS WHAT I WOULD LOVE
TO SEE IS, YOU KNOW, BUS SERVICE
$96 MILLION PROPOSED.
THESE ARE AVERAGES.
I UNDERSTAND THAT AND IT
CHANGES FROM YEAR TO YEAR BASED
ON VARIOUS THINGS, AND I
UNDERSTAND THE FLEXIBILITY BASED
ON THE
NEED. AND I SHOULD HAVE ALSO
SAID I
REALLY APPRECIATE THE FOCUS ON
EQUITY BECAUSE WE KNOW OUR
LOW- INCOME FOLKS UTILIZE
THE SYSTEM MORE.
I ALSO WANT -- I WANT A
TRANSIT SYSTEM WHERE EVERYBODY
IS
USING THE TRANSIT SYSTEM AND
GETTING OUT OF THEIR CARS EVEN
IF THEY HAVE CARS AND LIMITING
THETHE AMOUNT OF NEED FOR A CAR,
AND THAT MEANS THAT OUR FRIENDS
AT METRO ARE GOING TO HAVE
TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO PUT BUSBUS
--
THERE ARE PLACES ACROSS THE CITY
WHERE THERE IS NO ROBUST BUS
SYSTEM.
SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO
WORK WITH OUR FRIENDS AT METRO
TO
MAKE SURE THAT HAPPENS
BECAUSE WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT
GETTING PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR
CARS,
THE CLIMATE ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACTS,
BUT IF WE DON'T HAVE OPTIONS
FOR THEM, THEN THEY'RE NOT
GOING
TO GET OUT OF THEIR CARS, SO
THAT MEANS ALL ACROSS THE
CITY GETTING TO THOSE
PLACESPLACES
THERE ISN'T MUCH OF A BUS
SYSTEM
PARTICULARLY WITH CONNECTIONS
TO ALL THE LIGHT RAIL STATIONS,
SO PUTTING IN A PLUG FOR ALL
ACROSS THE CITY AS WELL IN
ADDITION TO
THE PRIORITY WHICH I VERY MUCH
SUPPORT.
BUT I'D LOVE TO SEE THIS BUS
SERVICE, WHICH BUS ROUTES -- THE
TRANSIT ACCESS PROGRAMS.
DO WE PAY FOR THE SEATTLE
PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS GET ORCA
CARD?
DOES SPS PAY FOR THAT OR DO WE?
BECAUSE THAT WASN'T LISTED ON
HERE, SO I WASN'T SURE.
>> WE ACTUALLY PIONEERED THAT
THROUGH THE LAST SEATTLE
TRANSIT
MEASURE. WE STARTED THAT WITH
300 STUDENTS NEAR BEACH HIGH
SCHOOL AND WE WERE ABLE TO SHOW
HOW
SUCCESSFUL THAT WAS AND NOW
IT'S PAID FOR BY THE STATE.
>> GREAT.
>> WE WERE ABLE TO
REINVEST THOSE DOLLARS AND
EXPAND TO
ALL OF OUR SEATTLE HOUSING
AUTHORITY RESIDENTS.
THAT'S HOW WE RESPENT
THOSE
FUNDS.
>> GREAT.
THANK YOU
FOR THAT. I DID NOT KNOW THAT.
THAT'S GREAT AND IT'S
GOOD FOR THE PUBLIC TO HEAR.
AND THEN JUST SOME OF
THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND SOME OF
THESE
CAPITAL PROJECTS, I WOULD
LOVE TO SEE A LIST OF
PROPOSED PROJECTS SO PEOPLE
AGAIN KNOW --
WE GET THESE QUESTIONS ALL THE
TIME AND, YOU KNOW, AS YOU ALL
KNOW, I DO MY DUE DILIGENCE IN
TRYING TO PROVIDE AS
MUCH TRANSPARENCY AND
INFORMATION
TO THE PUBLIC AS WE BUILD
SUPPORT
FOR THE THINGS THAT WE DO
AND, OF COURSE, PARTICULARLY
BECAUSE THIS PARTICULAR SALES
TAX
INCREASE.
I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT SALES
TAX INCREASES BECAUSE OF
THE REGRESSIVE NATURE OF THEM,
AND I
SOMETIMES FEEL LIKE WE'RE
TAXING POOR PEOPLE TO SUPPORT
POOR
PEOPLE.
AND SO LOW- INCOME PEOPLE --
WE TAX LOW- INCOME PEOPLE TO
SUPPORT LOW- INCOME
PEOPLE. THAT
DOESN'T FEEL GREAT BECAUSE
FOLKS ARE REALLY STRUGGLING TO
KEEP
UP. WE HAVE ONE OF THE HIGHEST
SALES TAXES IN THE CITY.
I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO SEE, AND
I GUESS CENTRAL STAFF
WILL PROBABLY GIVE THIS TO US,
BUT JUST WHAT THIS . 3 IN
ADDITION
TO THE EXISTING SALES TAX, WHAT
IMPACTS THAT WILL HAVE FOR OUR
FOLKS BECAUSE I'M ALSO
MINDFUL THAT THE LAST TIME THIS
WAS
PASSED, IT WAS A 50% INCREASE
BUT NOW IT'S 100%.
IT'S DOUBLE.
SO WE NEED TO BE TRANSPARENT
AND HONEST ABOUT THAT AND WHAT
OUR
RESIDENTS CAN EXPECT THAT
MONEY WILL GO SPECIFICALLY TO.
I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE THESE BIG
BUCKETS, BUT IT'S
REALLY IMPORTANT TO SHOW WHAT
ROUTES, WHAT CAPITAL PROJECTS,
ET
CETERA. THANK YOU.
>> I CAN SHARE SOME OF
THE INITIAL TRANSIT CAPITAL
PROJECTS
THAT WE'RE HOPING TO INVEST
IN FIRST WOULD BE SAFETY,
TRANSIT
OPERATIONAL, SAFETY AND ACCESS
IMPROVEMENTS ALONG ROUTE 60 AND
45.
KING COUNTY METRO HAS JUST
DONE A LARGE STUDY ON POTENTIAL
RELIABILITY AND
PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENTS ALONG
THE ROUTE
60, SO WE'D USE THAT AS A
JUMPING OFF POINT.
AND I JUST WANTED TO SPEAK
TO THE SPECIFIC ROUTES.
I THINK WE INTEND TO SPEND,
TO INCREASE THESE -- ADD THESE
100,000 HOURS TO THE
SYSTEM WITHIN THE FIRST COUPLE
OF
YEARS OF THE MEASURE.
AND THEN CARRY THOSE THROUGH
FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE TIME.
THE SAME LEVELS OF SERVICE
OR ADD IF WE ARE ABLE TO OVER
TIME
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH METRO.
I THINK WE'LL BE ABLE TO DELIVER
THIS BENEFIT TO RESIDENTS VERY
SWIFTLY, AND METRO IS READY
TO DELIVER THOSE SERVICE HOURS
AND WE'VE ALREADY BEEN TALKING
WITH THEM ABOUT THAT
POSSIBILITY.
>> THANK YOU.
I STILL WOULD LIKE TO SEE A
LIST OF -- BUT WE CAN TALK ABOUT
THAT, ALSO, WHEN WE MEET NEXT
WEEK.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU, CHAIR.
I WON'T TAKE UP ANY MORE OF
YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA.
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ, THE FLOOR
IS YOURS IF YOU HAVE
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.
>> I WANT TO APOLOGIZE, CHAIR.
I SHOULD HAVE RAISED MY HAND
ON THE COMPUTER.
AND FOR THE COMMENT THAT I
MADE WHEN I REALIZED I WAS
UNMUTED.
LET ME JUST SHARE THIS, LET
ME GET SOME BASELINE INFO HERE.
OBVIOUSLY I HAD SOME
PROBLEMS WITH PAGE 29 OF THE
POWER POINT.
I WANT TO FRAME THIS SO WE CAN
PUT IT IN CONTEXT.
IN 2010 WE ENACTED THE AMERICAN
DISABILITY ACT STANDARDS
AND THEN SEATTLE -- AND THEN IN
02014 WE PASSED THE TRANSIT
DISTRICT.
2015 WE PUT TOGETHER THE TRANSIT
ADVISORY BOARD.
12 MEMBERS.
IN 2018 A CONSENT DECREE
SEATTLE WASN'T LIVING UP TO THE
AMERICAN DISABILITY ACTS,
THE STANDARDS PUT FORWARD FOR
ACCESSIBILITY.
AND THEN THE PLAN WE LOOKED
AT IN 2020, THE ADA TRANSITION
PLAN REPORT AND HOW WE WOULD
RESPOND TO THE CONSENT DECREE
FOR
ACCESSIBILITY. AND SO MY BIG
PUSH WAS EQUITY
AND ACCESSIBILITY.
AND SO WHEN I WAS LOOKING
AT YOUR POWER POINT, TWO
QUESTIONS.
THE FIRST QUESTION IS THIS.
DID THE TRANSIT -- I
THINK THERE'S A DISTINCTION
BETWEEN WHAT YOU WRITE IN THE --
IN YOUR
LEGISLATION IS INTERESTING TO ME
BECAUSE IN THE OTHER
LANGUAGE IT'S CALLED CITIZEN
LED
NOT COMMUNITY LED, BUT, ANYWAY,
DID
THE -- SDOT OR THE
TRANSIT ADVISORY BOARD WORK WITH
THE
ADA COORDINATOR FOR SDOT, THE
SDA,
THE SDOT ADA COORDINATOR,
IN PUTTING TOGETHER THIS
DOUBLING
OF THIS TAX?
SO WHAT WE HAVE MORE
SERVICES YOU'RE ASKING FOR,
MORE
MONEY, DOUBLE THE TAXES, BUT
LESS
TRANSIT INFRASTRUCTURE, I.E.
SIDEWALKS, SO IT'S
ALL NICE TO TALK ABOUT HOW YOU
LOVE BUSES IF
YOU DON'T HAVE CARS, BUT
THAT DOESN'T DO ANYONE GOOD IF
YOU DON'T HAVE SIDEWALKS TO GET
TO
TRANSIT.
SO I WANT TO KNOW WHETHER OR
NOT THE TRANSIT ADVISORY
BOARD WORKED WITH YOU GUYS AND
THE
ADA COORDINATOR TO PUT THIS
TOGETHER AND HOW YOU COULD ONLY
COME UP
WITH 3.5 MILLION?
IF YOU DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER
NOW, I WOULD LIKE AN ANSWER IN
AN EMAIL OR MEMO BECAUSE I
WENT BACK AND LOOKED AT THE
CONSENT
DECREE.
I LOOKED AT THE 2020 ADA
TRANSITION PLAN REPORT, AND
I WENT BACK AND LOOKED AT
THE ADVISORY BOARD, THE 12-
MEMBER ADVISORY BOARD, CITIZEN
LED,
NOT COMMUNITY LED, AS IS IN YOUR
LEGISLATION, AND, I'LL TELL
YOU ONE THING, I'M ALWAYS A
LITTLE BIT OFFENDED WHEN YOU
START DRAGGING OUT THE WORDS
BIPOC AND
UNDERSERVED BECAUSE WE'RE NOT
PROPS.
SO IN ORDER TO DOUBLE THIS
TAX, DOUBLE THE SERVICE -- WHAT
100,000 EXTRA HOURS IN
SERVICE, BUT YOU'RE NOT GOING
TO HAVE --
YOU HAVE LESS MONEY FOR TRANSIT
INFRASTRUCTURE.
SO YOU CAN EITHER SAY,
HEY, WE'LL COME BRIEF YOU AND
GIVEN YOU SOME MORE INFORMATION
IF YOU
DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER RIGHT NOW
TO THE QUESTION.
I'M JUST GOING TO BE FRANK WITH
YOU. I'M NOT HAPPY WITH THIS
LEGISLATION. I THINK IT NEEDS A
LOT OF WORK.
AND I THINK YOU'RE
NOT OPTIMISTIC AND LIVING IN THE
REAL WORLD.
NOT EVERYONE CAN, YOU KNOW,
NOT HAVE A CAR.
