tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20132685485112140572024-03-13T08:58:28.339-07:00Moving AheadThe Official Transportation Choices Coalition Blog; your inside source for transportation politics and advocacy in Washington State.Transportation Choiceshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16934894362084310688noreply@blogger.comBlogger425125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2013268548511214057.post-54502252796301181602011-10-12T09:38:00.000-07:002011-10-12T09:38:09.442-07:00Reminder: Blog Has MovedJust a reminder, our blog has officially moved to our new blog page:<br />
<a href="http://transportationchoices.org/blog">http://transportationchoices.org/blog</a><br />
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Please add our new blog page to your feed as I will be shutting down this blog within the week.<br />
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Thank you for sticking with us as we update and improve our technology and communications.Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01060028960898970701noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2013268548511214057.post-4052196747920079562011-10-04T10:35:00.000-07:002011-10-04T10:35:11.467-07:00The blog is moving!Having you seen our fancy new website yet? If not you need to <a href="http://transportationchoices.org/">go check it out ASAP.</a><br />
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Part of our 21st century website is that we have the blog integrated into the home page. <br />
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Blogger has been good to us, but that means it is time to say goodbye. Please adjust your feeds and readers to our new blog page:<br />
<a href="http://transportationchoices.org/blog">http://transportationchoices.org/blog </a><br />
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I'll leave this page up for a few more days, slowly move over some older most read posts, and then we'll fully shut off the blogger page and move to our new integrated blog page.<br />
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Thanks for reading!Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01060028960898970701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2013268548511214057.post-24721652789327850102011-09-21T15:43:00.000-07:002011-09-21T15:57:33.886-07:00We welcome four new board members including former Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Transportation Choices Coalition Board of Directors welcomes four new members. Joining TCC’s board are Greg Nickels, Genesee Adkins, Josh Kavanagh and Pearl Leung. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">“People are looking for an affordable alternative to driving roads that are increasingly in disrepair and paying high gas prices. But we’re cutting transit service as demand is going up. TCC is in a great position to push for meaningful reform in our transportation system, making sure it works for everyone and gets Washington moving again,” said Kathleen Huckabay, TCC board president and former Sammamish City Councilmember. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">“TCC is really fortunate to have such an outstanding class of new board members to help us succeed. They bring a wealth of experience and skills that will bolster the organization’s ability to fulfill our mission of advocating for reform and real transportation choices for everyone.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Serving three year terms, the four join TCC as it is poised to help Washington state step up to the challenge of enacting meaningful reform to transportation policy and making critical investments in our infrastructure to give people transportation choices and keep our state moving forward.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">“I’m honored to join TCC’s board. As Mayor, we worked together to expand light rail, tackled Seattle’s transportation maintenance backlog, and wrote complete streets legislation,” said Greg Nickels, former Mayor of Seattle. “I’m looking forward to the next set of transportation challenges facing our state, ensuring that we provide long-term funding to meet the growing demand for transit service and that we make smart investments to build great communities.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">TCC will welcome the new board members at their annual event ‘What Choices Look Like’ Thursday September 22<sup>nd</sup> from 5:30 – 7:30pm at EM Fine Art Gallery – 410 Dexter Avenue North in Seattle. At that event TCC will also be launching their new website and logo as part of a complete rebranding of Transportation Choices.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Below are short bios on the new board members:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Genesee Adkins is the Director of Government Relations for King County Executive Dow Constantine. She holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and political science from the University of Rochester. She is the county’s chief lobbyist in Olympia on state legislative issues and oversees the county’s federal priorities and lobbying in Washington, DC.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Josh Kavanagh is the Director of Transportation at the University of Washington where he oversees the U-PASS transportation demand management program (transit, ridesharing, & active transportation), on-campus shuttles, parking, and fleet management. He serves in national and regional leadership positions with the Association for Commuter Transportation and International Parking Institute. He holds an MBA from the University of New Mexico.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Pearl Leung is the Community Relations Manager at Vulcan, Inc, where she is responsible for the development and implementation of public outreach strategies and education of Vulcan projects and initiatives. She holds a Masters in Urban Planning from UW and also is a commissioner of the Washington State Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">Greg Nickels was the 51<sup>st</sup> Mayor of Seattle serving from 2002-2009. During his tenure as Mayor, he was both a local and national leader on climate change, creating the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, which now boasts commitments from over a 1,000 Mayors representing 86 million Americans. In 2008, Nickels spearheaded the effort to pass an $18 billion expansion of light rail to build out a 52-mile system in the Puget Sound region. Most recently, he has served as a Public Delegate (citizen ambassador) of the United States to the 65th General Assembly of the United Nations.</span></div>Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01060028960898970701noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2013268548511214057.post-67537769011657975722011-09-20T09:49:00.000-07:002011-09-20T09:49:43.004-07:00Today is Don't X Out Public Transit Day<div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Today is a national day of action asking Congress not to X out Public Transportation.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span></span>The day is of action is focused on what the real world local impacts would be to transit systems if the proposed House Republican cuts went through in a future transportation bill at the federal level.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</div>In conjunction with the day of action across the country APTA has released a report highlighting the local impacts by state if the House cuts plan went through. <span style="font-size: small;"><span> First and foremost, under the Republican plan over 600,000 transit jobs cut across the country would be lost. Additionally, the House cuts plan would slash new starts funding as well as capital budgets in a way that would hurt nearly every transit agency in Washington State. <span> </span>At a time when our transit agencies' budgets are already constrained these national cuts would likely lead to further service cuts across the state.<span> </span>A reduction in new starts would have grave impacts for Metro’s Rapid Ride program and Sound Transit’s University Link.<span> </span><b>In sum, APTA estimates that under the House reduction plan WA State transit agencies would lose $565 million dollars over the next 6 years and over 20,000 jobs!</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span>What can you do? <a href="http://capwiz.com/napta/issues/alert/?alertid=53725506">Click Here and tell Congress not to X out public transportation!</a></span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5eBxm8l1hNw/TZz4BA_yqmI/AAAAAAAAAGc/GriHFkuQCCg/s1600/C-Tran_early_morning_commuters_board_hybrid_bus.