If the State Legislature will not step up to the plate to save transit, then we'll have to!
Stop by these great event to say hello to TCC staff and learn about what you can do to help save bus service in Pierce and Snohomish County!
WHAT: BAKE SALE FOR COMMUNITY TRANSIT
WHY: With Community Transit’s dire financial situation, every penny helps to Save Bus Service!
WHEN: Monday, March 1, 2010, morning commute hours 7-9am
WHERE: Aurora Village Transit Center, N 200th St & Aurora Ave N
WHAT: BAKE SALE FOR PIERCE TRANSIT
WHY: With Pierce Transit’s dire financial situation, every penny helps to Save Bus Service!
WHEN: Tuesday, March 2, 2010, morning commute hours 7-9am
WHERE: Downtown Tacoma – Frost Park, Commerce St. and 9th St.
Contact: Andrew Austin – andrew@transportationchoices.org or 253-732-9434
For more information see www.transportationchoices.org/SaveMyBus.asp
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Legislative update
Yesterday was the first major cut-off in the Legislature, meaning any policy bills that did not make it off the floor of the House of origin are essentially dead.
The short story is things do not look great for transit and multi-modal initiatives this year in this tough general revenue focused short session.
HB 2855:
The transit rescue package that would have provided a local option tool to save transit across the state, unfortunately did not make it to a floor vote. The prime sponsor, Rep. Marko Liias, made a heroic effort to bring it up for a vote. The caucus appetite for taking a local option on for transit simply was not there this session. TCC and coalition members sent over 500 e-mails to legislators in 2 days asking them to save transit. Thank you for all of your hard work and stay tuned as we continue to push the legislature to give transit more options besides cutting service 15-50% across the state. Updated information on how you can help will be at a new page on our website entitled "Save My Bus Service".
HB 2911:
The Complete Streets bill unfortunately also died before cut-off last night. We are working with the prime sponsors and others to get portions of the bill inserted into the transportation budget. We will also work with coalition partners and WSDOT to come back with a bolder proposal next year during the long session.
HB 3001:
The Bike Alliance bicycle education bill is a bright spot during this session. The Bike Alliance was able to get broad bi-partisan support for this legislation and it passed off the house floor unanimously.
SB 5838: The Cascade Bike Club's vulnerable users bill made it onto the Senate floor calendar but sadly also did not make it up for a floor vote.
The short story is things do not look great for transit and multi-modal initiatives this year in this tough general revenue focused short session.
HB 2855:
The transit rescue package that would have provided a local option tool to save transit across the state, unfortunately did not make it to a floor vote. The prime sponsor, Rep. Marko Liias, made a heroic effort to bring it up for a vote. The caucus appetite for taking a local option on for transit simply was not there this session. TCC and coalition members sent over 500 e-mails to legislators in 2 days asking them to save transit. Thank you for all of your hard work and stay tuned as we continue to push the legislature to give transit more options besides cutting service 15-50% across the state. Updated information on how you can help will be at a new page on our website entitled "Save My Bus Service".
HB 2911:
The Complete Streets bill unfortunately also died before cut-off last night. We are working with the prime sponsors and others to get portions of the bill inserted into the transportation budget. We will also work with coalition partners and WSDOT to come back with a bolder proposal next year during the long session.
HB 3001:
The Bike Alliance bicycle education bill is a bright spot during this session. The Bike Alliance was able to get broad bi-partisan support for this legislation and it passed off the house floor unanimously.
SB 5838: The Cascade Bike Club's vulnerable users bill made it onto the Senate floor calendar but sadly also did not make it up for a floor vote.
Mercer Fix Scores $30 Million From TIGER Stimulus Dollars
One of the last infrastructure distributions from the stimulus act, the TIGER grants, were announced today.
Two important projects in Washington scored big with with this announcement. The Mercer fix in Seattle, which is a top priority for the city, received $30 million and the North South Freeway in Spokane received $35 million. The $30 million for Mercer is great news for this important multi-modal project in Seattle.
Scott at the PI wrote a compehensive piece on the Mercer Project today.
The Tranport Politic overviews all of the grants and points out that the ratio of transit-highway of projects was a better allocation towards transit then in the past. Take note that a Portland Streetcar extension project received $23 million.
Which projects that applied did not get TIGER money in Washington?
-South Park Bridge
-Link extension to 200th Street in Seatac
-520
Update: WSDOT just sent a press release announcing the $35 million to the North South Freeway project...
Two important projects in Washington scored big with with this announcement. The Mercer fix in Seattle, which is a top priority for the city, received $30 million and the North South Freeway in Spokane received $35 million. The $30 million for Mercer is great news for this important multi-modal project in Seattle.
Scott at the PI wrote a compehensive piece on the Mercer Project today.
The Tranport Politic overviews all of the grants and points out that the ratio of transit-highway of projects was a better allocation towards transit then in the past. Take note that a Portland Streetcar extension project received $23 million.
Which projects that applied did not get TIGER money in Washington?
-South Park Bridge
-Link extension to 200th Street in Seatac
-520
Update: WSDOT just sent a press release announcing the $35 million to the North South Freeway project...
Friday, February 5, 2010
Complete Streets Legislation Passes Out of House Transportation on a Party Line Vote
Late Wednesday evening House Bill 2911, sponsored by Rep. Jim Moeller, passed out of the House Transportation Committee bye an overwhelming margin.
It ended up moving out of committee on a party line vote with a couple of members excused.
TCC would like to give a huge thanks go Prime Sponsor Rep. Moeller for leading the effort on this important legislative priority and Chair Clibborn for moving it out of committee.
The bill will now go to House Rules and then the House Floor as it moves along during the legislative process.
It was an uplifting moment this tough session to see when of our proactive legislative priorities moving forward.
Thank you again to our legislative sponsors and coalition partners for your support of HB 2911!
Stay tuned as this legislation moves forward!
It ended up moving out of committee on a party line vote with a couple of members excused.
TCC would like to give a huge thanks go Prime Sponsor Rep. Moeller for leading the effort on this important legislative priority and Chair Clibborn for moving it out of committee.
The bill will now go to House Rules and then the House Floor as it moves along during the legislative process.
It was an uplifting moment this tough session to see when of our proactive legislative priorities moving forward.
Thank you again to our legislative sponsors and coalition partners for your support of HB 2911!
Stay tuned as this legislation moves forward!
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