SOME PEOPLE HAVE TO USE,
OBVIOUSLY, A
BUS. SOME PEOPLE HAVE TO DRIVE A
CAR.
AND I DON'T THINK THIS DOES
THAT.
NOT FOR ASKING TO DOUBLE THE
TAXES FOR TEN YEARS.
SO I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT, MR.
CHAIR.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, THE
FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
AS A LIFELONG TRANSIT
RIDER, I HAVE DEPENDED ON THE
BUS TO GET
AROUND. I WOULD LIKE TO BE A
DAILY TRANSIT RIDER.
OFTENTIMES I CAN'T RELY ON
THE BUSES ON OUR STREETS TODAY.
YOU'VE HEARD ME SAY THIS
FOR MANY -- FOR OVER A YEAR NOW.
I HAVE NOT BEEN
NECESSARILY QUIET ABOUT IT, SO
THIS IS
NOT -- IT SHOULDN'T COME AS
A SURPRISE TO ANYONE
ESPECIALLY AFTER LAST WEEK'S
TRANSIT MEETING WHERE I WAS
LITERALLY CLOCKING WHEN
THE LAST DIRECT BUS TO BALLARD
LEFT.
WHEN I LEFT THAT SOUND
TRANSIT BOARD MEETING AT ABOUT
7:45
P.M., I WAS TALKING TO MY
PIERCE COUNTY COLLEAGUES.
IT WAS GOING TO TAKE US THE SAME
AMOUNT OF TIME TO GET HOME.
THEY LIVE IN TACOMA.
I LIVE IN BALLARD.
SO I'VE GOT A NUMBER OF
QUESTIONS THAT WE'LL GET INTO
TODAY.
I'VE ASKED YOU ALL OF
THESE QUESTIONS PREVIOUSLY, SO I
HOPE THAT NONE OF THESE ARE
A SURPRISE AND THAT YOU ARE
READY TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.
A COUPLE THINGS I DIDN'T
EXPECT TO ASK ABOUT REGARDING
THE VLF.
I THINK COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER
AND I MIGHT BE ASKING A SIMILAR
QUESTION HERE.
I WONDER IF YOU COULD JUST SAY
A LITTLE BIT MORE, EXPAND ON
WHAT
YOU SAID PREVIOUSLY.
YOU MENTIONED YOU'D SPOKEN
WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO SAID
THAT SALES TAX WAS BETTER THAN A
VLF
BECAUSE A FLAT FEE
IMPACTS PEOPLE IN A DIFFERENT
WAY,
BUT IN MY BASIC LAY PERSON MATH,
IF
SOMEBODY'S PERCENTAGE
OF THEIR INCOME IS TAKEN UP IN
SALES
TAX, WOULD THEY NOT BE
OVERBURDENED
WITH A LARGER SALES TAX FEE
AS COMPARED TO BEING HIT WITH A
FLAT FEE?
>> I CAN START ON THAT.
SALES TAX IS A PROPORTION
OF WHAT A PERSON SPENDS, WHICH
IS
A REFLECTION OF WHAT THEY
HAVE AVAILABLE TO SPEND, AND SO
AS A
PROPORTION OF INCOME, YES,
SALES TAX CAN COMPRISE,
ESPECIALLY
FOR LOW-INCOME PEOPLE, A HIGHER
AMOUNT. BUT BECAUSE THE VLF IS A
FLAT
FEE, UNLIKE THE SOUND TRANSIT
VEHICLE LICENSE FEE, WHICH
THE COUNCIL HAS ALREADY PASSED
$50 IN VEHICLE LICENSING
THROUGH YOUR COUNCIL AUTHORITY
SEVERAL YEARS AGO, SO THIS WOULD
BE
THE REMAINING $50 THAT IS
AUTHORIZED IN THE LEGISLATION
WOULD
IMPACT EVERYBODY REGARDLESS OF
WHETHER WHAT YOUR INCOME IS.
AS WE'VE MENTIONED FOR THE
AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD, WE BELIEVE
THE IMPACT OF THIS IS $58 A
YEAR.
WHICH IF YOU ADDED THE
ADDITIONAL VLF WOULD DOUBLE
THE COST TO THE AVERAGE
HOUSEHOLD, BUT PRODUCE ONLY 12%
MORE
RESOURCE THAT WE COULD CREATE
BENEFIT FOR.
SO THERE'S A DISPROPORTIONATE
IMPACT BOTH TO THE COST TO THE
INDIVIDUAL THAT IS VERY
OUTSIZED TO THE BENEFIT THAT IT
COULD CREATE IN TERMS OF THE
INVESTMENTS AVAILABLE.
>> OKAY.
THESE QUESTIONS ARE JUST
BASED OFF THE PRESENTATION I'VE
SEEN
TODAY, SO I DIDN'T PREPARE
THESE QUESTIONS PREVIOUSLY.
I'M INTERESTED TO KNOW MORE
BECAUSE I'M CONCERNED TODAY
JUST FROM THE PRESENTATION
I'VE RECEIVED THAT WE ARE
ACTUALLY
OVERBURDENING PEOPLE WHO
ARE AT THE LOWER END OF THE
ECONOMIC SPECTRUM BY NOT USING A
FLAT FEE
BECAUSE THEIR BUDGETS ARE
SMALLER, SO ONE OF THE THINGS
YOU SAID, THE AMOUNT OF MONEY
SOMEBODY IS ABLE TO SPEND BUT
WHEN SOMEBODY IS COST
BURDENED AS WE SAW IN THE
PRESENTATION FROM THIS MONDAY AT
COUNCIL
BRIEFING, WE HAVE MANY OF OUR
RESIDENTS COST BURDENED.
MY CONCERN IS WE ARE
ACTUALLY USING THE SALES TAX AND
VLF
IN THE OPPOSITE MANNER AND SO
I WOULD LOVE TO LEARN MORE.
HAPPY TO BE WRONG.
I HOPE I'M WRONG, BUT I
HAVE GREAT CONCERN THERE TODAY.
>> CAN I ADD A QUICK NOTE,
JUST BECAUSE I THINK IT'S
RELEVANT AND I WOULD LOVE FOR
PEOPLE
TO HEAR THIS.
JUST IN TERMS OF SALES TAX
AND WHAT IT APPLIES TO, I THINK
IT'S
WORTH MENTIONING WHAT IS
NOT SUBJECT TO SALES USE TAX.
SO PEOPLE DO NOT PAY SALES
TAX ON GROCERIES, ON RENT,
MORTGAGE
PAYMENTS, PERSONAL CARE
PRODUCTS LIKE SO, SHAMPOO, ET
CETERA,
DIAPERS, PRESCRIPTIONS
AND OVER-THE- COUNTER
MEDICATIONS.
JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT
THAT SALES TAX DOES NOT APPLY TO
SOME
REALLY CRITICAL HOUSEHOLD
ESSENTIALS.
>> THANK YOU.
CAN WE CLICK TO SLIDE 30?
I'M SORRY, 27.
SEATTLE HOUSING AUTHORITY,
MAN, I LOVE SEATTLE HOUSING
AUTHORITY. I'VE HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO
BE THEIR NEIGHBOR MULTIPLE TIMES
IN MULTIPLE DIFFERENT LOCATIONS.
THE FOLKS THAT LIVE IN
OUR SEATTLE HOUSING AUTHORITY
BUILDINGS ARE AMAZING.
SOME OF MY FAVORITE NEIGHBORS.
SEATTLE HOUSING AUTHORITY, I
THINK MANY PEOPLE DON'T
REALIZE,
IT'S NOT ACTUALLY A CITY
OF SEATTLE PROGRAM.
THEY ARE THEIR OWN INDEPENDENT
AGENCY. CAN YOU HELP ME
UNDERSTAND
WHY WE CHOSE SEATTLE HOUSING
AUTHORITY AND NOT OTHER
PROGRAMS WHERE THE CITY OF
SEATTLE
FUNDS HOUSING FOR FOLKS WHO ARE
LOW
INCOME?
>> THE SEATTLE HOUSING
AUTHORITY IS A REALLY WONDERFUL
PARTNER.
ONE OF THE CHALLENGES
WITH GETTING -- DELIVERING
THE BENEFIT OF ORCA CARDS
TO RESIDENTS WHO NEED THEM
IS ACTUALLY LIKE GETTING CARDS
INTO
PEOPLE'S HANDS AND MANAGING AND
TRACKING WHO HAS WHICH ORCA
CARD, WHAT'S THE SERIAL
NUMBER, IF THEY NEED A
REPLACEMENT,
ALL OF THAT, AND THE SEATTLE
HOUSING AUTHORITY HAS BEEN A
PROVEN PARTNER OVER MANY YEARS.
WE STARTED OFF WITH A PILOT
PROGRAM WITH SEVERAL DIFFERENT
PROPERTIES AND THEN WERE ABLE TO
EXPAND TO ALL HOUSING PROPERTIES
AND THEY'VE JUST DONE A
REALLY AMAZING JOB OF THAT.
AND SO THERE HAS BEEN A LOT
OF COMMUNITY INTEREST
SPECIFICALLY IN EXPANDING TO
HOUSING
CHOICE VOUCHERS WHICH IS
ALSO ADMINISTERED BY THE SEATTLE
HOUSING AUTHORITY.
AND SO, LIKE, GOING THROUGH
THIS ONE QUASI GOVERNMENTAL
AGENCY, WE'RE ABLE TO REACH THE
VAST MAJORITY OF FOLKS WHO ARE
LIVING IN LOW- INCOME SUBSIDIZED
HOUSING, AND SO IT'S A WAY
TO EASILY AND QUICKLY,
ACTUALLY, DELIVER THE PASSES TO
AS
MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE.
IT COULD BE VERY CHALLENGING
TO ACTUALLY GET CARDS IN THEM
RELIABLY.
>> SO FOR THE NEXT TEN YEARS WE
ARE ONLY GOING TO
PROVIDE ADDITIONAL ACCESS TO
SEATTLE HOUSING
AUTHORITY RESIDENTS, NOT ANYONE
WHO IS LOW- COME OR ANYONE
WHO IS LIVING IN ONE OF
OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS?
>> YES, WE WOULD BE PROPOSING
TO GO THROUGH THIS -- CARRY
FORWARD
WITH THIS PLAN.
IF THERE WERE
OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPAND,
WE WOULD LOOK INTO THAT.
IF THERE WERE FUNDS AVAILABLE
TO DO
THAT. WE WOULD LOVE TO PROVIDE
FREE ORCA CARDS TO ANYONE WHO IS
LOW
INCOME AND NEEDS THESE --
MEETS THE CRITERIA BUT
IT'S CHALLENGING TO DO THAT.
>> THE EXPANSION HERE IS TO
GO FROM SHA RESIDENTS TO SHA
RESIDENTS AND HOUSING
CHOICE VOUCHER HOLDERS.
SO IT'S A SIGNIFICANT
EXPANSION, ADDITIONAL 12,000
PEOPLE.
>> I LOVE EXPANDING LOW-
INCOME RIDERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
FOR
FREE, ZERO DOLLARS.
I LOVE THE IDEA.
WHAT I'M CONCERNED WITH IS THE
RESPONSE I JUST HEARD IS
IF FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE, YET THIS
IS THE FUNDING PACKAGE IN WHICH
WE ARE GOING TO APPROVE OF,
AND WHAT I'M SEEING ISIS --
JUST INITIAL REACTION -- I
AM CONCERNED OUR FOCUS IS
TOO NARROW AND THAT WE ARE
NOT PROVIDING OURSELVES THE
ABILITY
TO PROVIDE FREE ACCESS TO
TRANSIT FOR LOW- INCOME PEOPLE
NO MATTER WHERE THEY LIVE.
I'M GOING TO KEEP GOING ON.
I HAVE A LONG LIST OF QUESTIONS.
WE'RE OVER TIME BUT THESE
ARE REALLY IMPORTANT
QUESTIONS I WOULD LIKE TO GET ON
THE RECORD.
I'M GOING TO KEEP MOVING ON,
IF YOU WILL.
LOOKING AT SLIDE
29, CONSTRUCTION FUNDING.
I MIGHT ACTUALLY BE IN
A DIFFERENT POSITION THAN
COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ HERE.
HOW MUCH WAS LEFT OVER FROM THE
MOST RECENT SEATTLE TRANSIT
BENEFIT DISTRICT MEASURE?
>> THE FIRST ONE?
THE 2014 ONE?
>> OR THE SECOND
ONE. WE'VE HAD TWO.
HOW MUCH MONEY DO WE HAVE IN
THE BANK TODAY, PLEASE?
>> I KNOW TEND OF THIS
MEASURE WE WILL HAVE FULLY SPENT
DOWNDOWN ALL THE CAPITAL DOLLARS
THAT WE HAVE ALLOCATED.
>> WONDERFUL.
GOOD.
THAT'S GREAT.
HOW ABOUT IN THE MOST RECENT
TRANSPORTATION MEASURE WHICH
IS THE LARGEST LEVY THAT
WE'VE PASSED FOR TRANSIT
TRANSPORTATION?
HOW MUCH CONSTRUCTION FUNDING?
HOW MUCH FUNDING DO WE
HAVE ASSOCIATED TO ASSIST
TRANSIT?
>> ALLOCATED $6 MILLION
ALLOCATED FOR $14.1 MILLION.
>> I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
WHY ARE WE SPENDING MONEY IN
THE TRANSIT MEASURE THAT, IN MY
OPINION, WAS DESIGNED
TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF BUS
HOURS
THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE TO US.
WHY ARE WE TAKING INTEREST
THE ABILITY TO EXPAND BUS HOURS
TO PROVIDE CONCRETE AND ASPHALT
IN
WHICH THE TRANSPORTATION LEVY
JUST FUNDED?
>> LET ME THINK -- I THINK
THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
THAT'S PART OF THE
TRADEOFF WE'VE BEEN TALKING
ABOUT THROUGHOUT THE
CONVERSATION
TODAY. I THINK WHAT YOU SEE IN
THIS PROPOSAL IS A RETURN TO THE
SORT OF BASELINE THAT WAS IN THE
2020 PROPOSAL SO I THINK IT'S
IN ALIGNMENT WITH SOME OF
THE THINKING THIS IS A SERVICE
FIRST
MEASURE AND WE THOUGHT THERE'S
STILL VALUE IN SOME AMOUNT
OF ABILITY TO PUT IN THOSE
RELIABILITY IMPROVEMENTS THAT
MAKE OUR DOLLAR GO FURTHER.
>> THAT'S WHY THE
INVESTMENTS WERE SO CRITICAL TO
ME.
2020 REINVESTMENT IN THE STM,
THAT WAS WHEN WE REDUCE BUS
HOUR SERVICES.
IS THAT NOT CORRECT?
>> YES.
>> WE'LL GET INTO THAT IN JUST
A
MINUTE. I HAVE CONCERN THAT WE
ARE PAYING FOR ASPHALT AND
CONCRETE WHEN WE SHOULD BE
PROVIDING
ADDITIONAL SERVICE HOURS IN OUR
CITY.
MOVING ON
TO SOUND TRANSIT, NUMBER 28
PLEASE.
WHAT POSITIONS DO THESE FUND?
>> YOU'RE ASKING ABOUT THE
SOUND
TRANSIT POSITIONS?
>> YES.
>> SO THESE -- THIS FUNDING
GOES TOWARD THE PLANNING, THE
PERMITTING, ENGINEERS NEEDED
AND NECESSARY TO REVIEW WEST
SEATTLE LINK EXTENSION AND
BALLARD
LINK EXTENSION PROJECTS THAT
WILL
RUN THROUGH OUR CITY, THE
LARGEST
INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT RELATED
TO TRANSIT IN OUR CITY.
THE TEAM REVIEWS AND
PROVIDE THAT KEY PARTNERSHIP.
AS SOUND TRANSIT
CONSTRUCTS THEIR PROJECTS
THROUGH THE
CITY, WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO
PLAN FOR
CONSTRUCTION, MOBILITY IMPACTS,
PART OF THIS WOULD FUND THAT AS
WELL. WE ALSO HAVE A SERIES
OF PLANNING FOR CAPITAL
PROJECTS THAT THE CITY WILL LEAD
TO SUPPORT THE LIGHT RAIL
SYSTEM AND SPECIFICALLY AROUND
STATION
LOCATIONS.
SO STATIONARY
PLANNING, STATIONARY
DESIGNS, AND HOW TO GET PEOPLE
TO AND FROM
THOSE CRITICAL LIGHT RAIL
STATIONS
FROM THE CITY'S PERPERSPECTIVE.
>> THANK YOU.
AND FOR WHILE WE ARE HERE
UNTIL WE RECEIVE FULL FUNDING
FOR THE
BALLARD LINK EXTENSION, I WOULD
KINDLY ASK US TO REFER TO THAT
EXTENSION AS THE DOWNTOWN
TUNNEL BECAUSE IT
DOES NOT GET TO BALLARD TODAY.
THANK YOU.
THAT'S VERY HELPFUL.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING,
THOUGH, THE PERMITTING AND THE
ENGINEERS, THOSE ARE FEE- BASED
POSITIONS. SO ARE WE PROPOSING
TO PAY
FOR THOSE POSITIONS WITH TAX
DOLLARS INSTEAD OF THE FEES THAT
ARE GENERATED FROM PULLING THOSE
PERMITS?
>> WE HAVE A COMBINATION OF
INCOME THAT WE'RE UTILIZING
TO PAY FOR SOUND TRANSIT'S
PROJECTS, SO WE ARE
CONTINUING THE FEE BASED BUT WE
ALSO NEED
TO SUPPORT THE CITY LEVEL OF
EFFORT AND PLAN AND BUILD OUT
A SYSTEM THAT WORKS FOR
COMMUNITIES TO
GET TO AND FROM THOSE LIGHT RAIL
STATIONS.
THE PINEHURST STATION AND SOME
OF THE IMPROVEMENTS, WE'RE
USING
LEVY MONEY, THIS WOULD
HELP SUPPORT THOSE TYPES OF
PROJECTS WHERE BUILDING
IMPROVEMENTS
TO GET TO AND FROM THOSE NEW
STATIONS.
>> THE FEE- BASED POSITIONS THAT
PROVIDED IN THE
BUDGET EITHER LAST YEAR OR THE
YEAR
BEFORE, THIS FUNDING WOULD PAY
FOR
THOSE FEE- BASED POSITIONS?
>> THIS WOULD BE ON TOP OF THE
FEE-BASED POSITIONS.
>> IT'S ABOUT HALF AND HALF.
>> YEAH.
IT'S A COMBINATION.
I'M HAPPY TO -- WE CAN GIVE
YOU MORE INFORMATION OFFLINE ON
THAT SPECIFIC QUESTION.
>> I HAVE LARGE CONCERNS WITH US
PAYING FOR FEE- BASED
POSITIONS WITH TAXPAYER DOLLARS.
IT'S A DEPARTURE FROM THE
PAST. IT IS ONE OF THE OPTIONS
WE
HAVE WHEN WE'RE STABILIZING THE
CORE
FUNDING -- THE CORE FUND FOR OUR
PLANNERS AND OUR PERMIT
REVIEWERS, BUT THIS IS A
DEPARTURE THAT I HAVE
SOME CONCERNS WITH.
WE CAN FOLLOW UP -- LET ME
ASK THE OTHER QUESTION.
DO WE HAVE ANY OF THE
STATIONARY PLANNING FUNDED
THROUGH THE
TRANSPORTATION LEVY AS WELL?
>> LESS ON THE PLANNING SIDE
AND MORE ON THE BUILDING SIDE.
THERE'S A PERIOD BEFORE
A PROJECT GOES INTO THE
DESIGN PHASE WHERE THERE'S A
CONCEPTUALIZATION AND
ACTUALLY SCOPING PHASE.
WE HAVE LESS MONEY FOR THAT IN
THE LEVY AND MORE FOR TAKING
IT FROM 10% DESIGN TO
CONSTRUCTION.
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?
>> YES.
AND THAT'S WHERE I THOUGHT I
HAD REMEMBERED THE PINEHURST
STATION IMPROVEMENTS COMING FROM
THE
LEVY, FROM THE TRANSPORTATION
LEVY.
>> THERE ARE SOME -- THERE
ARE SOME FUNDS IN THE 2024 LEVY,
YES.
>> WHAT YOU'RE HEARING FROM
ME IS DEEP CONCERN THAT
WE'RE ASKING FOR TAXPAYERS TO
PAY FOR
THINGS TWICE.
I'M NOT QUITE CLEAR ON THE
DIFFERENT STREAMS AND
WHERE
THESE STREAMS ARE LANDING. I'M
GOING TO KEEP TICKINGTICKING ON.
HAPPY TO FOLLOW UP AFTER THIS.
THE LAST QUESTION IS IF WE
ARE ADDING MONEY INTO THE
BALLARD
LINK EXTENSION AND THE
WEST SEATTLE LINK EXTENSION,
WILL THE BE FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF
GETTING CONSTRUCTION,
FULL CONSTRUCTION FUNDING TO
BALLARD?
>> LAST WEEK THE MAYOR --
THE MAYOR HAS BEEN VERY
SUPPORTIVE OF FULL FUNDING FOR
BALLARD THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRETY
OF THIS
CONVERSATION AND WAS HAPPY TO
JOIN YOU IN TAKING A
UNANIMOUS VOTE TO THAT EXACT
MATTER TO PUT
FORWARD AMENDMENTS WHICH
ASKED FOR FUTURE FUNDING AND
ENSURES
THAT WE DELIVER ON THE
VOTER- APPROVED PROMISES AND
EXPECTATIONS TO BILL TO BALLARD.
>> IS THAT -- WHAT I HEARD IS
YES?
>> YES.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU.
LET'S TICK INTO TALKING
ABOUT SERVICE HOURS.
THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THIS
TRANSIT MEASURE BECAUSE THAT'S
WHAT WE WERE PROMISED IN
2014 WHEN METRO HAD TO START
REDUCING
HOURS FOR OUR CITY'S DELIVERY.
IF KING COUNTY IS NOT GOING
TO PASS A TRANSIT MEASURE,
SEATTLE SURE LOVE OUR TRANSIT,
SO
WE'RE GOING TO DO IT.
AT THAT TIME HOW MANY
SERVICE HOURS WERE WE PROVIDING?
WE CAN USE 2019 AS A BASELINE
PREPANDEMIC.
>> I DON'T HAVE THAT NUMBER
OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, SORRY.
>> IF I RECALL CORRECTLY OVER
300,000 HOURS.
>> IT WAS OVER 300,000, YES.
>> THANK YOU.
AND HOW MANY HOURS IN 2020?
>> IT WAS 350,000 HOURS
ACTUALLY.
>> 350,000 HOURS IN 2019?
GOSH, TAKE ME
BACK.
>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT
THEY WENT DOWN TO BUT BECAUSE OF
THE PANDEMIC THERE WAS A
REDUCTION,
YES, THAT'S TRUE.
>> AND THE REASON I ASK IS MY
ENTIRE LIFE I'VE BEEN ABLE
TO WALK TO A BUS STOP
UNTIL SEPTEMBER OF 2021.
AND THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME
THAT I'VE NOT BEEN ABLE TO WALK
TO A
BUS STOP IN MY ENTIRE LIFE.
AND IT WAS NOT BECAUSE I MOVED.
IT WAS BECAUSE THE BUS STOP,
THE BUS LINE WAS CANCELED.
AND I CAN LIVE WITH THAT.
TO BE REALLY FRANK, I
DON'T NEED MY BUS STOP TO COME
BACK
BECAUSE MY TRAVEL PATTERNS
CHANGED.
I DRIVE TO THE BUS NOW.
I DRIVE TO THE BUS THAT CAN
GET ME DIRECTLY TO WHERE I'M
GOING,
AND WHAT I FOUND IS -- WELL,
WE'LL GET INTO IT IN A MINUTE.