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5eBxm8l1hNw/TZz4BA_yqmI/AAAAAAAAAGc/GriHFkuQCCg/s1600/C-Tran_early_morning_commuters_board_hybrid_bus.gif" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span> </span></span>Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01060028960898970701noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2013268548511214057.post-35141211791441553522011-09-19T12:24:00.000-07:002011-09-20T12:44:50.991-07:00Moving Planet Seattle This SaturdayThis weekend, come celebrate <em>Moving Planet: A Day to Move Beyond Fossil Fuels,</em> a community gathering with workshops, events, and a rally calling for clean energy and transportation solutions for the 21st century. There will be lots of fun and exciting activities as well as compelling discussions with interesting speakers. Stop by for a fun Saturday, learn a lot, and show your support for a healthier environment! Below is the schedule:<br /><br /><strong><em>Take Action</em></strong><br /><strong>10am-12pm:</strong><strong> China Harbor Restaurant on Lake Union</strong><br /><strong>2040 Westlake Ave N, Seattle</strong><br />Learn how to be a powerful advocate at two concurrent workshops: Power Past Coal and Transportation for Washington. More information on activist workshops: <a href="http://cascade.sierraclub.org/node/2716">http://cascade.sierraclub.org/node/2716</a>.<br /><br /><em><strong>Move Yourself & Have Fun!</strong><br /></em><strong>12-2pm:</strong> <strong>Lake Union Park</strong><br /><strong>860 Terry Ave N, Seattle</strong><br />Join the parade of boats and bikes, feet and wheels, pedaling, rowing, sailing, walking, dancing, and skating all around Lake Union, and lots of other family fun activities at noon. Music by the Black Whales starts at 1pm.<br /><br /><strong><em>Rally to Move Beyond Fossil Fuels!</em><br />2-3pm: Lake Union Park</strong><br /><strong>860 Terry Ave N, Seattle</strong><br />Show your support for moving beyond fossil fuels while enjoying inspirational speakers, community information booths, and a crowd photo for 350.org.<br /><br /><strong>RSVP for the rally: </strong><a href="http://www.facebook.com/MovingPlanetSeattle"><strong>www.facebook.com/MovingPlanetSeattle</strong></a><br /><strong>or </strong><a href="http://www.moving-planet.org/seattle"><strong>www.moving-planet.org/seattle</strong></a><br /><br /><strong>Speakers include:<br />Michael McGinn</strong>, Mayor of Seattle<br /><strong>Christopher Williams</strong>, Seattle Parks & Recreation Superintendent<br /><strong>Sarah van Gelder</strong>, YES! magazine Executive Editor<br /><strong>KC Golden</strong>, ClimateSolutions Policy Director<br /><strong>Lisa Quinn</strong>, FeetFirst Executive Director<br /><strong>Rev. Rich Lang</strong>, University Temple United Methodist Church<br /><br /><strong><em>Engage on Environmental Justice<br /></em>4:30-6pm</strong>: <strong>Plymouth United Church of Christ</strong><br /><strong>1217 6th Ave, Seattle </strong><br />Be inspired by recipients of the David Brower Youth Award given to outstanding young adults working on environmental justice issues in their home communities. Stay for a reception marking the launch of the new national United Church of Christ Environmental Justice Center in the Seattle area.<br /><br />More info at <a href="http://www.moving-planet.org/seattle">http://www.moving-planet.org/seattle</a>.Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01475882939426324081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2013268548511214057.post-4564657573486862552011-09-19T11:23:00.000-07:002011-09-19T15:11:38.115-07:00Neighborhood Greenways: This ThursdayMark Lear and Greg Raisman, the "dynamic duo" behind Portland's Neighborhood Greenways program, are coming to the Unversity of Washington to explain the dramatic transformation happening on Portland's street right now. Within five years, Portland will have transformed itself into a city where 80% of residents live within a half-mile of a "Neighborhood Greenway," a family-friendly street where families can safely enjoy bicycle rides together and kids can walk to school, to the park, and even play basketball in the street. Neighborhood Greenways are solving neighborhood concerns about walking and biking safety and these new streets have given residents an increased sense of community and improved quality of life.<br /><br />Come listen to their stories and learn how Seattle can follow their lead:<br /><br /><strong>Where: UW - Savery Hall, Room 264<br />When: Thursday, September 22, 7PM</strong><br /><br /><strong>Facebook Event Page</strong>:<br /><a href="https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=105586422882727">https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=105586422882727</a><br /><br />If you are heading to our fundraiser first (at 5:30) you can show up to this event a little late.Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01475882939426324081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2013268548511214057.post-56158291077772836892011-09-19T10:25:00.000-07:002011-09-19T10:25:44.050-07:00Tacoma City Club this Wednesday!<div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">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). </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">The topic of the program is "Buses and Bikes and Streetcars, Oh My!"</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">The program will run from 11:30 until 1:15 this Wednesday at the Tacoma Art Museum. To RSVP for the event just email <a href="mailto:office@cityclubtacoma.org">office@cityclubtacoma.org</a>.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here are the full details, see you on Wednesday:</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"></div><blockquote><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;">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).</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> </div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>RSVP by replying to this email by today, September 19, at 5:00 pm. Members: $16; Non-Members $22.</strong></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> </div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="" name="LETTER.BLOCK32" shape="rect">What is Tacoma's transit future? How will rising gas prices affect our mobility around the city?</a></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="" name="LETTER.BLOCK32" shape="rect"> </a></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="" name="LETTER.BLOCK32" shape="rect" style="font-family: inherit;"> <div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">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.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">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. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><em><span face="Verdana, Geneva">Special Pricing! </span><span face="Verdana, Geneva">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).</span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><em><span face="Verdana, Geneva"> </span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><em><span face="Verdana, Geneva">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.</span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> </div></a></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><div style="display: inline ! important; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="" name="LETTER.BLOCK32" shape="rect"><span face="Verdana, Geneva">Non-members may attend the program for $22.</span></a></span></div></blockquote>Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01060028960898970701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2013268548511214057.post-17700757710121458232011-09-14T15:45:00.000-07:002011-09-14T16:45:45.193-07:00Park(ing) Day This Friday<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Lr-jP54hAzw/TnEwB6IJeCI/AAAAAAAAABI/A0rS0bzDEpA/s1600/park3_crop.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 209px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652351816668117026" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Lr-jP54hAzw/TnEwB6IJeCI/AAAAAAAAABI/A0rS0bzDEpA/s320/park3_crop.jpg" /></a>This Friday, TCC will be celebrating <a href="http://parkingday.org/">Park(ing) Day</a>. We have rented out some parking spaces and will be turning them into the smallest, but coolest, park in town for the day. The event is designed to show how much space parking takes up in a city and how that space might otherwise be used. It will also be really fun, so stop by sometime between 9am and 3pm. We'll be on 1st Ave between Seneca and University.Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01475882939426324081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2013268548511214057.post-58487009685612419282011-09-14T15:29:00.000-07:002011-09-14T16:42:51.296-07:00Tacoma Link Commerce Street Station opens on Sept 29th<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Sound Transit and the City of Tacoma will welcome light rail passenger service to the new Commerce Street stop in downtown Tacoma tomorrow. The new Tacoma Link station at 11<sup>th</sup> and Commerce Street marks the sixth stop on the 1.6-mile line that serves as a major connector in downtown Tacoma. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Downtown On the Go will host a dedication ceremony at the new stop on at 2 p.m. on Sept. 29 to celebrate the opening. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">The project was paid for and led by the city of Tacoma in coordination with Sound Transit. It includes two 40-foot platforms – one on the west side of Commerce Street for southbound riders and another on the east side for northbound travelers – platform lighting, accessibility ramps, security cameras, and passenger shelters that incorporate etched glass artwork by Tacoma artist Chandler O’Leary. The new station opens at a time when ridership on Tacoma Link is growing, increasing 16 percent in the last year to 3,330 riders a day.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> “Our new light rail station will not only give business district transit users greater access to Tacoma Link,” said Mayor Marilyn Strickland, “but also bring residents, commuters, and visitors to more destinations, making it even easier for people to get around downtown.” </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Join the celebration on the 29th!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></span></div>Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01060028960898970701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2013268548511214057.post-43348950313136131462011-09-11T17:14:00.000-07:002011-09-12T17:04:55.913-07:00Portland Transit Authority: TriMet's Troublesome Transit Tax<div style="text-align: justify;">Most people never really think about how their transit agency gets its revenue. Funding is what primarily determines how much transit service will be available, so it is vitally important to understand these issues. For this installment of Portland Transit Authority, I will focus on the funding structure of TriMet, the Portland region's transit agency. In particular, I will explore how TriMet is very different from most transit agencies and what impact that has on transit service and investment. We will find that the same mechanisms that have helped create a model transit agency may also be unsustainable in the long run.<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span>Most transit agencies receive the bulk of their funding from sales tax, but TriMet instead relies on a <a href="http://portlandafoot.org/w/TriMet_payroll_tax">payroll tax</a> of 0.6918% on employers in the transit district. Payroll taxes and sales taxes share the unfortunate quality of fluctuating in response to the overall economy, but it is worth parsing out how they are different. Payroll taxes are not as universal, since they only apply to employed people, whereas sales tax is paid by pretty much everyone. Payroll taxes are also obviously dependent on employment, and thus are arguably worse off in the current jobless recovery in which consumer spending is starting to increase but employment has yet to respond. Finally, the payroll tax is somewhat more regressive than a sales tax, assuming that essentials like food are not subject to the sales tax. After all, a person has a fair amount of control over how much sales tax they pay, while the payroll tax is a flat tax on all employees. The counterargument would be that at least unemployed people do not have to pay the tax, but of course the reality is that many gainfully employed people are still deep in poverty.<br /><br />TriMet's payroll tax is also different from most transit agencies in that the tax rate goes up by a small amount each year automatically. Over the next 12 years the rate will gradually increase from .6918% to .8218%. This system has been a key to TriMet's success in building out its frequent bus network and MAX light rail system, since in normal times they have been able to rely on a steadily increasing stream of revenue over time. The recent drop in employment, however, has exposed some problems inherent in using a revenue source that only gradually increases.<br /><br />The main problem is a lack of flexibility. While a Washington transit agency like C-Tran has the option to pursue a <a href="http://www.c-tran.com/ballot_measure.html">ballot measure</a> to increase funding in response to the economic downturn, TriMet is stuck with a payroll tax that increases at such a slow rate that it will take an estimated 10 years to restore recently cut service levels. Another <a href="http://portlandtransport.com/archives/2010/12/the_hidden_leak.html">problem</a> is that with an aging workforce, overall wage growth will be much lower than projections in the coming decades. With a smaller percentage of the population in the workforce, reliance on a payroll tax may not make much sense anymore.<br /><br />One other funding tool TriMet has at its disposal is the ability to bond against future payroll tax revenue. This controversial practice basically involves taking away future operating dollars to use for current capital expenses. TriMet has recently borrowed $60 million in this way for the Milwaukie Light Rail project, and is also planning to use debt to purchase new vehicles over the next several years. This is could prove to be an unsustainable practice in the long-term. Without new revenue sources to pay back these bonds, TriMet will be left using operating revenue to service debt instead of investing in service hours. For the time being, debt service consumes about 5% of TriMet's <a href="http://trimet.org/pdfs/tip/tip.pdf">total expenditures</a>, but this will continue to grow as the agency is forced to borrow to pay for needed capital expenses.<br /><br />To me it is clear that the state of Oregon needs to grant TriMet a new and different taxing authority. Otherwise the agency will continue to go deeper into debt and transit riders will continue to see falling service hours and rising fares. Highway tolls and vehicle license fees are two options often used elsewhere, and have an added benefit of making transit more attractive as an alternative to driving, leading to higher ridership and higher farebox revenues. Tolls in particular help level the playing field by making the marginal cost of driving approach the marginal cost of taking transit.<br /><br />Another attractive option would be a small sales tax to supplement the payroll tax. Even a 1% sales tax in the TriMet service area would generate substantial revenue without having a substantial negative impact on area retailers. After all, it would still be far less than the 8.2% rate in neighboring Vancouver, WA. The state of Oregon has repeatedly rejected a state sales tax, but perhaps it would be appropriate look at giving cities and regions a local option to tax themselves for better service. Whatever the solution, something needs to change for TriMet to live up to its reputation as one of the nation's best transit agencies.<br /><br /></div>Zefhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01602762649612383313noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2013268548511214057.post-90107402977347596552011-09-08T11:28:00.000-07:002011-09-08T11:28:56.139-07:00You ought to be in pictures!<div style="color: black; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Calling all photo enthusiasts! TCC invites all budding photographers to submit photos of your favorite transportation-oriented locations </span></span><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">for </span></span><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><a href="http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=OOp2X3FlbGnuP%2FQRQ2vBvxyFhfxQYtSq" target="_blank" title="http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=OOp2X3FlbGnuP%2FQRQ2vBvxyFhfxQYtSq">our upcoming annual fundraiser on Sept 22</a>,</span></span><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> “What Choices Look Like.” </span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><span style="color: black;"> </span><div style="color: black; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Got a kickin' sunset shot along the Myrtle Edwards bike path? How about a cityscape shot taken from the light rail? Or, maybe you want to capture your favorite bus line/bus stop, pedestrian crossing, or transit hub. Submissions can be photos of locations with or without people in them, but all submissions must be original work and include a mode of transportation. Please provide a photo caption that describes where the photo was taken, and why it represents "what choices look like." <br />
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We'll leave it up to the sound judgment of TCC staff to pick the best photos, so show us what you've got! Several photos will be showcased at “What Choices Look Like,” our highly attended annual fundraiser. (Did you <a href="http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=DwymBZynaHvyyQgS%2F5icw4zCCaUwpZuM" target="_blank" title="http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=DwymBZynaHvyyQgS%2F5icw4zCCaUwpZuM">register</a> yet? What better way to spend World Car-free Day on September 22?)</span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><span style="color: black;"> </span><div style="color: black; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><a href="http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=0UF5teZmqJ%2FckWjYoiW5wRyFhfxQYtSq" target="_blank" title="http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=0UF5teZmqJ%2FckWjYoiW5wRyFhfxQYtSq"><b title="http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=0UF5teZmqJ%2FckWjYoiW5wRyFhfxQYtSq">Buy your ticket today and get an early bird discount! </b></a><br />
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Give us your best shot! Send your photo submissions in .jpeg format in the largest file size possible to Jennifer Olegario at <a href="mailto:jennifer@transportationchoices.org" target="_blank" title="mailto:jennifer@transportationchoices.org">jennifer@transportationchoices.org</a> by <b>Tuesday, September 13</b>.</span></span></div>Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01060028960898970701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2013268548511214057.post-80381590356236188972011-09-08T10:32:00.000-07:002011-09-08T10:48:47.510-07:00Transit Oriented Communities Workshop is Tomorrow In Shoreline!Be there or be left out!<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><i>\</i>Transit-oriented communities are all the rage right now in North King County and South Snohomish County. Sound Transit is expanding the Link Light Rail, the City of Shoreline just adopted a “Town Center Plan,” and the City of Bothell has developed a Downtown Revitalization Plan.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal">So what does this all mean?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal">To help set the vision for transit-oriented communities and discuss tools for implementation,<b> the organizations Futurewise and Transportation Choices Coalition and the architecture firm GGLO will present an informative workshop and visual exhibit at the Shoreline Public Library on Friday, September 9 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal">“There is a real desire to improve the quality of life in our neighborhoods by providing better access to walking, biking and transit, and more affordable housing options,” said Brock Howell, King County Program Director for Futurewise. “We hope our workshop on transit-oriented communities can help inform these policy discussions.”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal">The workshop will feature a presentation by representatives from Futurewise and GGLO. Participants will explore a vision for compact urban areas and the protection of our farms, forestlands, and green space, and how to make it happen.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal">Futurewise launched its <i>Transit-Oriented Communities (TOC) Blueprint program</i> to encourage more housing and transportation choices for Washingtonians. The program advances vibrant and healthy neighborhoods through a comprehensive report and action plan, a traveling gallery exhibit, and community meetings across the state to promote growth near transit. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal">The Blueprint program is anchored by a comprehensive publication <i>Blueprint for Transit Oriented Communities</i> (<a href="http://futurewise.org/priorities/resources/publications/TOC%20Blueprint%20Final%2011-23-09%20for%20Website.pdf" title="http://futurewise.org/priorities/resources/publications/TOC%20Blueprint%20Final%2011-23-09%20for%20Website.pdf">pdf</a>). It’s an action plan for promoting neighborhoods that give people greater access to housing, jobs, shopping, and recreation without relying on a personal vehicle. Created by GGLO, Futurewise, and Transportation Choices Coalition, the purpose of the <i>Blueprint</i> is to provide guidance and inspiration for the community at large, and also to serve as an advocacy manual for new legislation that will promote exemplary transit oriented communities in cities throughout Washington State.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal">The publication presents an image-rich vision of TOC, provides research linking TOC patterns to numerous social and environmental benefits, and lays out policy actions from the local to federal level to encourage more TOC patterns.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal">Alan Grainger, founding principal of GGLO, said, "For this to happen, visionary planning and design must go hand-in-hand with smart policies and attention to the unique qualities of each community."</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #c35027; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal">The workshop is free and open to the public and oriented toward public officials, planners, and informed citizens.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Details:</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b>What:</b> Presentation & Discussion on transit-oriented communities.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b>Date:</b> Friday, September 9, 2011</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b>Time:</b> 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b>Location:</b> Shoreline Library</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b>Address:</b> 345 NE 175<sup>th</sup>, Shoreline WA 98155</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b> </b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>RSVP to <a href="mailto:info@futurewise.org" title="mailto:info@futurewise.org">info@futurewise.org</a>. </b></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal">More information about transit-oriented communities available at <a href="http://futurewise.org/priorities/toc" title="http://futurewise.org/priorities/toc">http://futurewise.org/priorities/toc</a>. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01060028960898970701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2013268548511214057.post-44783990819597176632011-08-29T17:38:00.000-07:002011-08-30T09:28:19.364-07:00Introducing new blog series "The Portland Transit Authority"<blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eZHttsGRJyI/Tlwo-m2cTbI/AAAAAAAAAHU/gSUbegVcaFI/s1600/large_TriMetBus.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>Blog Note:</blockquote><blockquote>While TCC is a Washington non-profit that works to increase transportation choices for people across the state, we also recognize that we do not live on an island. The impacts of transportation and land-use policy decisions do not end at arbitrary political lines. We cannot advocate for high-speed rail if it doesn't extend into Vancouver, BC and Portland, OR. It is impossible to talk about growth and traffic in Spokane unless you acknowledge a lot of people commute from Idaho to Eastern Washington. In this vein, we are starting a new series on the blog looking specifically at transit issues in Portland titled "Portland Transit Authority". The author is Zef Wagner, a former Seattleite and TCC intern who is living in Portland studying urban and transit planning. His blog series (which we will generally post every other Monday ) will get past the broad statements that transit in Portland is perfect and will dive into transit issues in the Rose City with a level of nerdyness that many of you will enjoy and hopefully with enough explanation that the average reader can understand. So regardless of where you live, we encourage you to join us as every couple of weeks we put our soccer rivalries aside to explore the world of Portland's public transit. Thank you Zef for contributing to the blog and I hope you all enjoy!</blockquote><br />
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We all know Portland has an amazing public transit system, right?: <br />
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<blockquote></blockquote><blockquote></blockquote><blockquote>"US News ranks Portland No. 1 for public transit" <br />
--<a href="http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2011/02/us_news_ranks_portland_no_1_fo.html">The Oregonian</a> <br />
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"Portland is widely considered one of the nation’s leaders in public transit." <br />
--<a href="http://www.usnews.com/news/slideshows/the-10-best-cities-for-public-transportation/7">US News and World Report</a><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span> <br />
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"Portland’s transit system is held up nationally as a model network, as it should be." <br />
--<a href="http://www.wired.com/autopia/2009/11/portland-trimet-mass-transit/">Wired Magazine</a></blockquote><br />
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These breathless exclamations of Portland's transit excellence are commonplace, but many dispute this rosy image: <br />
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<blockquote>"Was that u.s. news 10-best transit cities list based on anything?" <br />
--<a href="http://www.humantransit.org/2011/05/was-that-us-news-10-best-transit-cities-list-based-on-anything-comment-of-the-week.html">Human Transit</a> <br />
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"Bus service hours fell 13.3 percent from October 2008 to October 2010." <br />
--<a href="http://portlandafoot.org/w/2010_TriMet_cuts">Portland Afoot</a> <br />
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"These cuts result in a heavier burden on the growing number of people who depend on public transportation." <br />
--<a href="http://portlandtransport.com/archives/2011/08/petitioning_for.html">OPAL</a> <br />
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"Many TriMet riders have seen their service degrade over the years, despite billions of dollars being spent on new investments." <br />
--<a href="http://portlandtransport.com/archives/2010/10/under_new_manag.html">Portland Transport</a></blockquote><br />
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So who is right? Let's take a look. <br />
