Our Summer Happy Hour is Tomorrow at 4-6pm!

It is finally summer in the Puget Sound – or at least trying to be.

To celebrate the sporadic sun, instead of having our regular Friday Forum, we will be holding a Friday happy hour. Please join our members, supporters, & future members for this social event! It will be a great opportunity to bring together our friends, celebrate successes for the first half of the year, and catch up with all of you. Also, if you haven’t met our new Membership Manager, Carla Saulter (a.k.a. BusChick), you can do so on August 5th over a cocktail!

Last but not least, we will be announcing some exciting news at the event.

The event is free (though donations are always accepted), and TCC will buy appetizers, but you are on your own for drinks (unless you can get a friend or stranger to buy you one, of course).

WHAT: TCC August Happy Hour
WHEN: Friday August 4-6pm: drop by whenever you can
WHERE: The Triple Door Musicquarium Lounge 216 Union Street, Downtown Seattle

Please RSVP here so we know how many people to except!

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

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

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

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

SEPT. 3 FRIDAY FORUM REMINDER: Visioning Transportation for the Next 20 Years

King & Pierce County residents, join us this Friday for your ONLY chance to hear about and weigh-in on Washington Transportation Plan 2030, the state's 20-year comprehensive transportation plan. What's your vision for transportation across the state over the next 20 years? Washington invests less than 1% of its transportation resources on public transportation, less than just about any other urbanized state. Adding highway capacity has been the state's focus over the last several decades while bicycle and pedestrian needs continue to be an afterthought on most state projects, undercutting our state's climate and land use goals. What's on your wish list for transit, bikes and sidewalks in our region?

Washington Transportation Plan 2030 (WTP 2030) sets a 20-year course for Washington State's transportation system. The plan's goal is to highlight long-term funding shortfalls, service needs, and system-wide mobility and safety needs, along with recommended solutions and approaches aimed at moving the state's transportation network into the future. Again, the Sept. 3 Friday Forum will be the only chance for King and Pierce County residents to hear about the state transportation plan and weigh-in with comments in person. Please plan on attending before you begin your Labor Day weekend.
 
WHAT: Washington Transportation Plan 2030 with Transportation Commissioner Dan O'Neal and Paul Parker, Commission staff lead for WTP 2030.
WHEN: Friday, Sept. 3, 12:00pm - 1:30pm
WHERE:  King County Public Health - Chinook Building, Room 115, 401 Fifth Ave., Seattle (at Jefferson St.)

As always, feel free to bring your lunch.

Co-sponsored by Bicycle Alliance of Washington, Cascade Bicycle Club, Cascade Land Conservancy, Commute Seattle, Feet First, Futurewise, King County Conservation Voters, Sierra Club - Cascade Chapter, and Streets for All Seattle.

Friday Forum Today at Noon!

Just a quick reminder that today at noon is our next Friday Forum where I'll be talking up the 2010 Legislative Session. There will be lots of time for Q and A and I'm sure we'll touch on transit funding, complete streets, and mega projects.

See you there!

WHAT: 2010 Legislative Session Wrap-Up
WHEN: Friday, April 9, 12 - 1:30 pm
WHERE: Downtown YMCA, Room 123 - 909 Fourth Ave., Seattle (between Marion and Madison Streets)

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

Reminder: Friday Forum Lunch in the PARK Celebrate PARK(ing) DAY is Tomorrow!

FRIDAY FORUM: Join Us for Lunch in the PARK Celebrate PARK(ing) DAY
Have lunch plans for tomorrow? Join us for lunch in the park. We're taking over a bunch of parking spaces in Seattle and Tacoma and turning them into parks! And we want you to bring your lunch and hang out at our parks tomorrow, September 18th to celebrate PARK(ing) Day, a global day when parking spots temporarily become public parks. It's a day to remember that Parking Spots = Public Spaces. Public space is limited and valuable and it's an opportunity to rethink the way we balance the use of that space between people and cars.

Stop by either park to show your support and say hello. Transportation Choices Coalition is partnering with the Cascade Land Conservancy, Zipcar, Cascade Bicycle Club , and University of Washington Tacoma to to celebrate PARK(ing) day in Seattle and Tacoma! There will be giveaways, plenty of information and a bicycle-powered smoothie machine!

For information about PARK(ing) DAY, check out http://www.parkingday.org

SEATTLE:
WHEN: Friday, September 18, 10am-2pm
WHERE: 1st Ave between University and Seneca
Co-hosted by: Transportation Choices Coalition, Cascade Land Conservancy, Zipcar, and the Cascade Bicycle Club

TACOMA:
WHEN: Friday, September 18, 10am-2pm
WHERE: Pacific Ave and 19th Street in front of the University of Washington Tacoma (near the UWT Starbucks)
Co-hosted by: Transportation Choices Coalition, Cascade Land Conservancy , Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber of Commerce and the University of Washington Tacoma

Town Hall Part III: Join Us for an All Star Town Hall on the Puget Sound Region's Transportation Future

TOWN HALL: Visioning the Puget Sound Region's Transportation Future
Part III - Perspectives from the State and Federal Level

It has been a busy summer at Transportation Choices and as we head into August, the grand finale of our Transportation Town Hall series is quickly approaching. In May, we heard from an expert panel on some of the challenges facing the region on the transportation front. In June, we discussed a few exciting opportunities to address those challenges. In August, we're pulling out all the stops. Join our all-star panel of legislators and policy staff for a discussion on what it will take at the federal and state level to address our transportation challenges. Get an insight into their vision for the region's transportation future and find out what their plans are to make it happen.

Join us for a special discussion with our panelists:

Senator Mary Margaret Haugen, 10th Legislative District, Chair of the Washington State Senate Transportation Committee
Representative Judy Clibborn, 41st Legislative District, Chair of the Washington State House Transportation Committee
Sheila Babb, Deputy State Director, Office of U.S. Senator Patty Murray
Jennifer Ziegler, Executive Policy Advisor on Transportation, Office of Governor Christine Gregoire

WHEN: Friday August 7, 12:00pm - 1:30pm
WHERE: Bertha Knight Landes Room, Seattle City Hall, 5th Avenue between Cherry and James St. (please note change in venue)

As always, feel free to bring your lunch.

This townhall series is brought to you by
Transportation Choices Coalition, Futurewise, WashPIRG, Sierra Club Cascade Chapter, Bicycle Alliance of Washington, Cascade Bicycle Club, Seattle Transit Blog, Feet First, Commute Seattle and Zipcar


This is one TCC event that you DO NOT want to miss!