WHAT SERVICE DID WE HAVE IN
2021 AFTER THAT REDUCTION?
>> SORRY, I DON'T HAVE
THOSE NUMBERS
OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
>> I AM SO SORRY.
I THOUGHT I PREPPED YOU FOR ALL
OF THESE QUESTIONS BECAUSE THESE
ARE THE SAME QUESTIONS WHEN
WE BRIEFED PREVIOUSLY.
MY APOLOGIES.
I AM NOT INTENDING TO PUT YOU
ON THE SPOT.
THAT'S WHY I ASKED YOU ALL
THESE QUESTIONS WHEN WE MET
INDEPENDENTLY.
AND THEN -- SORRY.
I'M GOING TO RATTLE THESE OFF?
HOW MANY HOURS ARE
WE EXPERIENCING TODAY?
AND HOW MANY ARE PROPOSED?
>> AT THE END OF THE MET
YOU'RE WE'LL HAVE OVER
180,000 HOURS AND WE'RE PROPOSE
TO GO ADD
100,000 MORE TO GET TO
280,000 HOURS.
THERE WILL BE
ADDITIONAL FROM THE RECOVERY
PROJECT THAT
CAN ADDRESS SOME OF THE OTHER
SERVICE HOURS THAT WERE
REDUCED DURING THE COVID
PANDEMIC.
>> THANK YOU.
AND JUST TO NOTE, THOUGH, IN
THE SUMMER OF 2021 WE HAD BETTER
BUS SERVICE THAN WE HAD IN THE
FALL OF 2021, AND THAT WAS
DURING
THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC,
RIGHT, AS WE WERE COMING OUT OF
THE
PANDEMIC.
IT WAS NOT THAT WE HAD LESS
BUS SERVICE DURING THE PANDEMIC.
I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT.
WHAT I'M HEARING TODAY IS THAT
WE, TODAY, ARE EXPERIENCING
LESS THAN HALF OF THE TRANSIT
HOURS
PURCHASED THAN WE DID IN 2019.
AND I JUST SAY THAT BECAUSE WE
HAD 350,000 HOURS IN 2019
AND WE HAVE 160,000 HOURS TODAY,
AND
WHAT I'M HEARING IS A
DOUBLING OF THIS TAX TO BE ABLE
TO
PROVIDE LESS THAN 280,000
HOURS WHICH IS LESS THAN IN
2019.
I AM ASKING THESE QUESTIONS
BECAUSE I AM A HUGE PROPONENT OF
MORE BUSES, MORE
RELIABILITY, MORE FREQUENCY.
I WANT MORE BUSES AND I WANT
THEM YESTERDAY.
AM I REPRESENTING THIS
ACCURATELY?
>> SO COSTS HAVE GONE UP.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> WHICH IS WHAT WE WERE
TRYING TO DESCRIBE IN TERMS OF
COST
TO DELIVER SERVICE INCLUDING
METRO SERVICE HAS GONE UP AND
THAT
HAS IMPACTS ON HOW MUCH WE'RE
ABLE TO FUND IN THE NEXT
MEASURE GIVEN OTHER PRIORITIES
THAT ARE
INCLUDED.
>> AND CAN WE TICK TO SLIDE --
WELL, I'LL JUST ASK THIS
QUESTION.
THERE ARE FIVE ROUTES I'M GOING
TO BE ASKING
ABOUT. THE 28 AND THE 5 BOTH HAD
HIGHER RATES OF SERVICE
PREVIOUSLY THAT
WERE REDUCED.
THE ROUTE 20 WAS A BIT OF
A REDUNDANT ROUTE FOR
MOST OF IT BUT IT REDUCED
SERVICE IN --
ON LYNDON BETWEEN 65th AND 55th.
LET'S ACTUALLY IF WE COULD GO
TO SLIDE FIVE THIS MIGHT BE
DESCRIPTIVE OF THE ISSUE.
SO I HOPE THAT I AMAM WRONG, BUT
WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE
AREA OF THIS MAP THERE'S A
LIGHT
BLUE LINE.
I THINK THERE MIGHT BE
TWO DIFFERENT BUS ROUTES THAT
YOU'RE CONFLATING HERE.
I BELIEVE THE BUS ROUTE
THAT GOES THROUGH TANGLETOWN
ACTUALLY
TURNS NORTH ABOUT
HALFWAYHALFWAY YOUR TWO NORTH
AND SOUTH
AREAS, BECAUSE WHAT I'M
SEEING IS ON YOUR FAR RIGHT IS
THAT
I BELIEVE YOU'RE
ACTUALLY REPRESENTING THE ROUTE
20
THAT'S BEEN CANCELED.
SO JUST A LITTLE BIT OF CONCERN
THERE. I WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT
THIS
MAP IMPORTANTLY IN 2019
BALLARD HAD THE ROUTES 15, 18
AND 17.
HOW MANY TRIPS TOTAL
WERE BETWEEN THOSE THREE ROUTES
IN
2019?
>> I DON'T KNOW THAT
OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
>> I AM SO SORRY.
I THOUGHT I PREPPED YOU FOR
ALL OF THESE QUESTIONS.
DID NOT MEAN TO CATCH YOU OFF
GUARD.
AND HOW MANY TRIPS BETWEEN
THOSE THREE ROUTES OCCUR TODAY?
>> I ALSO DON'T HAVE
THAT INFORMATION.
>> I AM AGAIN SO SORRY.
I THOUGHT WE PREPARED FOR THIS.
SO IT IS FOUR TRIPS
INTO DOWNTOWN PER DAY AND FOUR
TRIPS OUT OF DOWNTOWN PER DAY.
THE REASON I SAY THIS IS
THE ONLY DIRECT BUS SERVICE TO
AND FROM BALLARD TO DOWNTOWN
IS BECAUSE THE D LINELINE --
UPTOWN
IS DOWNTOWN, THEN THE D LINE
GOES DIRECTLY
DOWNTOWN. BUT THE UPTOWN JOG --
I
WILL TAKE THE D LINE TO SEATTLE
CENTER, BUT IF I NEED TO RELY
ON IT PAST SEATTLE CENTER, IT'S
NOT RELIABLE FOR ME.
ROUTE 40 IS A TOTAL MILK
RUN, WHICH I LOVE FOR MANY
DIFFERENT
REASONS.
BUT IT IS AN HOUR -- IT IS 45
MINUTES TO AN HOUR TO GET
FROM THIS DESTINATION HERE
TO DOWNTOWN
BALLARD. I'M NOT STUMPING JUST
FOR MY
NEIGHBORHOOD. I AM TRYING TO
REPRESENT AN
AREA THAT THE CITY HAS DECIDED
TO FOCUS JOB AND HOUSING GROWTH
IN A DENSER FASHION THAN ANY
OTHER PARTS OF OUR CITY.
THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE THAT
I GREW UP WITH IN BALLARD THAT
DID
NOT LIKE THE CHANGES THAT ARE
HAPPENING IN BALLARD.
THE FAMILY THAT
USED TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD THE
AMERICAN
DREAM IS NOT ABLE TO.
THEY HAVE BEEN DISPLACED FROM
THE NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE
THE CITY HAS CHOSEN TO FOCUS
DENSITY AND GROWTH IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD,
AND YET ON THIS MAP WHAT
I'M SEEING IS THE BEST LLARD
HAS
IS TEN- MINUTE TRANSIT.
SORRY, AM I MISTAKEN THERE?
>> WELL, I SEE -- I'M NOT
TRYING
TO BE CONTRADICTORY, SO
APOLOGIES.
I JUST SEE -- SO THE GREEN
LINES ARE BETTER THAN TEN
MINUTE, YELLOW IS FREQUENT TEN,
BLUE
IS FREQUENT 15.
AND I SEE BOTH YELLOW AND
BLUE LINES IN BALLARD.
>> AND NO GREEN?
>> CORRECT.
>> AND THE YELLOW LINES THAT
ARE REPRESENTED ARE THE LINES
THAT ARE ON THESE MILK RUNS I'VE
JUST
DISCUSSED?
THERE'S NO -- WELL, IF WE COULD
GO TO SLIDE THREE.
IT HAS BEEN MY UNDERSTANDING
THAT WE HAVE BEEN
ABLE TO -- WE TO BEEN ABLE TO
COLLECT
THE AMOUNT OF TAX
REVENUE THAT SEATTLEITES DESIRE
TO HAVE
USED FOR TRANSIT SERVICE, BUT
YET WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO USE
THAT FULL AMOUNT OF FUNDING
BECAUSE -- AND I'M NOT TRYING
TO POINT FINGERS -- I'M JUST
TRYING TO TALK ABOUT REALITY.
METRO HAS HAD A SHORTAGE OF
OPERATORS, A SHORTAGE OF BUSES,
OTHER IMPLICATIONS, BUT
THE WHOLE POINT OF THE
SEATTLE TRANSIT MEASURE IS
THAT SEATTLEITES ARE PAYING FOR
MORE SERVICE FOR SEATTLEITES
TO USE. HOW MUCH OF THE FUNDING
HAVE
WE COLLECTED THAT WE HAVE NOT
BEEN
ABLE TO USE FOR TRANSIT HOURS?
>> I DON'T KNOW THAT WE
CAN SPEAK TO AN EXACT NUMBER
OF HOURS THERE, BUT -- OR
DOLLARS, BUT WE HAVE WORKED --
WE'VE
BEEN ABLE
TO ADD AS MANY SERVICE HOURS AS
METRO HAS BEEN ABLE TO
DELIVER. AND AS MENTIONED IN
TERMS OF
THE CAPITAL, ADDITIONAL CAPITAL
FUNDS, THAT'S -- WE WERE ABLE
TO
PIVOT AND USE CAPITAL FUNDS
IN THAT TIME WHEN METRO WAS
LESS ABLE TO DELIVER
SERVICE, ADDITIONAL SERVICE, TO
IMPROVING ACCESS TO TRANSIT AND
SPEEDING UP AND MAKING TRANSIT
MORE RELIABLE THROUGHOUT THE
CITY,
AND METRO IS AT A
PLACE WHERE THEY ARE ABLE TO
DELIVER MORE
SERVICE.
AS I MENTIONED WE PLAN,
SHOULD THIS PROPOSAL MOVE
FORWARD, WE'VE RECEIVED --
METRO HAS
LET US KNOW THEY WOULD BE ABLE
TO ADD THOSE 100,000 SERVICE
HOURS WITHIN THE FIRST TWO YEARS
OF
THE MEASURE, SO THEY WOULD
BE ABLE TO DELIVER ON THAT
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE
REASONS WE WANT TO MAKE SURE
WE'RE EXPANDING TRANSIT
SERVICES
AS MUCH AS WE CAN.
>> THANK YOU.
BUT TODAY WOULD YOU NOT KNOW HOW
MANY DOLLARS WE HAVE NOT
BEEN ABLE TO USE?
>> WE ARE AT THE LEVEL
WHERE WE'RE GETTING -- WE'RE
SPENDING
ALL THE DOLLARS COMMITTED ON
TRANSIT SERVICE FROM THE 2020
MEASURE AND WE ARE GETTING THE
SERVICE THAT WE'RE COSTING FROM
METRO.
>> I WILL SAY YES AND NO TO
THAT. ONE OF THE REASONS THAT
WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT IS
BECAUSE OF
MY FAVORITE NEW PROGRAM, THE
GOLDEN
GARDENS DIRECT BUS.
GOLDEN GARDENS IS ONE OF THE
ONLY PARKS IN OUR CITY THAT
DOES NOT HAVE DIRECT BUS --
DOESN'T HAVE ANY BUS ACCESS AT
ALL.
AND IT'S AKIN TO ALKI.
WE'LL SEE THE MAPS
BETWEEN GOLDEN GARDENS -- I'M
SO
EXCITED ABOUT THE GOLDEN
GARDENS DIRECT BUS SERVICE.
AND THE ONLY REASON THAT
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO PAY
FOR IT IS BECAUSE WE DID CANNOT
PAY METRO ENOUGH TO HAVE REGULAR
SERVICE.
I'M SUPER EXCITED FOR
THIS PROGRAM AND SUPER
EXCITED WE HAVE A FUNDING SOURCE
THAT
IS ABLE TO CREATE THE GOLDEN
GARDENS DIRECT BUT MORE THAN
GETTING TO THE GOLDEN
GARDENS ON A BUS, I WOULD RATHER
BE ABLE TO
RELY ON TRANSIT EVERY DAY RATHER
THAN JUST THREE MONTHS OF THE
YEAR.
CAN WE GO TO SLIDE 24?
SO NOW GETTING INTO YOUR --
AND, CHAIR, I'LL TRY TO WRAP
UP BRIEFLY HERE.
SO POTENTIAL NEW SERVICE HERE.
I SEE THAT THERE IS NO
NEW DIRECT SERVICE
TO BALLARD. IS THAT CORRECT?
>> WE CAN'T ADD NEW
ROUTES THROUGH THIS MEASURE.
WE ADD ADDITIONAL SERVICE ON
METRO'S ROUTES, SO WE HAVE
IMPROVEMENTS IN BALLARD AS WELL
ON THIS AS AN ILLUSTRATIVE
EXAMPLE.
>> BUT THE 17 IS RUNNING
TODAY, IS THAT NOT CORRECT?
>> I BELIEVE THAT'S AN EXPRESS
ROUTE.
WE DON'T FUND EXPRESS ROUTES.
BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO HAVE A
BROADER BENEFIT TO AS
MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE.
>> IT WAS ONLY MADE AN
EXPRESS ROUTE BECAUSE METRO
DECIDED
THAT THEY COULDN'T CONTINUE
FUNDINGFUNDING
AT A FULL- TIME ROUTE.
IT USED TO BE A FULL- TIME
ROUTE AND CHANGED TO AN EXPRESS
ROUTE.
IS THERE ANY REASON THAT
WE CAN'T MAKE IT A FULL- TIME
ROUTE?
AND, LIKE, GETTING BACK TO IT,
I DON'T CARE IF YOU USE THE
15, THE 17, THE 18.
I DON'T EVEN CARE IF YOU GET
ALL
THE WAY OUT TO THE ENDS OF
THOSE LINES BECAUSE, CANDIDLY, I
THINK THE ENDS OF THE LINES ARE
A
LITTLE BIT TOO FAR.
ALL I'M TALKING ABOUT IS
HOW DO YOU GET MORE BUS SERVICE
FROM
DOWNTOWN BALLARD TO
DOWNTOWN SEATTLE FROM DOWNTOWN
BALLARD
TO OUR LINK LIGHT RAIL?
DO WE HAVE ANY PROPOSALS TO
CONNECT THE REGIONAL CENTER
OF BALLARD TO
DOWNTOWN DIRECTLY OR TO LIGHT
RAIL DIRECTLY?
>> SO I THINK WHAT WE'RE SAYING
WE, AT THIS MOMENT, SITTING
HERE, DON'T HAVE AN ABILITY TO
COMMIT TO NEW ROUTES
BECAUSE THIS IS
SOMETHING WE PURCHASED -- WE
PURCHASED
HOURS, NOT NEW ROUTES.
CERTAINLY AS JEN HAS
MENTIONED THERE IS A -- IN OUR
FUTURE YEARS THERE IS A
SERVICE ANALYSIS THAT METRO IS
PLANNING
ON DOING.
AND AS PART OF THAT, THERE
WILL PROBABLY BE CHANGES TO
ROUTES.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THOSE
ARE AT THIS MOMENT.
STM WILL STILL MOVE FORWARD
WITH A PURCHASE ON EXISTING
LINES.
AND IN COLLABORATION WITH
KING COUNTY METRO AND THROUGH
THOSE DISCUSSIONS COULD MAKE
FINAL DECISIONS AND WHAT GETS
FUNDED.
>> SO I'M HEARING MAYBE.
YEAH, THAT'S FINE.
IF THAT'S THE ANSWER, THAT'S
THE
ANSWER.
I'M NOT TRYING TO BE SILLY
HERE OR COY.
I'M TRYING TO BE DIRECT AS
TO WHAT DO WE KNOW TODAY.
>> IT'S A COLLABORATION
AND CONVERSATION THAT'S ONGOING
WITH KING COUNTY METRO AND THE
ONE
BRIGHT LINE IS THAT WE WILL
BUY HOURS ON ROUTES THAT EXIST
IF, OVER TIME, A
ROUTE COMES, WE WILL DEFINITELY
RUN IT THROUGH OUR FORMULA AND
BUY HOURS
IF THAT -- IF IT'S IN
EXISTENCE.
>> AND DO WE HAVE THE
POLICY CHOICE OF PURCHASING
HOURS
ON EXPRESS ROUTES?
IS THAT WHY THE 28 AND THE
5 ALSO HAVE REDUCE -- OR I GUESS
THE 28 SPECIFICALLY HAS REDUCED
SERVICE?
>> I CAN'T SPEAK TO THAT
SPECIFICALLY, BUT WE
DO PROVIDE -- WE SUPPORT
THE SERVICE ON THE D LINE, ROUTE
40.
WE DID TALK IN OUR
BRIEFING ABOUT THE SIGNIFICANT
INVESTMENTS WE DO MAKE IN
THE BALLARD AREA, AND I THINK
WHAT
WE'RE TRYING TO ILLUSTRATE
THROUGH THIS EXAMPLE OR
POTENTIAL PLACES WHERE WE WOULD
INVEST WITH AN ADDITIONAL
100,000 SERVICE HOURS IS
WE THINK BALLARD WOULD BE
WELL SERVED BY THAT.
AND WE WOULD BE ABLE TO ADD
ADDITIONAL SERVICE IN THAT
AREA CONNECTING FOLKS ALL OVER
THE
CITY.
>> AND THIS IS WHEREWHERE THINK
WE'RE TALKING PAST EACH OTHER
A LITTLE BIT.
USING THE D LINE OR THE ROUTE 40
FROM UNION STATION BACK TO
BALLARD TAKES ME THE SAME AMOUNT
OF TIME AS IT TAKES MY
PIERCE COUNTY COLLEAGUES TO GET
BACK TO
TACOMA. THAT'S THE PROBLEM THAT
I'M TRYING TO SOLVE.
SO ROUTE 40 AND D LINE
ARE ABSOLUTELY IMPORTANT AND
CRITICAL, AND I'M HERE
TO SUPPORT THEM, BUT WHAT
I'M SAYING IS IT IF BALLARD HAS
BEEN ASKED TO TAKE ON THE EG
DENSITY AND JOB GROWTH,
HOW ARE WE NOT CREATING A DIRECT
LINE
THERE?
>> I THINK OBVIOUSLY THE TRAVEL
TIME PEOPLE EXPERIENCE IS
AN IMPORTANT FACTOR IN THEIR
CHOICES, SO ABSOLUTELY WE
SHARE A CONCERN THAT PEOPLE
HAVE EFFECTIVE AND TIMELY
CONNECTIONS.
THE RAPIDRIDE SYSTEM IS RIGHT
NOW AS FAR AS A SURFACE
RUNNING TRANSIT SYSTEM GOES, THE
BEST PRODUCT WE HAVE OUT THERE
TO
OFFER PEOPLE FAST,
SCHEDULE- FREE, RELIABLE
SERVICE WHICH IS WHY WE HAVE
STEPPED UP
TO -- FOR EXAMPLE, ON THE MAP
IT HAD SHOWED LESS THAN TEN-
MINUTE SERVICE THROUGH INTERBAY
UP TO
BALLARD, RIGHT, SO IT
DOESN'T GET YOU THROUGH BALLARD
BUT GETS
YOU TO BALLARD.
>> 15th AND LEARY IS A STRETCH.
>> SURE.
SURE.
UNDERSTOOD.
>> I DON'T MEAN TO BE RUDE
HERE.
>> UNDERSTOOD.
ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WE HAVE IS
THE PHYSICAL REALITY OF
MOVING THROUGH A DENSE
URBAN ENVIRONMENT WHICH IS
DIFFERENT
THAN GOING DISTANCE ON, YOU
KNOW, A DEDICATED RIGHT OF WAY.
WE, TOO, WANT TO GET PEOPLE
THROUGH THE CITY AS QUICKLY
AS WE CAN.
THE RAPIDRIDE PRODUCT IS
OUR BEST WAY TO DO IT RIGHT NOW.
A NEW ROUTE WOULD BE STUCK IN
TRAFFIC, TOO.
>> SO A NEW ROUTE, THOUGH, OF
17, 18 OR 15, TAKES -- IF WE
COULD GO TO SLIDE --
THE 15 -- THE D LINE USED TO BE
THE
15, AND THIS ROUTE HERE THAT'S
DESCRIBED IN THETHE COLUMN
IS ACTUALLY AN AMALGAMATION OF
THE
OLD 15 AND THE OLD 18 ROUTES.
AND SO THAT'S HOW MUCH OF A
TRANSIT GEEK I AM AROUND HERE.
AND SO THIS
ROUTE, THE 15, IS LITERALLY THIS
ROUTE EXCEPT
IT DOESN'T GO TO UPTOWN.
>> OKAY.
>> SO YOU'RE SAYING WE
DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO RUN
THAT
ROUTE? ARE WE ABLE TO RUN THE D
LINE, AN EXPRESS D LINE THAT
DOESN'T GO TO
UPTOWN?
>> I THINK I'M SAYING
SOMETHING SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT,
THE ABILITY TO MOVE PEOPLE
QUICKLY AT GRADE
WITH THE TIME IT TAKES TO
ON/OFF AND FARE PAY IS A REALITY
WE'RE DEALING WITH IN GETTING
PEOPLE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE
THERE, AND THAT RIGHT NOW THAT
PRODUCT THAT WE HAVE IN THE
RAPIDRIDE WITH PREPAYMENT AND
ALL OF THE
THINGS THAT COME WITH IT IS THE
FASTEST WAY WE CAN MOVE
PEOPLE THROUGH AND PERHAPS THERE
ARE
MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LANES
AND OTHER TRANSAT THIS TIME
SIGNALS THAT WILL HELP BUT THE
PHYSICAL
FRICTION CHALLENGE WE'RE
ALL FAILSED WITH
HERE.
>> YOU'RE ONE OF MY
FAVORITE PEOPLE TO WORK WITH
BECAUSE
OF THIS TYPE OF CONVERSATION.
WE ARE TOTALLY
ALIGNED. WE ARE TOTALLY ALIGNED
ON
THIS, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE
THINGS I
LOVE WORKING WITH YOU
WITHOUT HAVING THIS DEPTH OF
THE CONVERSATION, YOU WEREN'T
IN
THE PREMEETING, SO YOU DIDN'T
HEAR ANY OF THIS AND YOU AND I
ARE
ALREADY STRAIGHT ALIGNED.
WHAT I'M SAYING IS
THE GEOGRAPHICAL CHOICE OF
GOING THROUGH UPTOWN CREATES
A REDUCTION -- IT EXPANDS
THE AMOUNT OF TIME IT TAKES TO
GET
ANYWHERE SO MUCH SO THAT
IT BECOMES LESS RELIABLE
OR SOMETIMES UNRELIABLE, AND
THAT'S
BECAUSE WE HAVE ONE- LANE ROADS
ON AND OFF, AND THERE'S NO
ROOM FOR A BUS LINE.
LIKE, THERE'S ONE LANE TOTAL.
AND SO THIS IS THE PROBLEM
THAT I'M SHARING WITH YOU
BECAUSE
FOR -- IN THE ORIGINAL SEATTLE
TRANSIT MEASURE WE HAD OVER
300,000 SERVICE HOURS, AND,
ACTUALLY, THIS IS WHERE, IF
YOU COULD GO TO SLIDE 30, MY
QUESTION HERE IS WE HAD
OVER 300,000 SERVICE HOURS IN
THE
FIRST ROUND OF STM AND
I APPRECIATE THE LAST POINT
HERE,
0. 223% SALES TAX IS THE
BASELINE FOR RENEWAL.
HOW MUCH MORE SERVICE WOULD
WE GET IF WE USED ALL OF OUR
SERVICE DOLLARS TODAY?
>> I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE
QUESTION.
