Friday, December 17, 2010

2011 TRANSPORTATION ADVOCACY DAY IS FEBRUARY 10TH!!

Make Your Voice Heard in Olympia: Sign Up for Transportation Advocacy Day

Can you believe a new year is almost here? Around the TCC office, we equate January to Legislative Session and the time of year when more than ever we ask for your help.

With the pending budget crisis it will not be an easy year in Olympia, that is why your voice is more important than EVER! This session we will focus on a wide range issues from preventing more draconian cuts to transit service to making our streets safer for cyclists and pedestrians.

Please
join us for Transportation Advocacy Day on February 10th in Olympia to ensure that your voice is heard. You can sign up for Transportation Advocacy Day by CLICKING HERE:

WHEN: February 10, 2011, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
WHERE: United Churches, 110 11th Avenue SE, Olympia


Similar to years past we will meet as a large group in the morning and spend the afternoon meeting with legislators.  This year we are going to dedicate more time to breakout sessions in small groups so you can get all the detailed information you need to successfully lobby on our 2011 priorities.  Additionally, we will be offering a Lobbying 101 role-play opportunity at our breakout sessions to prepare you for your afternoon meetings with legislators.

There is TOO MUCH at stake this year and that’s why we need YOUR HELP to fight for Transportation Choices on February 10th in Olympia.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Action Alert: Support Better Transit Service in West Seattle

As you probably know, King County Metro is in the planning stages for West Seattle Rapid Ride.  Rapid Ride C is a cooperative effort by SDOT and Metro to provide fast, frequent, and reliable bus service between West Seattle and Downtown.  The plan is to bring West Seattle new and improved transit service by 2012; for more information on the project click here.

In the past few weeks, a few businesses raised concerns regarding the planed reduction of on street parking  in a couple of areas on the Rapid Ride route. In response to these concerns Metro and SDOT have made significant compromises responding to the needs of local business while still maintaining  fast bus service in the corridor.  They have agreed to cut the lost parking from 30 to 15 spots and have offered to make the bus only lane only applicable Monday through Friday. 

During the implementation of West Seattle Rapid Ride your local elected officials need to hear from YOU. Please use CLICK HERE to send an e-mail to County Council Member Joe McDermott and City Council Member Tom Rasmussen and let them know you support Rapid Ride C, because it will benefit all of West Seattle by drastically improving transit service in our community!
Making your voice heard is EASY! CLICK HERE!

Thank you!

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

The Rain has Slowed and Sounder Trains are Back on Schedule

From Sound Transit:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — Dec. 14, 2010

Sounder trains resume normal service for Tuesday afternoon commute

Sounder commuter rail service between Seattle, Edmonds, Mukilteo and Everett resumes its normal schedule this afternoon following a 48-hour shutdown from mudslides.

Northline Sounder trains will depart King Street Station at 4:05 p.m., 4:33 p.m., 5:05 p.m. and 5:35 p.m.

Southline Sounder service will experience delays of up to 10 minutes due to weather-related issues. 

For more schedule information, visit Sound Transit’s website at www.soundtransit.org or call 1-888-889-6368.

Friday, December 3, 2010

Reminder Friday Forum Today at Noon

Just a quick reminder today's Friday Forum is today at noon!  Join us at we preview our legislative agenda and open the floor up to you to discuss the upcoming 2011 legislative session.

WHAT: Friday Forum Legislative Preview
WHEN: Friday, November 5, 12:00pm - 1:30pm
WHERE: Seattle-King County Public Health - Chinook Building, Room 121, 401 Fifth Ave., Seattle (at Jefferson St.). Please note change in room.

The Friday Forum series is sponsored by:
Platinum level: AECOM | CH2MHill | Vulcan Inc.
Gold level: The Boeing Company | HDR Inc.
Parametrix | Parsons Brinckerhoff | Seattle Children's Hospital | UW Transportation Services | The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Silver level: HNTB Corporation | Wilbur Smith Associates

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Meet our New State Policy Director Carrie Dolwick!!!



We are pleased to welcome onboard our new State Policy Director Carrie Dolwick. Carrie comes to Transportation Choices with extensive policy and lobbying experience on environment and energy issues leading a winning campaign to pass comprehensive energy efficiency legislation in 2009.  Carrie’s motivation to improve the lives of people, build communities, and protect our environment has taken her from her home in Kentucky, through the Southeastern United States, to Central America, to Alaska, and to the lush Northwest to work for policies that promote a sustainable economy and environment. She currently serves as the Board Chair of NW Sustainable Energy for Economic Development (NWSEED) and is a co-founder of Sustainable South Seattle.  Say hi to Carrie at our Holiday Party next week!

Reminder Holiday Parties Tomorrow and On the 6th

Please Join TCC for TWO Holiday parties this year!

We will be having a Holiday Party in Tacoma tomorrow night and then in Seattle on Monday Night.  Please join us!

TACOMA
WHEN: Thursday, December 2nd from 5:30-7:30pm
WHERE: Paddy Coynes, 815 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma


SEATTLE
WHEN: Monday, December 6th from 5:00-7:00pm
WHERE: FareStart, 700 Virginia Street,Seattle
RSVP Here









The Challenges of Privatizing Transit Service

One of the big topics at the ATU/Non-Profit transit funding conference is the move to privatize transit service and the international attacks on transit unions and public employees in general.

There is a large campaign around this very issue in Toronto that serves as a great case study for the this political fight.

I won't get into too much analysis here but this is an issue that all transit advocates and nerds should be paying attention to.

Campaign website to keep TTC (Toronto Transit Commission the 3rd largest system in N.A. behind NYC and Mexico City).

Op-Ed against privatization of the TTC
Facebook Group Supporting Privatization

Last but not Least I recommend this informative video on the topic.


Part I-  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAmnmehAy3w
Part II- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTKDclcskgY