Tacoma City Club this Wednesday!

I'll be speaking at Tacoma's City Club this Wednesday in what should be a good event with lively discussion (and I promise fun historic photos with current day political commentary).  

The topic of the program is "Buses and Bikes and Streetcars, Oh My!"

The program will run from 11:30 until 1:15 this Wednesday at the Tacoma Art Museum. To RSVP for the event just email office@cityclubtacoma.org.

Here are the full details, see you on Wednesday:

Don't forget to register today for City Club's lunch this Wednesday about the future of transportation in Tacoma! (Note, if we have confirmed your reservation via email, then we know you're coming).

RSVP by replying to this email by today, September 19, at 5:00 pm. Members: $16; Non-Members $22.

What is Tacoma's transit future? How will rising gas prices affect our mobility around the city?

Diane Wiatr, Mobility Coordinator for the City of Tacoma, and Andrew Austin, with the Transportation Choices Coalition, will speak about Tacoma's transit plans and the state of bike lanes, street car extensions, and getting people moving in Tacoma.

Lunch: Tacoma Art Museum. Doors open at 11:30 a.m., lunch is served at noon and the program ends by 1:15 p.m. 

Special Pricing! City Club is trying out a special pricing option for this program. Lunch will be a light sandwich and salad option, with dessert. Price for the lunch for members is $16 (instead of a normal $22).

Members may still attend for the coffee and dessert rate of $8 and skip the lunch altogether. This is an option available to members only.

Non-members may attend the program for $22.

Carla Saulter Featured in Family Transit Workshop this Saturday!

King County's get in motion campaign is hosting a family transit workshop with TCC employee and transit rockstar Carla Saulter (buschick) as the headliner. 

Don't miss this exciting education event!

Learn about what to carry, how to
know where the bus is going and
when it will arrive, how to keep
kids entertained, and more!

Details: This workshop will be a casual, kid-friendly discussion
group with healthy snacks provided. Free family Zoo passes (good
for 2 adults and 2 children) will be given to the first ten families
who arrive. All participants will receive a family transit guide to
take home.

When: Saturday, 8/6, 10:00 – 11:30 AM
Where: Central Area Motivation Program (CAMP)
722 18th Ave, Squire Park
COST: FREE!

Reminder APRIL FRIDAY FORUM: Transit Funding in a Divided Congress is Today

Reminder APRIL FRIDAY FORUM: Transit Funding in a Divided Congress & What it Means to You is TODAY at NOON!

A few weeks ago we sent out an action alert to asking you to help us save King County Metro's Rapid Ride from drastic funding cuts proposed by the House Republicans in Congress.

Tomorrow we will be bringing you an all star panel to give you all of the information you need on what is going on with transit and transportation funding in Congress.

Looking into the crystal ball isn't easy, but with these rock star panelists, we'll give it our best shot.  As always feel free to bring your lunch and there will be plenty of time for Q and A!

Speakers:

Sheila Babb, Deputy State Director for U.S. Senator Patty Murray
Larry Ehl, Federal Relation Manager, WSDOT
Ron Posthuma, Deputy Director, King County DOT

WHAT: Federal Transportation Funding in a Divided Congress and What it Means to You!
WHEN: Friday APRIL 1st, 12:00 -1:30 pm
WHERE: Seattle-King County Public Health - Chinook Building, Room 121, 401 Fifth Ave.,Seattle

More Events Than you Could Ever Ask For

Transportation continues to be a hot topic in the Puget Sound and across Washington State.

We've been busy at TCC tabling and speaking at various events around the region and there are ton coming up in the next few days and weeks.  For all of those transportation nerds and political junkies there are plenty of events to chose from. So pick one or five, and we'll see you there.

1. TCC's April Friday Forum on federal transit funding in a divided Congress is tomorrow at noon at the  Seattle-King County Public Health - Chinook Building, Room 121, 401 Fifth Ave.,Seattle  
2. Great City is putting on an equitable growth dialogue summit this weekend, Friday and Saturday.  This is shaping up what looks to be a great event.  Friday's event is unfortunately the same time as our Friday Forum at City Hall.  Saturday is a full day of panels with yours truly speaking on the transportation panel with Mayor McGinn and Councilmember Rassumsen.  It should be a lively discussion to say the least. Update: STB had a full agenda posted for Saturday.
3. In a non work related event the Seattle MS walk is on Sunday.  I'll be with the throngs of thousands walking.  If you like seafair clowns come by gasworks park to say hi.  In a work related alert, if you are a Burke-Gilman trail cyclists, stay away Sunday morning between UW and gasworks.  You will not be happy with your travel times.
4. April 8th is the Ms home opener!  Take the bus or train there!
5. As we mentioned in a previous post Pierce Transit's hearings on proposed 35% bus cuts this fall are starting on April 11th in Lakewood and going on through the month of April. If you take the bus in Pierce County please try to attend of of these hearings.  If you can not attend a hearing please send Pierce Transit an e-mail about the proposed cuts HERE!
6. The Second of two series called Getting from Here to There, put on by the Pacific Science Center, Seattle Councilmember Mike O'Brien,'s office, and Streets for All Seattle will be on April 12th at 6:00pm at the Seattle Vocational Institute.  We'll be there tabling before the main event.
7. Also on April 12th the C-Tran public transit board in Clark County will be voting on a measure to put a sales tax vote to the voters this November to save bus service across Clark County.  Clark County folks, please go and testify in support of saving bus service!
8. Publicola reports that King County Metro's report on trolley buses says Metro should replace the aging trolley buses with... trolley buses! There will be a meeting on the findings on April 19th at Plymouth Congressional Church, 1217 6th Ave., Seattle.

Do you have enough to do now? See you out there!

APRIL FRIDAY FORUM:Transit Funding in a Divided Congress & What it Means to You

A few weeks ago we sent out an action alert to asking you to help us save King County Metro's Rapid Ride from drastic funding cuts proposed by the House Republicans in Congress.

Next week we will be bringing you an all star panel to give you all of the information you need on what is going on with transit and transportation funding in Congress.  Will the House Republicans, Senate Democrats, and the President be able to agree on a compromise transportation funding bill? Will the House majoirty follow through on their plan to slash New Starts funding and defund Rapid Ride and other important regional projects? With gas prices and demand for transit climbing, how will Congress respond?

Looking into the crystal ball isn't easy, but with these rock star panelists, we'll give it our best shot.  As always feel free to bring your lunch and there will be plenty of time for Q and A!

Speakers:

Sheila Babb, Deputy State Director for U.S. Senator Patty Murray
Larry Ehl, Federal Relation Manager, WSDOT
Ron Posthuma, Deputy Director, King County DOT

WHAT: Federal Transportation Funding Update & Its Impact on YOU
WHEN: Friday APRIL 1st, 12:00 -1:30 pm
WHERE: Seattle-King County Public Health - Chinook Building, Room 121, 401 Fifth Ave.,Seattle

Coming to You: March Forum on the Transportation For Washington Campaign!

MARCH "FRIDAY" FORUM: Transportation for Washington is on WEDNESDAY the 2nd

The Transportation For Washington campaign is a multi-year effort to reshape how we generate and spend transportation revenue in Washington State. The broad coalition, led by Futurewise and Transportation Choices Coalition, formally launched in February with the announcement of legislation for long-term and sustainable local options for transit funding. Come learn about the campaign’s plans for saving transit service, fixing our crumbling roads and bridges and building healthy, sustainable communities all over Washington.

Speakers:
Viet Shelton, Campaign Director, Transportation for Washington Coalition
Brock Howell, Field Manager, Transportation for Washington Coalition

WHAT: Transportation for Washington Campaign Forum
WHEN:  Wednesday, March 2nd, Noon-1:15 (Please Note Date Change)
WHERE: Space on the Steps, GGLO, 1301 First Avenue, Seattle (enter from Harbor Steps) (please note new location)

This forum is co-hosted by TCC and Futurewise.  As always, feel free to bring your lunch!

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS OF THE FRIDAY FORUM SERIES

PLATINUM
AECOMCH2MHill
Vulcan

GOLD
The Boeing Company
HDR Inc.
Parametrix
Parsons Brinckerhoff
Seattle Children's Hospital
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
UW Transportation Services
SILVER
HNTB Corporation
Wilbur Smith Associates

Speaking of the 520 Bridge and Tolls... Come to our Two Friday Forums in Feb.

Speaking of 520 Publicola picked up on the King 5 poll today.

I also failed to mention in my blog post yesterday that our Friday Forums next Month and Seattle and Bellevue will be all about 520 design and tolling, so make sure to join us for February's Friday Forums!