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Portland certainly does have an impressive rail system, with over 50 miles of light rail, a downtown streetcar line, and a commuter rail line carrying people all over the 3-county region. Portland's 11.5% <span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><a href="http://www.thetransportpolitic.com/2010/10/13/transit-mode-share-trends-looking-steady-rail-appears-to-encourage-non-automobile-commutes/">transit mode share</a>, meanwhile, is quite high compared to most other cities of similar size (though notably far below Seattle's 19.5%). TriMet, the sole transit agency for the region, has invested billions of dollars in rail expansion over the last 25 years and has recently started construction on yet another <a href="http://trimet.org/pdfs/pm/PMLR_Fact_Sheet_February2010.pdf">new light rail line</a>. A major <a href="http://www.portlandstreetcar.org/pdf/loop_fact_sheet_and_map_201102.pdf">streetcar extension</a> is also under construction, with <a href="http://www.oregonmetro.gov/index.cfm/go/by.web/id/227">another </a>in the early planning stages. <br />
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This flurry of rail expansion contrasts with a series of major bus service cuts over the last several years. Like most public transit agencies, TriMet has seen a decline in projected revenue due to the recession and has cut service accordingly. Both bus and light rail have seen major cuts in frequency, reducing the value of Portland's normally excellent<a href="http://www.humantransit.org/2010/02/the-power-and-pleasure-of-grids.html"> grid-based network</a>, which relies on easy connections between transit lines to function as designed. The cuts have also forced TriMet to redefine their lauded <a href="http://trimet.org/schedules/frequentservice.htm">Frequent Service</a> network from its previous level of "every 15 minutes, all day, every day" to "every 15 minutes during morning and afternoon rush hours on weekdays." That's a major shift from a network designed for people using transit for all kinds of trips to one designed mainly for downtown commuters. <br />
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The latest blow came late last year when voters <a href="http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2010/11/oregon_election_results_trimet.html">rejected </a>a $125 million bond measure meant to replace much of TriMet's aging bus fleet and improve bus stops throughout the region. This rejection may be a sign that TriMet is in the grips of the infamous <a href="http://www.sfweekly.com/2010-04-14/news/the-muni-death-spiral/">"transit death spiral,"</a> in which service cuts lead to reduced public support of transit, which in turn leads to lack of funding and further service cuts. <br />
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Since my recent move from Seattle to Portland I have been fascinated by the contrast between this city's outsized transit reputation and the reality of the actual transit system. Portland is a transit leader in many ways, with its willingness to make major capital investments in both long-distance light-rail and local-circulator streetcar, but like many cities it has been plagued by a lack of operations funding and a loss of public trust. <br />
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My goal with this series will be to explore the reality of public transit in Portland and highlight major transit-related projects and issues that Portland is wrestling with during these difficult economic times. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eZHttsGRJyI/Tlwo-m2cTbI/AAAAAAAAAHU/gSUbegVcaFI/s1600/large_TriMetBus.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eZHttsGRJyI/Tlwo-m2cTbI/AAAAAAAAAHU/gSUbegVcaFI/s320/large_TriMetBus.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buses in need of replacement are a huge part of Trimet's system. Picture Courtesy of oregonlive.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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Zefhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01602762649612383313noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2013268548511214057.post-74682939499942527802011-08-25T13:31:00.000-07:002011-08-25T13:49:03.529-07:00Tacoma Tomorrow: Suburbs Have not Supported Transit in Over 10 YearsChris Karnes over at Tacoma Tomorrow is diving into a series of posts about past election results for transit in Pierce County and what the agency needs to do in order to be successful going forward.<br />
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In his most <a href="http://www.tacomatomorrow.com/2011/08/suburbs-havent-supported-pierce-transit.html">recent post</a> Chris looks at Pierce Transit election results between 2002 and more recent transit elections (2007, 2008, 2011).<br />
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The data is conclusive, Pierce County voters have not changed in the last 10 years: Tacoma, Lakewood, and Downtown Gig Harbor and Puyallup continue to to say yes to to transit, while voters in the suburbs and exurbs continue to say no.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MlBE---6R3s/TlasCGwVflI/AAAAAAAAAHM/dmN0VO_A-Yk/s1600/PierceTransit2002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="247" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MlBE---6R3s/TlasCGwVflI/AAAAAAAAAHM/dmN0VO_A-Yk/s320/PierceTransit2002.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Results from Pierce Transit Prop 1 - February 2002</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LmQLJ0qUlbY/TlasMbFUq-I/AAAAAAAAAHQ/Fh4N5uA2eXI/s1600/ptboundary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LmQLJ0qUlbY/TlasMbFUq-I/AAAAAAAAAHQ/Fh4N5uA2eXI/s320/ptboundary.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pierce Transit Prop 1, Feb 2011. Red = Failed Transit votes in 2007, 2008, 2011.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Chris goes on to point out what has changed:<br />
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<blockquote><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In the last ten years Pierce County's <b>unincorporated population has mushroomed</b>. In <a href="http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/03/06/1572250/south-sound-growing-but-in-the.html">South Hill, the population increased 65.8%</a>. Tacoma's growth rate hasn't kept pace, only increasing a paltry 2.5%. So generally speaking, that's a lot more no votes than Tacoma's urban pro-transit voters can handle.</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If voters in the suburbs say get rid of transit funding in 1999 and then reject additional transit funding in 2002, say no again in 2007, no in 2008, and no in 2011, why should we expect a yes under any circumstances?</div></blockquote><br />
The <a href="http://www.tacomatomorrow.com/2011/08/pierce-transit-boundary-includes-163.html">whole thing</a> is well worth a read. While you are there, make sure to read his <a href="http://www.tacomatomorrow.com/2011/08/pierce-transit-boundary-includes-163.html">earlier post</a> on the 163 transit hostile districts in Pierce County and the need for Pierce Transit to shrink its service and taxing area to be successful in the future.<br />
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To add my own two cents, we cannot stay in a world where the urbanized, high-transit use areas of Pierce County have sub-par transit service due to a lack of political will to pay for transit in the exurban and rural areas of the county. In the last 3 years Pierce Transit has cut around 43% of their transit service, which is unacceptable in the short and long-term. Buses stop running at 10pm and high ridership routes like the Route 1 are often overcapacity and delayed (I know this from experience and Piece Transit's data backs this up).<br />
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We need great bus service in Pierce County to keep people moving and get our economy back on track. In order to restore bus service Pierce Transit needs to get the rest of its sales tax authority. In order for this to happen they need to cut out the low ridership, high service cost, transit hostile parts of the county. To be clear, a new and improved smaller Pierce Transit would not be "Tacoma Transit" as some have claimed. The Pierce Transit of the future could provide great bus service to places where transit is cost-effective and works (i.e. Tacoma, Lakewood, Puyallup, Sumner, South Hill, Gig Harbor, Dupont, Parkland, Spanaway, and Fife) and at the same time only impose taxes on communities that receive bus service; a win-win scenario for transit supporters and anti-tax exurbanites alike!<br />
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Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01060028960898970701noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2013268548511214057.post-47829923327575921172011-08-22T15:13:00.000-07:002011-08-22T15:23:46.033-07:00520 Bridge Will Be Closed This Weekend<strong>This Friday night the 26th at 11pm, 520 will close from 405 to Montlake until the following Monday morning, the 29th, at 5am.</strong> Expect delays and congestion in surrounding areas.
