Rep. Liias Explains his Emergency Transit Funding Bill on YouTube

Thanks to Rep. Dave Upthegrove's viral You Tube channel, we are able to experience this video which features Rep. Marko Liias discussing his emergency transit funding legislation.  This legislation is a legislative priority of TCC's and will also be one of our three priorities during Transportation Advocacy Day on Feb 10th.

So, if you care about saving transit service in King and Snohomish Counties, STOP what you are doing and REGISTER for ADVOCACY DAY right NOW!

Make Your Voice Heard: Eastside Transit Town Hall

This just in from Jan Hague's office, make sure that if you are an Eastside resident that cares about transit service you attend this town hall and make your voice heard!  The county e-mail did not include transit directions but it looks like it is an easy walk from the Mercer Island Transit Center, which has frequent service.

Invitation to a town hall meeting on Eastside transit

Join Councilmember Jane Hague (Council District 6) and Councilmember Kathy Lambert (Council District 3) for a town hall discussion on transit. The town hall is scheduled for Tuesday, January 11, 2011, 6:30 p.m. at the Mercer Island Community Center. Hope to see you there!
Driving Directions to the Community Center at Mercer View:
8236 SE 24th Street
Mercer Island, WA 98040
(206) 275-7609

I-90 Eastbound from Seattle: take exit #7A, 77th Ave SE. Turn left across the freeway. At stop sign turn right onto North Mercer Way. Go one long block to the stop light. Go straight though the stop light. Turn left onto 81st Avenue SE. Turn right onto SE 24th Street. The Community Center is two blocks up on your left.

I-90 Westbound from Bellevue: take exit #7, Island Crest Way. Continue straight ahead. Turn right on 81st Avenue SE. Turn right on SE 24th Street. The Community Center is two blocks up on your left.

"I Can't Believe So Many People Care about Buses"

Last night as I stood in a crowded room at the Hub in Tacoma, I was reminded why we get up and do what we do everyday at TCC.

At the campaign kickoff for "Save our Buses", the campaign to stave off 35% cuts to bus service in Pierce County, the community came out in full force supporting the measure.  While we were checking people in and the line was snaking out to the door, one of the campaign staffers leaned over to me and said, "This is awesome, I can't believe so many people care about buses."

Working at TCC I have the pleasure, time and time again, to hear why transit service is important to people across Washington State.  Last night we had over 100 people turn out to Save Our Buses in Pierce County because they care, they care about their community and the important role transit plays to build their community.  Last night the room was packed with those stories of why bus service matters.  Whether it was a visually impaired rider who relies on the bus for independence or a Downtown Tacoma commuter who uses the bus to save money, the stories were endless and encouraging.

Thank for turning out for the campaign kick-off !  If you were not able to attend or don't live in Pierce County, please consider visiting the campaign website to learn how you can volunteer or donate approveprop1.com or by visiting the campaign on facebook.  As Rep. Liias pointed out in his editorial today, this election is important not just for Pierce County residents but for advocates of transportation choices from across the state.

Happy rainy Friday, thank you for all that you do and stay tuned.  Here are some photos of last night's festivities.

 A crowded House 

Mayor Strickland Brings the Message Home

Sound Transit Station Access Open Houses

The RAMP blog reports that Sound transit will be holding open houses to provide updates on their South Sounder Station access plans. 

These meetings are important to South Sound supporters of Transportation Choices because public input will help shape ultimately how this money is spent.  Should we fund more shuttle transit service and bike infrastructure to the stations or just build more free parking in the heart of our downtowns?  I bet you can't guess where we stand.

Please attend these meetings and make your voice heard!

WHAT:             In January, Sound Transit will host a series of open houses in South Sound communities to present information on the Sounder Station Access Planning Study. The agency is conducting the study to identify potential improvements in the ways commuters access its Sounder stations.

Possible improvements the agency is studying include increased parking, pedestrian sidewalks, crosswalks and bridges, bicycle commute options, and transit facility enhancements.

Open houses will include:

·         A description of Sound Transit service areas, transit routes, 2011 budget, and the Sound Transit 2 program

·        Objectives of and timeline for the Sounder Station Access Planning Study

·        Overview of existing station access issues and discussion of potential solutions

·        Informal Q & A and public comment

WHEN:  All events take place from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.

Tacoma - Tuesday, Jan. 18University of Washington -Tacoma Jane Russell Commons 1918 Pacific Avenue	Sumner - Wednesday, Jan. 19 Sumner School High School Commons 1707 Main St.
Puyallup - Thursday, Jan. 20Puyallup City Hall: Chamber Hall 333 South Meridian	Lakewood – Tuesday, Jan. 25 Lakewood Boys & Girls Club 10402 Kline St SW
Kent - Wednesday, Jan. 26Kent Senior Activity Center 600 E. Smith Street	Auburn - Thursday, Jan. 27Auburn City Hall: Council Chamber 25 W. Main Street

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!

Five Years and Counting!

The Seattle PI today did a great profile on Anirudh Sahni and his longtime fight to get the ST545 bus to serve Capitol Hill.

TCC was happy to support Anirudh in his efforts to add better Eastside Express service to Capitol Hill in years past.  Ridership numbers have proven this move was not a mistake.

The PI captures Anirudh's energy as a transit advocate to fight for this stop, it is truly a great example to demonstrate the challenges and huge success that one dedicated transit advocate can make.

For more info:
http://cid-c860276fca6026d2.office.live.com/view.aspx/545/Index.docx

Thank you Anirudh!