FEBRUARY FRIDAY FORUM: 520 Design and Tolling Update

For the month of February we will be having two Friday Forums, one in Seattle and one in Bellevue.  The topic of this month’s forum is State Route 520 and it will be your opportunity to get a comprehensive update on the tolling and design plans around the 520 project.  Don't forget tolling will begin on the 520 bridge this Spring!  Please join us as we host Washington State Department of Transportation staff for an interactive discussion on State Route 520 in Bellevue and Seattle!

WHAT: 520 Design and Tolling (Seattle Forum)
WHEN: Friday February 4th, 12:00 -1:30 pm
WHERE: Seattle-King County Public Health - Chinook Building, Room 121, 401 Fifth Ave.,Seattle

WHAT: 520 Design and Tolling (Bellevue Forum)
WHEN: Friday February 11th, 12:00 -1:30 pm
WHERE: Parametrix Bellevue, Conference Center on the Ground Floor, 411 108th Ave NE, Bellevue

As always, feel free to bring your lunch!

The Seattle Presenters Will Be:

Kerry Ruth, SR 520, I-5 to Medina Project Engineering Manager

 Janet Matkin,WSDOT Toll Division Communications Manager

Bellevue Presenters Will Be:

 Janet Matkin,WSDOT Toll Division Communications Manager

Daniel Babuca, SR 520, Eastside Transit & HOV Project Design Engineering Manager

What is the Deal with Parking?

TCC is happy to join the Downtown Seattle Association and a host of other groups in co-sponsoring a parking forum on Jan 26th.  This is should be a great event, and we hope to see you there!

Park Smart: A Forum to Raise the Bar on Good Parking Policy

Parking has been a hot topic in the news over the last year. Reading the headlines and blogs you’d think there were just two points of view: those who think free parking Downtown is an inalienable right, and those who want to force everyone out of their cars onto transit or bicycles. We think it’s time to elevate the discussion about parking in Seattle and assess what we can learn from other cities to better manage the parking we have so that it supports a healthy, vibrant urban core. We’ve assembled a terrific panel that includes policy makers, national experts, transportation officials and a UW researcher to lead an informed discussion about the best approaches to managing parking in dense urban areas.

Bring a lunch to this FREE forum (no registration necessary) hosted by Seattle City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, chair of Seattle’s Transportation Committee; and moderated by Downtown Seattle Association President Kate Joncas.

        Time: 11:45am – 1:15pm

        Date:  Wednesday, January 26

        Location: Seattle City Hall, Bertha Knight Landes Room 600

Featured Panelists:    

L. Dennis Burns, CAPP, Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc.
Dennis Burns is a senior practice builder and regional vice president for Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. Burns is a certified administrator of pubilc parking and has nearly 30 years of parking operations, management and consulting experience. His focus in recent years includes parking and transportation strategic planning, ’smart parking‘ system development and urban space management concepts. In 2010, Mr. Burns was the recipient of International Parking Institute's ”Parking Professional of the Year,“ and was a featured speaker at the first-ever Green Gov Symposium in Washington, DC.

Rick Williams, BPM Development Company

Rick Williams is a transportation demand management expert from Portland, OR with more than 20 years of experience. From 1989-1995, he managed Portland’s 3,500-stall Smart Park system and its 208-block downtown business improvement district. In 1995, Mr. Williams helped establish the Lloyd Transportation Management Association, and currently works both as its executive director and as an independent transportation management consultant for clients throughout North America.

Joining the panel will be Seattle City Councilmember Tim Burgess, sponsor of variable price parking legislation, and Daniel J. Evans School of Public Affairs Senior Lecturer Daniel Carlson, who specializes in community and economic development, and transportation and land use in metropolitan areas. Seattle Department of Transportation Parking Operations and Traffic Permits Manager Mike Estey will also discuss the City's new on-street parking policy.

Presented by: Downtown Seattle Association, BOMA, City of Seattle, Commute Seattle, GreatCity, Seattle Hotel Association, Washington Restaurant Association and Transportation Choices Coalition

Reminder Friday Forum on Federal FTA/HUD Partnership update TODAY at Noon!

This is just a quick reminder that our January Friday Forum is Tomorrow at Noon! Please join us for an update on the US Department of Transportation and US Housing and Urban Development Sustainable Communities Partnership.  Please join TCC, Ron Posthuma (Assistant Director of  The Office of Regional Transportation Planning at King County Metro), Mary McBride (HUD Region 10 Administrator), and the Federal Transit Administration for a quick update on what is going on in Congress and an in-depth look at local impacts of the sustainable communities partnership between HUD and DOT. 

WHAT: Federal Transportation Update
WHEN: Friday January 7th, 12:00 -1:30 pm
WHERE: Seattle-King County Public Health - Chinook Building, Room 121, 401 Fifth Ave., Seattle

As always, feel free to bring your lunch!

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS OF THE FRIDAY FORUM SERIES

PLATINUM
AECOM
CH2MHill
Vulcan

GOLD
The Boeing Company
HDR Inc.
Parametrix
Parsons Brinckerhoff
Seattle Children's Hospital
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
UW Transportation Services

SILVER
HNTB Corporation
Wilbur Smith Associates

Be a Transit Ambassador!

Blog post from Transportation Choices Coalition - Calling all Southeast Seattle residents! Do you take tran­sit or bike to get around? Want to help your neighbors try it out? We've got an exciting offer for you. In our last newsletter, we highlighted an exciting new commu­nity outreach project to help residents try other trans­portation alternatives like transit, walking and biking.

With warmer weather coming our way, our outreach will soon kick into high gear. We are in search of friendly, out­going transit advocates who live in the Rainier Valley area and who would like to be trained as Transit Ambassadors.

We've got a whole host of incentives for you and other­ residents who want to check out the transportation choices in their neighborhood. All we need is your commitment to recruit your friends and neighbors and we'll do the rest.

Using innovative, incentive-based strategies to connect transportation costs, health benefits, household savings, and the environment with transportation alternatives like transit, walking and biking, we hope to engage residents and build long-term capacity within communities in SE Seattle to advocate for transportation alternatives.



If you are looking for a fun way to engage your neighbors and friends and help spread the word about SE Seattle's great transportation options, please contact Shefali at shefali@transportationchoices.org or call us at 206-329-2336 and we'll sign you up!

Don't Forget! Friday Forums in Bellevue and Tacoma Tomorrow!

FRIDAY FORUMS: Join Us on Friday in Bellevue or Tacoma

This Friday we're hosting a Friday Forum double header! Pick your city and join us for an excellent discussion on all things transportation. In Bellevue, the planned extension of light rail to Overlake sets up plenty of opportunites to create communities that are affordable, pedestrian and bike friendly with great connections to transit. We'll be discussing these opportunities and more. In Tacoma, Pierce Transit is looking to reshape its bus system while Sound Transit is extending commuter rail. What will this mean for the city and how does the city's Mixed Use Centers Plan update complement these transit plans? Join our expert panel to find out.

Bellevue: Transit Oriented Communities in Bellevue and Beyond - Challenges and Opportunities
With the adoption of its Bel-Red plan, the City of Bellevue has launched one of the nation's most far reaching Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) efforts. Other Eastside cities, such as Redmond and Mercer Island have substantially changed the way they plan for development and how they see their residents moving around in coming decades. But there are major impediments to how these cities and others in the region will be able to meet their TOD objectives and absorb rapidly expanding populations and workforces. Join us for a discussion of both the challenges and new opportunities of TOD on the Eastside, with the findings of new reports from Futurewise and their partners (including TCC), as well as the Quality Growth Alliance, serving as the basis for this discussion.

As always, feel free to bring your lunch.

WHAT: Transit Oriented Communities in Bellevue and Beyond with Sara Nikolic, Futurewise, presenting Transit Oriented Communities: A Blueprint for Washington State
A representative from the Quality Growth Alliance, presenting their new report, TOD and Urban Centers, From Barriers to Solutions and Best Practices
WHEN: Friday, November 13, 12 - 1:30 pm
WHERE: Room 1e-108 Bellevue City Hall 450 110th Ave. NE, Bellevue

Take the bus to Bellevue! Sound Transit Express 550 offers frequent bus service from downtown Seattle to the Bellevue Transit Center, less than a block away from City Hall. Plan your trip here.

Tacoma: Transportation in Tacoma for the 21st Century
Tacoma and the South Sound face many tough decisions as we plan for the future of our transportation system. How do we extend the Tacoma Streetcar system? How do we reshape Pierce Transit's bus system? How do parking policies affect the city's to make streets more walkable? Please join us for an engaging conversation with Tacoma's transportation experts.

As always, feel free to bring your lunch.

PANEL: Lynn Griffith, Pierce Transit CEO
Eric Anderson, City Manager of Tacoma
David Hiller, Advocacy Director of the Cascade Bicycle Club
Ric Ilgenfritz, Planning Director Sound Transit
WHEN: Friday, November 13, 12 - 1:30 pm
WHERE: Simpson Room, Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber , 950 Pacific Ave, Tacoma

Take the bus to Tacoma! Sound Transit Express 594 offers frequent bus service from downtown Seattle to downtown Tacoma. Plan your trip here.

This event is co-sponsored by Transportation Choices Coalition, The City of Tacoma, The Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber

Thank you to our sponsors of the Friday Forum Series
PLATINUM
Vulcan Inc.

GOLD
CH2M Hill
The Boeing Company
HDR Inc.

SILVER
Jacobs and Associates | IBI Group | HNTB Corporation | Parsons Brinckerhoff
Wilbur Smith Associates | Bricklin Newman Dold

Coverage of Tacoma Candidate Forum

Thank you to all of our co-hosts who helped make the Tacoma Land Use and Candidate forum a success last week. We had over 100 of people there and the discussion was very insightful.

Lewis at the TNT put up a comprehensive blog post covering the debate.

http://blog.thenewstribune.com/politics/2009/10/02/city-candidates-talk-transpo/

I've also posted a few pictures from the forum on our facebook page.

A big shout of thanks to the Cascade Bike Club which sponsored the production of the video, which will online and on Click TV in a few days. I'll post that link here once its up.

Thanks again to everyone who came and co-hosted!

Reminder: CANDIDATES FORUM: What's Their Vision for Transportation and Land Use in Tacoma?

It's election season in Tacoma. At stake this year is the Mayoral election and four City Council Candidate races. The Puget Sound Regional Council predicts that the City of Tacoma is expected to grow by 127,000 people in the next 30 years. Earlier this year the City proactively planned for this growth by passing the Mixed-Use Centers update, fulfilling this vision of creating vibrant mixed use centers is an exciting opportunity with many challenges.

So what do the candidates think about transportation? Parking policy? Managing the city's growth and keeping neighborhoods vibrant? Integrating economic development with climate change goals and land use planning? Find out the answers to these questions and more at the very first candidates forum on transportation and land use.

WHEN: Thursday, Oct 1st, 6:30-8:30pm
WHERE: Carwein Auditorium, UWT

The forum is open to the public and transportation related questions for the candidates can be submitted prior to the event to juliap@tacomachamber.org. For general event questions or media inquires contact Andrew Austin at Andrew@transportationchoices.org.

This event is brought to you by:
Transportation Choices Coalition, The Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber, University of Washington Urban Studies Program, Futurewise, Cascade Bicycle Club, Tacoma Wheelman's Bicycle Club, Tacoma Sun, Cascade Land Conservancy, and Exit 133

October 1st Tacoma Mayoral/City Council Transportation and Land-Use Forum

Please save the date an join us for this exciting event!

Tacoma Mayoral/City Council Transportation and Land-Use Forum

The Puget Sound Regional Council predicts that the City of Tacoma is expected to grow by 127,000 people in the next 30 years. Earlier this year the City proactively planned for this growth by passing the Mixed-Use Centers update, fulfilling this vision of creating vibrant mixed use centers is an exciting opportunity with many challenges.

What will Tacoma’s Transportation system look like in 20 years? Will our streetscape be dotted with streetcars, bike lanes, and working sidewalking next to walkable mixed-use communities? How will we manage our growth in a way that creates vibrant neighborhoods and urban centers? What transportation infrastructure and policies will be needed to keep our city moving and encourage smart development? What is the role of parking policy in the discussion? How will we pay for the transportation and land-use challenges that lie ahead? How will the city integrate its economic development and climate change goals with its land-use and transportation plan?

On Thursday, October 1st, Please Join Transportation Choices Coalition, The Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber and an exciting group of co-hosting organizations for an evening lively debate as we pose these questions of this nature to the Tacoma City Council and Mayoral Candidates.

The forum is open to the public, and transportation related questions for the candidates can be submitted prior to the event to juliap@tacomachamber.org. For general event questions or media inquires contact Andrew Austin at Andrew@transportationchoices.org.

EVENT INFORMATION
When: Thursday, Oct 1st, 6:30-8:30pm
Where: Carwein Auditorium, UWT

Event Co-Hosts: Transportation Choices Coalition, The Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber, University of Washington Urban Studies Program, Futurewise, Cascade Bicycle Club, Tacoma Wheelman’s Bicycle Club, Tacoma Sun, Cascade Land Conservancy, Exit 133,