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<br />More info at <a href="http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR520Bridge/WeekendClosures.htm">http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR520Bridge/WeekendClosures.htm</a>.
<br />Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01475882939426324081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2013268548511214057.post-18662802059746081882011-08-17T10:26:00.000-07:002011-08-17T10:26:29.316-07:00Join TCC & our Clark County Partners for a Kick Off to Preserve Buses Next Tuesday! <br />
<div style="text-align: left;">One of our top priorities over the past few years at Transportation Choices has been and continues to be saving bus service across Washington State. The transit funding crisis is hitting almost every single transit agency in Washington State as well as <a href="http://dc.streetsblog.org/2011/08/17/apta-recession-forcing-cutbacks-at-nearly-80-percent-of-u-s-transit-agencies/">across the country</a>.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Thankfully C-tran in Clark County has one of the lowest sales tax rates in the state for medium and large sized system and still has sales tax authority left. For a .2% sales tax increase (2 pennies on a 10 dollar purchase) Clark County voters will have an opportunity to stop drastic 35% cuts to their communities' bus service. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">TCC is a proud endorser of the campaign and we've been helping the campaign, <a href="http://www.preserveourbuses.com/">Preserve Our Buses</a>, all summer. Next Tuesday at 5:30pm is the official campaign kick-off. If you are based in Portland of Vancouver please consider joining us for this exciting event. If you don't live in the area but care about saving bus service across Washington State you can donate to the cause by clicking <a href="http://www.preserveourbuses.com/page/donate-today"><b>HERE</b></a>.<br />
<br />
<b>KICK-OFF! <br />
Tuesday</b><b>, August 23th, 5:30pm</b><b> <br />
<a href="http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=1RChuENV%2BfREhYSyi3K9Gijo1p1XHT%2Fi" title="http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=1RChuENV%2BfREhYSyi3K9Gijo1p1XHT%2Fi">The Atrium</a>, <a href="http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=dgcY%2Fh%2Br04ZmFPm2BIWQ77pB0MAcDk21" title="http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=dgcY%2Fh%2Br04ZmFPm2BIWQ77pB0MAcDk21">606 Broadway, Vancouver</a></b><br />
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Please <a href="http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=5MO1VpjzuJAtPuUywiqtGyjo1p1XHT%2Fi" title="http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=5MO1VpjzuJAtPuUywiqtGyjo1p1XHT%2Fi">CLICK HERE to RSVP</a>. If you can’t join us consider <a href="http://www.preserveourbuses.com/page/donate-today">donating </a>to the campaign online. Every dollar you invest in this campaign will help us keep buses running on our streets.</div>Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01060028960898970701noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2013268548511214057.post-67582968346295827132011-08-16T14:48:00.000-07:002011-08-16T15:05:46.110-07:00You Did It: Buses Saved in King County<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Last night, the </span><a href="http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpublicola.com%2F2011%2F08%2F15%2Fupdate-on-kc-councils-metro-vote-deal-may-be-dead%2F" style="color: #3d85c6;" title="http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpublicola.com%2F2011%2F08%2F15%2Fupdate-on-kc-councils-metro-vote-deal-may-be-dead%2F">King County Council saved Metro!</a><br />
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<span style="color: black;"> The councilmembers who voted in favor of the congestion relief charge were Bob Ferguson, Larry Gossett, Jane Hague, Kathy Lambert, Joe McDermott, Julia Patterson, and Larry Phillips.</span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"> </span><br />
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</div><div style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Councilmember Larry Phillips championed the cause to save metro by proposing the initial congestion reduction charge at the County Council. Thank you Larry Phillips, Executive Constantine, Joe McDermott, and the other five other councilmembers who voted in favor to save Metro buses. This was not an easy vote to take and we appreciate your leadership. </span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
<a href="http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=2&url=http%3A%2F%2Forg2.democracyinaction.org%2Fo%2F5153%2Fp%2Fdia%2Faction%2Fpublic%2F%3Faction_KEY%3D7905" title="http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=2&url=http%3A%2F%2Forg2.democracyinaction.org%2Fo%2F5153%2Fp%2Fdia%2Faction%2Fpublic%2F%3Faction_KEY%3D7905">Send a thank you letter to the councilmembers.</a><br />
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We're in this situation because of out-dated state law that restricts local voters to only fund their transit service with the sales tax -- a funding source that is regressive, volatile, and declining.<br />
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Luckily the state legislature recognized this problem for King County Metro and gave the County Council a temporary stop-gap measure to adopt until the state comes up with a longterm, statewide solution.<br />
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The council has adopted the stop-gap measure, so let's take this time to celebrate and to thank our councilmembers.<br />
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<a href="http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=3&url=http%3A%2F%2Forg2.democracyinaction.org%2Fo%2F5153%2Fp%2Fdia%2Faction%2Fpublic%2F%3Faction_KEY%3D7905" title="http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=3&url=http%3A%2F%2Forg2.democracyinaction.org%2Fo%2F5153%2Fp%2Fdia%2Faction%2Fpublic%2F%3Faction_KEY%3D7905">Send your thank you letter now!</a><br />
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This wasn't possible without you. Together we signed and sent more than 15,000 petitions and letters. We made hundreds, maybe thousands, of calls into the councilmembers. And we stood in a two-block-long line for two hours in order to testify at a public hearing.<br />
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So, even more than a thank you to our councilmembers, <b>this is a big thank you to you.</b><br />
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Together we saved our buses!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pTJT89PipJ0/TXZ6Wrd-6GI/AAAAAAAAAGM/eEk8g7sjmKg/s1600/RR1.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pTJT89PipJ0/TXZ6Wrd-6GI/AAAAAAAAAGM/eEk8g7sjmKg/s320/RR1.bmp" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="style2"></span></b></span></div>Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01060028960898970701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2013268548511214057.post-17805329622959759242011-08-12T12:44:00.000-07:002011-08-12T12:44:44.203-07:00Breaking News: Deal Announced to Save King County Metro<div style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>You did it! </b></span></div><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><div style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">The King County Council heard your testimony, read your emails, and saw your petitions. Thanks to you and a broad coalition, a deal was announced today to save King County Metro! </span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><br />