I'M SORRY.
>> IF I DIDN'T HAVE -- LAST
YEAR
IN THE BUDGET I HAD THE ABILITY
TO REROUTE SEATTLE DOLLARS
TO FUND THE GOLDEN GARDENS
DIRECT BUS BECAUSE WE WERE NOT
FULLY UTILIZING ALL OF THE
DOLLARS
IN OUR BUDGET FOR METRO TO RUN
SERVICE.
HOW MUCH OF THE 0. 223%, HOW
MUCH SERVICE COULD WE GET
AS COMPARED TO TODAY IF WE
WERE ABLE TO UTILIZE ALL OF
THE CURRENT DOLLARS THAT WE
HAVE EARMARKED FOR TRANSIT
SERVICE?
>> SO --
>> 180,000.
>> IT'S 180,000 SERVICE HOURS.
THAT'S WHAT THIS IS.
THERE IS NO CHANGE TO THE
LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT WE WOULD
BE
ABLE TO BUY.
IT WOULD BE 180,000 T. STATUS
QUO. AS IT IS, WE WOULD HAVE TO
INCREASE THE SALES TAX RATE TOTO
0.223.
FRANKLY, WE ARE DELIVERING AS
MUCH SERVICE AS METRO IS ABLE
TO PROVIDE.
SO WE'LL, AGAIN, BE OVER
180,000 HOURS AT THE END OF THIS
MEASURE.
>> YEAH, THAT ISSUE THAT EXISTED
2018-2019 AND COMING OUT OF
THE PANDEMIC WHERE METRO
WAS STRUGGLING TO KEEP UP WITH
DEMAND IN TERMS OF DRIVERS,
MECHANICS, VEHICLES, THAT'S NOT
AN ISSUE ANYMORE.
THEY'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE
THE SERVICE THAT WE WANT TO BUY.
>> YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.
CAN YOU ACTUALLY GO TO THE
MAP ABOUT THE EQUITY
DISTRIBUTION
ON THIS IN THE CITY?
THIS IS SOMETHING I WANT TO BE
REALLY CLEAR
ABOUT. I'M NOT LOOKING TO TAKE
SERVICE
HOURS FROM ANY OTHER
PART OF THE CITY.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS,
I'LL ASK YOU TO PLEASE WRAP UP
THESE QUESTIONS AND WE'RE
STARTING
TO DIVE INTO VERY
DETAILED, SPECIFIC QUESTIONS.
I KNOW YOU RECEIVED A BRIEFING,
BUT I'LL ASK THAT YOU, AS
MUCH AS POSSIBLE, GET ANOTHER
BRIEFING OFFLINE AND DIVE DEEPER
INTO SOME OF THESE DETAILS.
>> THANK YOU. THIS WILL BE MY
LAST SET OF
QUESTIONS HERE.
AND IT'S AN IMPORTANT POINT
THAT
I WANT TO MAKE.
I'M NOT ASKING TO
TAKE MONEY FROM OTHER PARTS OF
THE CITY.
IN THIS ANALYSIS YOU SEE THAT
BALLARD IS A LOW- PRIORITY
AREA ON YOUR MAP.
AND I DON'T NEED TO TAKE
MONEY FROM OTHER ROUTES, FROM
OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY.
THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU'VE HEARD
ME ASK TODAY ARE HOW DO WE USE
OUR DOLLARS MORE EFFICIENTLY
TO PROVIDE -- TAKE BUSES -- IF
YOU
TAKE ONE BUS OFF ROUTE 40,
ONE BUS OFF ROUTE D AND
CREATE A DIRECT LINE, YOU HAVE
CREATED 50% MORE DIRECT SERVICE
TO BALLARD THAN YOU HAVE
TODAY. THAT'S ONE BUS FROM EACH
OF
THOSE LINES.
AND SO I'M NOT LOOKING -- BUT
WHEN I LOOK TO WEST
SEATTLE, WITH MY FRIEND,
COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA, THERE'S MORE
INVESTMENT THAN IN BALLARD.
WEST SEATTLE, NO OFFENSE,
YOU'RE NOT
A REGIONAL CENTER, BUT BALLARD
IS.
AND SO WEST SEATTLE IS NOT
BEING ASKED TO FOCUS THE HOUSING
AND JOBS IN THE SAME WAY AS
BALLARD
IS.
AND YET WEST SEATTLE HAS MORE
DIRECT SERVICE.
CHAIR, I'LL WRAP UP HERE JUST
TO
SAY IT FEELS THROUGH THIS
CONVERSATION IT FEELS LIKE METRO
HAS FORGOTTEN ABOUT BALLARD.
LAST WEEK SOUND TRANSIT
FORGOT ABOUT BALLARD.
AND TODAY IT FEELS LIKE
THIS PROPOSAL IS FORGETTING
ABOUT
THE BALLARD REGIONAL CENTER THAT
IS BEING ASKED TO TAKE ON
MORE HOUSING
AND JOB GROWTH THAN OTHER PARTS
OF THE CITY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS.
I APPRECIATE YOUR ZEALOUS
ADVOCACY
FOR YOUR DISTRICT INCLUDING
BALLARD.
I KNOW THE INTENT WAS NOT TO
PIT BALLARD AGAINST WEST
SEATTLE.
THEY ARE BOTH WONDERFUL, UNIQUE
AND VIBRANT COMMUNITIES.
I WILL SAY, THOUGH, THAT
WEST SEATTLE IS SEATTLE'S
LARGEST
NEIGHBORHOOD BY BOTH POPULATION
AND LAND MASS, BUT, AGAIN, BOTH
WONDERFUL,
VIBRANT COMMUNITIES. I HAD
PLANNED,
COLLEAGUES, ON GOING UP UNTIL
ABOUT 1:00
TODAY, AND AS WAS NOTED WE ARE
RUNNING
LONG. I HAVE SOME BRIEF CLOSING
COMMENTS TO MAKE.
WE HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION AND I
WANT TO BE MINDFUL AND
RESPECTFUL OF OUR 100% VOLUNTEER
CO- CHAIR'S TIME FOR THE T.A.B.
, OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM.
I THINK THEY SAID THEY
NEED ABOUT FIVE, TEN MINUTES.
WE'RE STILL ON TRACK.
WE'RE STILL TRACKING FOR THAT.
ONE MORE QUESTION, HOPEFULLY
IT'S FAIRLY BRIEF,
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR.
PAGE 30, AS YOU ALL KNOW, I
HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE SALES
TAX
INCREASE, REGRESSIVE AND ALSO
THIS IS A DOUBLING.
SO IF YOU GO TO THE
BASELINE, IT WOULD BE 0. 22
SALES TAX INSTEAD
OF 0.15.
THEN YOU WROTE HERE
ANYTHING LESS WOULD REQUIRE CUTS
FROM
TODAY'S LEVEL OF INVESTMENT AND
THAT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE
BECAUSE THE BASELINE RENEWAL
DENOTES THAT YOU'RE GOING TO --
IF
WE CONTINUE TO DO WHAT WE'RE
DOING IT WOULD BE A 0. 22 --
IT WOULD BE 0. 22%, SO IT SOUNDS
LIKE
WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS IF WE
DON'T GO
TO THE 0. 3, WE CAN'T DO
THE ADDITIONAL THINGS THAT
ARE IN HERE, AND THERE ARE
ADDITIONAL THINGS IN HERE, SO I
JUST WANT
TO BE REALLY CLEAR BECAUSE
THIS IS MISLEADING THAT SOMEHOW
IF WE
DON'T DO THE 0. 3, IT WILL CUT
TO
TODAY'S AND I DON'T THINK
THAT'S TRUE.
WE KEEP DOUBLING EVERYTHING AND
ON SALES TAX IN PARTICULAR IT
IS THE MOST REGRESSIVE, WHICH
THEN
I WANT TO SAY ON PAGE 19
WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT YOU
RECOGNIZE IT'S REGRESSIVE AND
YOU'RE LOOKING AT
THE BURDEN VERSUS THE BENEFIT,
BUT IT'S GOING
TO BENEFIT THE FOLKS WHO -- WHO
ARE MOST IMPACTED BY THE
REGRESSIVE NATURE OF THIS, THAT
DOESN'T LAND WELL, I THINK,
BECAUSE
ON THE ONE HAND WE'RE SAYING WE
DON'T WANT THEM TO HAVE TO BE
BURDENED, BUT THEN WE'RE
SAYING, BUT WE'RE GOING TO TAX
THEM
AND AND THEM SO THEN WE CAN GIVE
THEM SOMETHING ON THE BACK
END.
IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO
ME.
I AM CONCERNED ABOUT
THIS PARTICULAR PROPOSAL BUT
I DO -- AND I DO WANT TO HEAR
MORE
ABOUT THE PARTICULARS INCLUDING
THE SPENDING PLAN BECAUSE OF
THAT, BUT I DO HAVE CONCERNS
ABOUT
THE PRICE TAG OF THIS PROPOSAL
AND THIS CONSTANT DOUBLING
OF EVERYTHING WE SEEM TO BE
DOING
BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
AFFORDABILITY ON ONE SIDE
OF, YOU KNOW -- ON THE ONE HAND
AND
WE'RE DOUBLING EVERYTHING AND
DON'T THINK THAT TAKES
INTO ACCOUNT THAT IS
CREATING AN AFFORDABILITY ISSUE
FOR
FOLKS. I WANTED TO SAY THAT FOR
THE
RECORD AND CORRECT THAT
SLIDE BECAUSE THAT'S IMPORTANT.
>> THANK YOU.
ONE FINAL COMMENT.
ONE FINAL --
>> CAN WE JUST ADDRESS -- I
JUST WANTED TO ADDRESS SLIDE 30,
KIND
OF THE FOOTNOTE AT THE BOTTOM OF
THE SCREEN THERE.
THE BASELINE IS 0.15.
AND JUST TO BE CLEAR, THE 0. 15
IS NOT ENOUGH TO CONTINUE
TO
CARRY THE LEVEL OF SERVICE WE
HAVE CARRIED THE LAST SEVERAL
YEARS.
THE.223 IS WHAT WE WERE
TRYING
TO SAY. I HOPE THAT'S MORE
CLEAR.
>> I UNDERSTOOD THAT TO MEAN THE
0.3.
YOU COULD HAVE DONE 0.22 BUT YOU
DIDN'T.
THIS IS, AGAIN, A REGRESSIVE
TAX, WE COULD HAVE DONE THE 0.
22 AND KEPT THE LEVEL OF
SERVICE WE HAVE TODAY BUT
INSTEAD YOU WENT
HIGHER.
I DIDN'T HEAR OPTIONS FOR
LESS OR EVEN CONTINUING THE 0.
15
KNOWING THAT WE MIGHT
NOT CONTINUE
TODAY'S SERVICE WHAT COULD GO.
OPTIONS WHEN YOU'RE
TALKING ABOUT A REGRESSIVE TAX
AND I
DIDN'T HEAR THAT TODAY, SO
WHEN WE MEET, I LIKE TO HEAR
MORE ABOUT WHY YOU CHOSE NOT TO
HAVE
OPTIONS THAT INCLUDED KEEPING
IT WHERE IT IS TODAY OR
JUST KEEPING -- OR JUST DOING
THE
0. 22 WHICH WOULD HAVE KEPT
TODAY'S SERVICE BUT IS LESS
THAN
THE 0.3.
THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA.
A COUPLE BRIEF COMMENTS
AND ADDITIONAL REFLECTIONS FROM
MY
PERSPECTIVE AND CLOSE THIS
OUT AND MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT
ITEM.
SO THE PROPOSED EXPANSION OF
TRANSIT SERVICE AT 50% ABOVE
BASELINE, I HAPPEN TO ASCRIBE
TO THE COUNCILMEMBER DEBORA
JUAREZ
MODEL THAT, AS YOU EXPAND
SERVICE, THE
SURROUNDING EXPERIENCE --
THAT'S WHAT
I'LL CALL IT, EXPERIENCE.
IT'S NOT JUST INFRASTRUCTURE.
THE EXPERIENCE OF THE
TRANSIT JOURNEY SHOULD ALSO BE
-- SEE
SOME CORRESPONDING LEVEL OF
INVESTMENT OF INCREASE AND WHAT
THAT LOOKS LIKE VARIES ON
CIRCUMSTANCES.
TRANSIT SERVICE, IN MY
VIEW, IS NOT LIKE THE FIELD OF
DREAMS.
IF YOU BUILD IT OR EXPAND
IT, THEY WILL COME.
WE NEED TO CREATE A MORE ROBUST,
VIBRANT, SAFE TRANSITTRANSIT
ARE ACTUALLY DELIGHTED TRANSIT
AND THEN THEN WILL
GOALS IT
>> I THINK ALL OF US, MOST OF US
ARE ALIGNED.
WE'RE NOT LIMITED TO
THAT BUT I
AGREE WITH THAT GENERALLY
SERVICE FIRST.
THE REAL -- SOME OF THE
MOST PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS
HAPPEN WHEN -- WHAT DOES THAT
MEAN?
AND PUTTING ASIDE THE FACT
THAT THE PROPOSAL WOULD DOUBLE
THE
SALES TAX RATE, IMPACT
AFFORDABILITY, EXPAND SERVICE
BY 50% BUT NOT ADD ADDITIONAL
ON TOP OF BASELINE INVESTMENTS
TO
IMPROVE THE TRANSIT SAFETY
AND SECURITY EXPERIENCE OR ADD
ANY NEW ADA RAMPS IN LIGHT OF
THE
DECREE, ANY OTHER ADA ACCESSIBLE
FEATURES, AN OCCASIONAL NEW
SIDEWALK OR TWO TO
CONNECT PEOPLE SAFELY TO
TRANSIT.
WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT
THIS AT THE NEXT MEETING WHEN WE
HAVE OUR CENTRAL STAFF ANALYSIS,
BUT THE AUTHORIZED
LEGISLATIVE AUTHORIZED AMOUNT
BASED OFF OF
MATERIAL CHANGES AND SCOPE THAT
WERE DULY AUTHORIZED AND
APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL
OF CAPITAL IS $12. 7 MILLION
ANNUALLY.
AND THIS PROPOSAL
WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY -- DOESN'T
EVEN --
NOT ONLY DOES IT NOT ADJUST
THAT BASELINE LEVEL FOR
INFLATION BUT
THE NET RESULT IS A
SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN THAT.
SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE
IMPORTANT POLICY CONVERSATIONS
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE HERE IN
THIS BODY IN OPEN AND PLAIN
SIGHT
IN A TRANSPARENT MANNER
FOR
EVERYONE TO SEE. BUT I
APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS.
APPRECIATE THE
PRESENTATION, APPRECIATE OUR
PARTNERS AT THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE, THE EXECUTIVE
DEPARTMENT FOR BRINGING
FORTH THIS PROPOSAL.
NOW WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO OUR
SECOND ITEM OF BUSINESS.
WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE READ ITEM 2 INTO THE
RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM 2, BRIEFING
AND DISCUSSION SEATTLE TRANSIT
ADVISORY BOARD CONSULTATION
ON
THE PROPOSED 2026 SEATTLE
TRANSIT MEASURE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WILL OUR PRESENTERS PLEASE
JOIN US AT THE TABLE.
WELCOME.
WHEN YOU'RE READY,
PLEASE
INTRODUCE YOURSELVES AND BEGIN
YOUR PRESENTATION.
>> IS THIS HOW THIS WORKS?
GREAT. THANK YOU, COUNCIL, AND
CHAIR
SAKA, FOR HAVING US
HERE TODAY. WE KNOW IT'S BEEN A
LONG
MEETING WITH A LOT OF
INFORMATION, SO
WE DO NOT WANT TO TAKE UP TOO
MUCH MORE OF YOUR TIME.
WHAT WE'VE PASSED OUT TO YOU
IS A LETTER THAT THE
TRANSIT ADVISORY BOARD PASSED
YESTERDAY
WHICH WILL KIND OF DRAW FOR
OUR CONVERSATION TODAY DETAILING
OUR REACTION TO THE MAYOR'S
PROPOSAL.
MY NAME IS ASHWIN BHUMBLA OF
THE TRANSIT ADVISORY BOARD.
>> MY NAME IS ZACH BURTON, ALSO
A CO-CHAIR ON THE TRANSIT
ADVISORY BOARD.
>> AND JUST TO GIVE SOME
CONTEXT, THE TRANSIT
ADVISORY BOARD IS THE PUBLIC
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE OF THE STM
AND ITS
FUNDS. WE HAVE BEEN ON THE BOARD
FOR
A HANDFUL OF YEARS
NOW, SO WE HAVE BEEN BRIEFED ON
THE CURRENT
STM MANY TIMES, AND THE CURRENT
STM
HAS BEEN VERY
SUCCESSFUL. WE APPROVE OF ALL
THE
SUCCESSES OF THE CURRENT STM
AND,
YOU KNOW, TO GIVE SOME
CONTEXT, I
JUST WORK IN THE COFFEE INDUSTRY
AND I LOVE PUBLIC TRANSIT.
I USE IT EVERY DAY.
I COME FROM A SUBURB
IN MISSOURI WHERE WE HAD, LIKE,
NO
PUBLIC TRANSIT.
SO, TO ME, PUBLIC TRANSIT
IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
I RELY ON IT AND I CAN --
I HAVE LIVED EXPERIENCE WITH
THAT.
WERE ALL THAT HAVE IN MIND,
THE T.A.B. AS A WHOLE IS
THRILLED WITH THE MAYOR'S
PROPOSAL.
WE WHOLEHEARTEDLY ENDORSE
THE PROPOSAL WHICH HAS A GREAT
DEAL OF ALIGNMENT WITH OUR
PRIORITIES. WE LAUD ITS FOCUS ON
IMPROVING
TRANSIT SERVICE,
MEETING FREQUENT TRANSIT NETWORK
GOALS, EXPANDING TRANSIT ACCESS
THROUGH
THE T.A.B. PROGRAMS
AND KEEPING ESSENTIAL TRANSIT
SERVICES
AND CONNECTIONS LIKE THE
STREETCAR.
AND WITH THIS PROPOSAL WE
SEE EVERY DOLLAR BEING
COLLECTED,
SPENT AS OPTIMALLY
AS POSSIBLE WITH THE VAST
MAJORITY GOING TO
IMMEDIATE VISIBLE AND EFFECTIVE
CHANGES IN TRANSIT SERVICE.
WE BELIEVE THIS PROPOSAL
IS EXACTLY WHAT SEATTLE NEEDS
AND THAT IT WILL PASS AT THE
BALLOT.
THE GREAT THING ABOUT TRANSIT
SERVICE, WE
CAN IMPLEMENT IT IMMEDIATELY SO
THE STM WILL MAKE
THESE MEANINGFUL
CHANGES IMMEDIATELY AND WE
DON'T HAVE
TO WAIT FOUR, FIVE, SIX YEARS TO
SEE IMPROVEMENTS.
I'M GOING TO LET ASHWIN GO
INTO MORE OF THE DETAILS
OF WHY WE SUPPORT THIS, BUT WE
DO
SUPPORT THE MAYOR'S PROPOSAL AS
A
BOARD.
>> YEAH, AND YOU'VE
HEARD OVER THE COURSE OF THE
LAST COUPLE WEEKS AND COUPLE
HOURS THE
DETAILS OF
THIS PROPOSAL. WE DON'T NEED TO
TELL IT TO
YOU ALL AGAIN BUT TO GO OVER
WHAT'S
IN OUR LETTER AND WHAT
ZACH SPOKE TO, WE AGREE THAT --
OR
MAYBE BEFORE THAT I'LL TAKE A
STEP BACK AND SAY EVERY YEAR
THE T.A.B. GETS
NUMEROUS PRESENTATIONS ON HOW
STM
DOLLARS ARE SPENT IN THAT YEAR.
EVERY YEAR WE FORMULATE A
LETTER.
WE SEND IT OUT TO COUNCIL
AND I BRING THIS UP TO SAY
THAT WE HAVE SEEN HOW THESE
FUNDS
HAVE BEEN USED, AND WE, MORE
THAN
ANYBODY, AGREE AS THE PUBLIC
OVERSIGHT BOARD THAT IT'S
OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS A BOARD
AND COLLECTIVELY TO ENSURE
THESE FUNDS ARE USED
RESPONSIBLY, AND I REALLY WANT
TO STRESS THAT
IN OUR ESTIMATION IT
HAS. THE BEST PREDICTOR OF THE
FUTURE IS THE PAST.
WE ARE VERY, VERY HAPPY WITH
THE REPORTS THAT WE'VE GOTTEN
FROM SDOT OVER THETHE YEARS, HOW
WE'VE
SEEN THIS MONEY BE SPENT, AND
SO GOING FORWARD FOR THE NEW
MEASURE, WE -- GOING FORWARD
FOR THE NEW MEASURE --
SORRY, ONE SECOND -- WE VIEW IT
AS
A PRIMARILY AFFORDABILITY
MEASURE.
WE KNOW THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF
TALK, AND RIGHTFUL CONCERN,
OVER ANY INCREASE IN TAXATION,
AND
WE JUST WANT TO BRING UP THE
IDEA,
AGAIN, THAT IT IS NOT ONLY
ALL OF SEATTLE BUT ESPECIALLY
THOSE MOST COST PRESSED WHO ARE
GOING TO BENEFIT FROM THE
INVESTMENTS THAT
THIS MAKES. TWO YEARS AGO THE
COUNCIL, AND
I KNOW IT WAS A DIFFERENT
COUNCIL
THEN. I DO BELIEVE STILL A
MAJORITY
OF THE MEMBERS ARE THE SAME.
TWO YEARS AGO
COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY PASSED THE
SEATTLE
TRANSPORTATION PLAN,
WHICH INCLUDED MANY DIFFERENT
ITEMS FOR A 20- YEAR PLAN FOR
THE
CITY. IN THIS WAS THE FREQUENT
TRANSIT NETWORK.
IN THIS AS WELL WAS THE CLIMATE
CHANGE RESPONSE FRAMEWORK
WHICHWHICH OUT THE CITY'S PLAN
TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE
BY TACKLING AN AGGRESSIVE
MODE SHIFT AWAY FROM SINGLE
OCCUPANCY VEHICLES TOWARDS
TRANSIT.
THIS -- THAT MEASURE WAS
PASSED UNANIMOUSLY BY COUNCIL
BECAUSE I
BELIEVE THAT COUNCIL
THEN UNDERSTOOD THAT THESE
WERE CHANGES THAT WE NEEDED
THAT WEREN'T OPTIONAL OVER THE
NEXT 20 YEARS.
THEY WERE NEEDED FROM AN
AFFORDABILITY ANGLE.
THEY WERE NEEDED FROM SAFETY
ANGLE, FROM A CLIMATE ANGLE,
AND, ALSO, A GEOMETRY ANGLE.
I BELIEVE SOME PUBLIC
SPEAKERS BROUGHT THIS UP EARLIER
THAT
SEATTLE'S A GROWING CITY,
AND THERE IS LEGITIMATELY
GEOMETRICALLY, PHYSICALLY
NOT ENOUGH SPACE FOR US TO KEEP
USING SINGLE- OCCUPANCY
VEHICLES IN THE SAME WAY WE ARE
NOW.
SO HERE WE HAVE A CHANCE TO
TAKE THESE PLANS AND MOVE THEM
OFF
OF JUST ASPIRATIONS.
WE HAVE A CHANCE SO THAT IN
2044 WE'RE NOT LOOKING BACK AT
THE LAST 20 YEARS, LOOKING
BACK AT THE GRAND DESIGNS WE HAD
AND ASKING WHERE DID WE GO
WRONG?
WHAT STEPS DIDN'T WE TAKE?
WE BELIEVE THIS MEASURE IS A
STEP IN THAT DIRECTION.
AND WE HIGHLY ENCOURAGE
COUNCIL TO KEEP THAT IN MIND
OVER THE
AMENDMENT PROCESS.
AS PART OF THE AMENDMENT
PROCESS WE WILL -- THE T.A.B.
WILL
STAY IN TUNE AND WE'LL SEND
OUT LETTERS TO ALL OF YOU AS WE
UNDERSTAND MORE OF WHAT
YOUR AMENDMENTS ARE, OFFERING
OUR
PERSPECTIVE. AND I WANTED TO
THANK -- WE
REACHED OUT TO
COUNCILMEMBERS OVER THE LAST
COUPLE OF
MONTHS AND THANK YOU TO THOSE WE
WERE ABLE TO MEET WITHWITH
UNDERSTAND THE PRIORITIES OF
YOUR DISTRICT.
WE WANT TO WORK TOGETHER
WITH ALL OF YOU TO MAKE TO
THIS LEGISLATION IS THE LANDMARK
PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT IT
CAN BE GOING FORWARD.
THAT'S ALL WE HAVE TO SAY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> DID I HEAR SOMETHING?
>> I SAID THANK YOU AS WELL.
>> OKAY, COOL.
THANK YOU, MR. BURTON, MR.
BHUMBLA.
HOW DO YOU PRONOUNCE YOUR LAST
NAME,
ASHWIN?
>> THAT WAS PRETTY GOOD,
BHUMBLA.
IT'S A TRICKY
ONE.
>> SUPER COOL ONE, THOUGH.
THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN, BOTH FOR
YOUR PRESENTATION, YOUR
OVERVIEW, AND IT LOOKS LIKE
THE LETTER WAS JUST PRESENTED
HERE, SKIMMED IT BUT I'LL DO IT
MORE
CLOSELY IN DETAIL LATER LATER
TODAY.
THANK YOU.
COLLEAGUES, WELCOME
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS YOU
MAY
HAVE.
REMEMBER, WE'RE OUR OWN
WORST ENEMY FOR POTENTIALLY
GETTING OUT OF HERE.
I'LL START WITH
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> REQUEST TO EXTEND THIS
MEETING ANOTHER 45 MINUTES.
I AM TOTALLY JOKING.
I AM SO SORRY.
THANK YOU FOR
BEING HERE. THANK YOU FOR THIS
LETTER.
VERY
TIMELY. YOU ALIGN WITH ME IN SO
IMWAYS.
THAT FIRST BULLET POINT OF WE --
AN EVEN LARGER
PERCENTAGE, READING FROM THEIR
LETTER,
THE BOLDED SECTION -- OR THE
WHOLE
SENTENCE TO THIS END WE
BELIEVE IN EVEN LARGER
PERCENTAGE OF
FUNDS, AT LEAST 60%, SHOULD
BE SPENT DIRECTLY ON
TRANSIT SERVICE.
100 100% AGREE.
WHEN WE'RE STUCK IN THESE
MOMENTS, WE'RE LIMITED TO
EITHER INCREASE THE TOTAL AMOUNT
OF
REVENUE OR TO CREATE TRADEOFFS
WITHIN THE PACKAGE AS DESCRIBED.
THAT'S WHY YOU SAW ME ASK
A WHOLE LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT
THE OTHER PARTS OF THIS
PROGRAM BECAUSE I'M ALREADY
LOOKING.
HOW DO WE INCREASE THE AMOUNT
OF TRANSIT SERVICE THAT WE
PURCHASE?
I'LL ASK THE THREE QUESTIONS
AND
THIS IS LIKE THE END POINT,
RIGHT. WAS THE TRANSIT ADVISORY
BOARD -- WERE YOU ASKED TO
GIVE YOUR INPUT DURING
THE DEVELOPMENT OF
THIS?
>> WE WERE.
>> OKAY, GREAT.
AND THEN WHEN YOU WERE ASKED
TO SIGN OFF ON THIS, WERE
YOU PROVIDED ANY DIFFERENT
OPTIONS THAT COULD BE TAKEN INTO
ACCOUNT, WHETHER IT WAS VLF
OR IF YOU WANTED TO MOVE THINGS
AROUND WITHIN THIS LEVY,
HOW WERE YOU -- WERE YOU
PROVIDED THAT
OPPORTUNITY?
>> YEAH. LESS THAT WE SIGNED
OFF, I SHOULD SAY, ON THE
PROPOSAL, BUT WE WERE BRIEFED
THROUGH --
OVER THE LAST YEAR
AT MANY DIFFERENT TIMES WITH HOW
THE
PROPOSAL WAS GOING.
WE GAVE OUR FEEDBACK.
WE DID SEE KIND OF OVER THE
LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS DIFFERENT
OPTIONS, AND IN THAT
MOMENT, WE HAVE A SPECIFIC
SUBCOMMITTEE DEDICATED TO STM.
THAT SUBCOMMITTEE GAVE ITS
OPINIONS ON WHICH OF THOSE
OPTIONS WE PREFERRED
THE MOST.
>> FANTASTIC.
AND WAS YOUR FEEDBACK PUT INTO
THE PLAN, OR WAS IT JUST
LISTENED TO?
>> WE SEE -- IT'S HARD TO
TELL HOW MUCH CAME FROM US AND
WHAT
WAS INCORPORATED AS A
DIRECT PART OF OUR FEEDBACK
AND HOW MUCH
WAS COMING FROM SDOT AND THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE IN
GENERAL, BUT AS OUR LETTER
POINTS OUT, WE
SEE A GREAT DEAL OF
ALIGNMENT, KIND OF THE LETTER
THAT WE
SENT ON MARCH TO ALL OF COUNCIL
GOES
OVER KIND OF THE MAIN
POINTS THAT WE WERE LOOKING
AT WHICH WAS, YES, INCREASING
FROM . 15
TO 3% SALES TAX, A MINIMUM SPENT
ON TRANSIT SERVICE, AND
WE WERE DELIGHTED TO SEE THE
MAYOR'S PROPOSAL INCLUDED THE
SAME.
>> AND SO IF YOU
HAD A MAGIC WAND, WAND, WOULD
WE GET TO 60%
SERVICE? LAST QUESTION AND I
DON'T
NEED TO SPEAK AGAIN, CHAIR?
>> I MAY BE
MISREPRESENTING THINGS WITH --
FOR WHICH I'LL
ASK THE FOLKS AT SDOT TO
CORRECT ME.
WE HAD OUR T.A.B. MEETING
YESTERDAY.
WE TALKED -- WE GOT
A PRESENTATION ON STM, AND I
BELIEVE THAT THAT 60% MINIMUM
IS IN THIS MAYOR'S PROPOSAL
ALREADY.
YEAH.
>> GREAT.
>> AWESOME.
ALL RIGHT.
WELL, THANK YOU.
ANY OTHER FINAL QUESTIONS,
COMMENTS, COLLEAGUES?
>> I JUST WANTED TO SAY, WE'LL
BE SENDING OUT THIS LETTER
IN EMAIL FORM AS WELL.
I KNOW COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ, WE'LL BE ABLE TO SEND
THAT TO
YOU, TOO, AS WELL.
>> YEAH, IT WOULD BE NICE.
THANKS.
>> WILL DO.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> EXCUSE ME.
TERRIFIC.
WELL, THANK YOU.
REALLY APPRECIATE YOU GENTLEMEN,
AGAIN. I APPRECIATE YOUR
PARTNERSHIP AS WELL OFFLINE.
I FEEL -- SPEAKING OF
ADEQUACY AND EFFICIENCY, EVERY
TIME
I ENGAGE WITH YOU, I FEEL
TOTALLY
INADEQUATE AND INSUFFICIENT
IN LEVEL OF COOLNESS, YOUR
VIBES, YOUR COOLNESS VIBES AND
LOOKS.
I JUST LOVE IT.
THANK YOU FOR DRESSING UP
FOR THIS OCCASION, BUT YOU'RE
STILL
VERY COOL.
THANK YOU, EVERYONE.
ONE FINAL COMMENT TO CLOSE THIS
OUT AND I'M GOING TO SAY
THIS BECAUSE I KNOW SOME OF
OUR PARTNERS FROM THE EXECUTIVE
ARE
STILL HERE.
I REALLY DO LOVE THE SUPPORT
AND EXPANSION OF THE TRANSIT
ACCESS IN TERMS OF EQUITY THAT
IS INCLUDED IN THIS PROPOSAL
IN TERMS OF PRESERVING THE
EXISTING
LEVEL OF PEOPLE BUT NOT ONLY
THAT EXPANDING THAT AND
SOME VALID QUESTIONS WERE ASKED
AND TERRIFIC QUESTIONS FROM SOME
OF MY COLLEAGUES AROUND THE
APPROPRIATE PARTNERS TO
LEVERAGE FOR THAT, BUT, AGAIN,
LET'S
START WITH THE PRINCIPLE LEVEL
AND PRIORITY LEVEL,
THE PRINCIPLE AND PRIORITY
LEVEL.
A TERRIFIC INVESTMENT AND
MY SORT OF JOURNEY AND PERSONAL
EXPERIENCES ARE WELL KNOWN
AND DOCUMENTED AT THIS
POINT, SOMEONE WHO HAS OVERCOME
THE
FOSTER CARE SYSTEM,
EXPERIENCED FREE AND REDUCED
LUNCH, YOU
KNOW, SECTION 8 HOUSING, ALL
OF THOSE THINGS.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, A VERY
REGULAR, ROBUST TRANSIT
RIDER OVER THE COURSE OF MY
LIFE.
I HAD MY FIRST JOB AT AGE
15, LIVING IN THE VALLEY IN
KENT, TOOK THE 150 FROM KENT
TO SOUTH CENTER MALL TO MY JOB
AT THE
MALL.
AND IT YOU KNOW, AT THE TIME IT
WAS 75 CENTS FOR KIDS OR UNDER
18.
NOW IT'S FREE BECAUSE OF
A VARIETY OF LEVELS OF
INVESTMENT.
I REMEMBER VIVIDLY THOSE
TRANSFER PASSES THAT METRO
PROVIDES.
I REMEMBER COLLECTING ALL OF
THEM, ALL THE COLORS.
IT'S NOT JUST GREEN THAT THEY
HAVE.
THEY HAVE TEAL AND TURQUOISE
AND, LIKE 14 OFFSHOOTS OF
RED AND GREEN.
I HAD ALL -- WELL, ALMOST ALL
OF
THEM. BUT THEY'RE ALL
DIFFERENT.
THEY ALL INCLUDE
DIFFERENT NUMBERS ON THEM -- OR,
EXCUSE
ME, LETTERS.
AND I WOULD TRY AND PASS THOSE
OFF.
I WOULD GO TO WORK AND TRY AND
SAVE 75 CENTS IN THE
AFTERNOON AND SHOW THE DRIVER,
AND THE DRIVERS ALL KNEW,
THEY'RE SMART
PEOPLE, THEY KNEW THE
LETTERS DIDN'T MATCH UP AND
THEY GAVE
ME A PASS ANYWAY.
SO SHOUTOUT TO THE OPERATORS FOR
ALL THEY DO TO THE EARLIER
POINT, PART OF THIS IS
ABOUT PROVIDING OPPORTUNITY.
THERE'S A CERTAIN SENSE OF
PRIDE WHEN YOU TOUCH -- WHEN
EVERYONE
TAPS TO GET IN.
I HEARD ONE OF THE OPERATORS
SAY THAT.
TO CLOSE THIS OUT, THAT'S
WHAT THIS PROGRAM, SUPPORTING
AND EXPANDING TRANSIT ACCESS
HELPS ALL OF US DO AND BE
DIGNIFIED WHEN WE SHOW UP AND
USE
OUR VIBRANT TRANSIT NETWORK AS
WELL.
SO THANK YOU ALL.
WE HAVE REACHED THE END OF
TODAY'S MEETING AGENDA.
THE NEXT MEETING OF THE
SELECT COMMITTEE ON SEATTLE
TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT DISTRICT
WILL BE HELD JUNE 18 AT
9:30 A.M.
ANY FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME
BEFORE THE COMMITTEE BEFORE WE
ADJOURN?
HEARING AND SEEING NONE, WE ARE
ADJOURNED.
IT IS 12:47 P.