</div><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><div style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Councilmembers Hague and Lambert joined the five members of the County Council who already agreed to adopt the congestion relief charge. This gives us the votes we need to save metro for two years! For a full rundown of today's exciting announcement visit this <a href="http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fseattletransitblog.com%2F2011%2F08%2F12%2F20-crc-to-pass-ride-free-area-to-be-eliminated-in-2012%2F" title="http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fseattletransitblog.com%2F2011%2F08%2F12%2F20-crc-to-pass-ride-free-area-to-be-eliminated-in-2012%2F">Seattle Transit Blog post</a> or read our live coverage of the event on <a href="http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=2&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2F%2523%21%2FTranspoChoices" title="http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=2&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2F%2523%21%2FTranspoChoices">twitter (@transpochoices)</a>. </span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><br />
</div><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><div style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Our work is not yet done!</b> </span></div><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><div style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">An agreement has been made to pass the congestion relief charge next Monday, but we need to turn out transit supporters to that hearing to make sure the County Council takes the final vote to save metro. <a href="http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=3&url=http%3A%2F%2Forg2.democracyinaction.org%2Fo%2F5153%2Fp%2Fsalsa%2Fweb%2Fcommon%2Fpublic%2Fsignup%3Fsignup_page_KEY%3D6193" title="http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=3&url=http%3A%2F%2Forg2.democracyinaction.org%2Fo%2F5153%2Fp%2Fsalsa%2Fweb%2Fcommon%2Fpublic%2Fsignup%3Fsignup_page_KEY%3D6193"> Please join us at Monday's hearing</a> to see this exciting deal through!</span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><br />
</div><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><div style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>The hearing is on Monday August 15th from 1:30-3:00pm at the King County Courthouse, 516 Third Ave. </b><a href="http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=4&url=http%3A%2F%2Forg2.democracyinaction.org%2Fo%2F5153%2Fp%2Fsalsa%2Fweb%2Fcommon%2Fpublic%2Fsignup%3Fsignup_page_KEY%3D6193" title="http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=4&url=http%3A%2F%2Forg2.democracyinaction.org%2Fo%2F5153%2Fp%2Fsalsa%2Fweb%2Fcommon%2Fpublic%2Fsignup%3Fsignup_page_KEY%3D6193"><b title="http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=4&url=http%3A%2F%2Forg2.democracyinaction.org%2Fo%2F5153%2Fp%2Fsalsa%2Fweb%2Fcommon%2Fpublic%2Fsignup%3Fsignup_page_KEY%3D6193">Join us on Monday in the final step to save King County Metro!</b></a><br />
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Thank you for all that you do!</span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pTJT89PipJ0/TXZ6Wrd-6GI/AAAAAAAAAGM/eEk8g7sjmKg/s1600/RR1.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pTJT89PipJ0/TXZ6Wrd-6GI/AAAAAAAAAGM/eEk8g7sjmKg/s320/RR1.bmp" width="320" /></a></div><div style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><br />
</div>Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01060028960898970701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2013268548511214057.post-8158847864136089542011-08-10T10:46:00.000-07:002011-08-10T10:46:28.600-07:00Rally this Saturday to Preserve Buses at the Clark County Fair<div style="color: black; font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"></div><div style="color: black; font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"></div><div style="color: black; font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></div><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><div style="color: black; font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">TCC is helping the preserve our buses campaign hold a rally this Saturday at the Clark County fair to build support to saving bus service. If proposition one passes this November in Clark County all of the revenues will be use to save existing bus service, nothing else!</span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Currently for just $2 you can take the shuttle right to the entrance of the fair, save a dollar on admission, and another six dollars on parking.<br />
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However, if Proposition 1 fails, the shuttle along with lots of other C-TRAN services will be cut. Please join TCC & the<a href="http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.preserveourbuses.com%2F" title="http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.preserveourbuses.com%2F"> Preserve our Buses</a> campaign for a rally:</span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Saturday, August 13th, 1pm<br />
Clark Co Fair Grounds, NE entrance (Blue Gate) <br />
17402 NE Delfel Road, Ridgefield, WA 98642</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><br />
</div><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><div style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">To RSVP please <a href="http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=2&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fevent.php%3Feid%3D241451909220303" title="http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=2&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fevent.php%3Feid%3D241451909220303">click here</a>. For info on taking the shuttle to the fair <a href="http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=3&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.c-tran.com%2Fsummer_2011.html" title="http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=3&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.c-tran.com%2Fsummer_2011.html">click here</a>. Together we can work together to preserve our buses in Clark County!</span></div>Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01060028960898970701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2013268548511214057.post-16714191753916761482011-08-10T10:37:00.000-07:002011-08-10T10:37:18.609-07:00Is the Federal Gas Tax on its Way Out?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="http://img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" /> <style>
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<div class="MsoNormal">The infrastructurist<a href="http://www.infrastructurist.com/2011/08/08/have-we-seen-the-last-of-the-federal-gas-tax/"> reported earlier</a> this week that the federal gas tax is set to expire in September.</div><div class="MsoNormal"> </div><div class="MsoNormal">Under normal circumstances Congress would reauthorize the gas tax so the federal government could continue to help states fix their crumbling bridges and highways. But in this crazy time, you never know what Congress will do.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The federal gas tax is a primary source of funding for transportation for state and the federal government. Since 1993, Congress has not raised the gas tough enough to even keep up with inflation. As a result, America’s roads and transit systems are falling into a state of disrepair. If the gas tax are about to expires states would have to make up for the loss by increasing their own gas tax in order to maintain their infastructure.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"> </div><div class="MsoNormal">A scary scenario and<a href="http://www.infrastructurist.com/2011/08/08/have-we-seen-the-last-of-the-federal-gas-tax/"> the article</a> is worth a quick read.</div>Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01060028960898970701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2013268548511214057.post-68884798668977008172011-08-09T12:17:00.000-07:002011-08-09T12:31:52.869-07:00Council Report Shows Strong Support for CRCVia <em><a href="http://metrofutureblog.wordpress.com/2011/08/08/councils-report-shows-overwhelming-support-for-congestion-reduction-charge/">Metro Matters</a>:</em>
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<br />A King County Council <a href="http://www.kingcounty.gov/council/issues/~/media/Council/documents/CRC_response_update_072511.ashx">report</a> indicates that almost 5,000 people have testified at hearings on the Congestion Relief Charge, with less than one percent opposing it. Along with 10,000 petition signatures, this is a huge outpouring of support.
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<br />The council will make a final vote this Monday, the 15th. They are no longer taking testimony, but the public is welcome is to attend.
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<br />Thanks to anyone who has attended a hearing, signed a petition, or called their councilmember!
<br />Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01475882939426324081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2013268548511214057.post-62571891540647649742011-08-04T14:53:00.000-07:002011-08-04T14:53:29.292-07:00Transportation as a Civil Rights Issue<div style="font-family: inherit;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
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</style> <![endif]--> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Transportation is becoming one of the biggest issues in modern life. But how the funding is used to expand public transportation it’s a big concern for everyone but especially for low-income workers and people of color.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Recent research shows that Americans make about 10.5 percent of all trips on foot, but only 1.5 percent of federal transportation funds are located to retrofitting roads with sidewalks and crosswalks, while 80 percent of federal funds go to highways.<span> </span>Besides that, the cost of owning a car ($9,500 dollars per year) can eat up half the income of a family living in poverty. This wired article titled, “Transportation as a Civil Rights Issue” dives into the findings of the recent report on this topic done by The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. <span>It </span>is a must read.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.wired.com/autopia/2011/07/transportation-as-a-civil-rights-issue/">http://www.wired.com/autopia/2011/07/transportation-as-a-civil-rights-issue/ </a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Link to the report is <a href="http://www.wired.com/autopia/2011/07/transportation-as-a-civil-rights-issue/">here</a>. </span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span>Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01060028960898970701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2013268548511214057.post-19658311782740037672011-08-04T11:51:00.000-07:002011-08-04T12:00:33.081-07:00Seafair I-90 Bridge ClosuresThe I-90 bridge will be closed the next few days at the following times:<br /><br /><strong>Today - 1:15pm-2:40pm<br />Friday - 12:45pm-2:40pm<br />Saturday - 12:45pm-2:40pm<br />Sunday - 12:45pm-2:40pm</strong><br /><br />Friday-Sunday there will be shuttles from the Othello station to the Hydro course.<br /><br />Click <a href="http://metro.kingcounty.gov/up/rr/reroutes.html">here</a> to see if your bus route is affected by Seafair.<br /><br />More at <a href="http://seattletransitblog.com/2011/08/04/seafair-is-here/">Seattle Transit Blog</a>.Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01475882939426324081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2013268548511214057.post-39064233743751056762011-08-04T11:18:00.000-07:002011-08-05T11:01:21.872-07:00Our Summer Happy Hour is Tomorrow at 4-6pm!<div style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"></div><div style="color: black; font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">It is finally summer in the Puget Sound – or at least trying to be. <br />
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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!<br />
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Last but not least, we will be announcing some exciting news at the event.<br />
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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).<br />
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<b>WHAT</b>: TCC August Happy Hour<br />
<b>WHEN: </b>Friday August 4-6pm: drop by whenever you can<br />
<b>WHERE: </b><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thetripledoor.net%2FOur-Lounge.aspx" title="http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thetripledoor.net%2FOur-Lounge.aspx">The Triple Door Musicquarium Lounge</a> <a href="http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=2&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmaps.google.com%2Fmaps%3Fq%3D216%2BUnion%2BStreet%2BSeattle%2C%2BWA%2B98101%26amp%3Boe%3Dutf-8%26amp%3Bclient%3Dfirefox-a%26amp%3Bgl%3Dus%26amp%3Bz%3D16%26amp%3Blci%3Dbike%2Ctransit_comp" title="http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=2&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmaps.google.com%2Fmaps%3Fq%3D216%2BUnion%2BStreet%2BSeattle%2C%2BWA%2B98101%26amp%3Boe%3Dutf-8%26amp%3Bclient%3Dfirefox-a%26amp%3Bgl%3Dus%26amp%3Bz%3D16%26amp%3Blci%3Dbike%2Ctransit_comp">216 Union Street, Downtown Seattle </a></span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Please </b><a href="http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=3&url=http%3A%2F%2Forg2.democracyinaction.org%2Fo%2F5153%2Fp%2Fsalsa%2Fweb%2Fquestionnaire%2Fpublic%2F%3Fquestionnaire_KEY%3D620" title="http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=3&url=http%3A%2F%2Forg2.democracyinaction.org%2Fo%2F5153%2Fp%2Fsalsa%2Fweb%2Fquestionnaire%2Fpublic%2F%3Fquestionnaire_KEY%3D620"><b title="http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=3&url=http%3A%2F%2Forg2.democracyinaction.org%2Fo%2F5153%2Fp%2Fsalsa%2Fweb%2Fquestionnaire%2Fpublic%2F%3Fquestionnaire_KEY%3D620">RSVP here</b></a><b> so we know how many people to except!</b></span></div>Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01060028960898970701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2013268548511214057.post-62526935418882386182011-08-03T15:38:00.000-07:002011-08-03T15:38:01.555-07:00Carla 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. <br />
<br />
Don't miss this exciting education event!<br />
<br />
Learn about what to carry, how to<br />
know where the bus is going and<br />
when it will arrive, how to keep<br />
kids entertained, and more!<br />
<br />
<b>Details:</b> This workshop will be a casual, kid-friendly discussion<br />
group with healthy snacks provided. Free family Zoo passes (good<br />
for 2 adults and 2 children) will be given to the first ten families<br />
who arrive. All participants will receive a family transit guide to<br />
take home.<br />
<br />
<b>When: Saturday, 8/6, 10:00 – 11:30 AM</b><br />
<b>Where: Central Area Motivation Program (CAMP)<br />
722 18th Ave, Squire Park<br />
COST: FREE!</b>Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01060028960898970701noreply@blogger.com0