The Transit Riders Union is an independent, democratic, member-run union of transit riders organizing for better public transit in Seattle, King County and beyond. Through our organizing efforts we won a low income fare! We invite you to join us and fight for the future of public transit!
People Power & Public Transit: TRU Releases New Report on the Impact of Transit Benefits
The Transit Riders Union is proud to announce the official release of our latest research report, Measuring the Impact of Transit Benefits on Ridership in King County. Funded in partnership with WSDOT and Front and Centered, this rider-centered survey project brings vital community data to the forefront of the fight for economic and climate justice. Our findings are clear: access to unlimited, employer-provided transit passes massively increases transit reliance, with 65% of pass-holders taking transit for their daily commutes while simultaneously reducing regional carbon emissions and alleviating financial anxiety for working-class families. However, because these life-changing benefits are overwhelmingly tied to higher-income corporate employment, our region’s most transit-reliant essential workers and low-income neighbors are far too often left stranded by regressive fare structures and service gaps.
To bridge this unjust divide and shape a truly equitable regional policy landscape, TRU is moving forward with bold, actionable recommendations based directly on rider data. We are urging regional transit agencies and local leaders to expand the ORCA LIFT program by shifting eligibility requirements away from the federal poverty level and aligning them with local wages, specifically expanding low-income fare access to everyone making under 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI). Furthermore, we call for direct, aggressive investments in systemwide infrastructure (including dedicated bus lanes, expanded route options, and increased service frequencies) to support our most dedicated riders. This report is a testament to what happens when working people organize to analyze our own material conditions; now, we must use this data as a tool to mobilize, build social power, and win the world-class, affordable public transit network our communities deserve.
2026 Primary Election Endorsements
At our May member meeting, Transit Riders Union members voted to endorse these candidates for the 2026 Primary elections coming up in August. Thank you to all of the candidates who participated and to our amazing endorsement committee for all of their hard work in compiling questions and bringing their recommendations.
- 32nd Legislative District (Washington State House): Danica Noble
- King County Council District 2: Toshiko Grace Hasegawa and Rebecca Saldaña
- Seattle City Council District 5: Nilu Jenks
See us at new train stations!
Transit Riders Union will be celebrating the first ever light rail train across a floating bridge, you should, too! Come see your fellow TRU members at Judkins Park and Mercer Island Stations on Saturday, March 28th. It’s going to be an epic party with a lot of things to see, food to eat, performances to watch, and a bunch more.
More details about where we’ll be are coming soon, so watch this space.
(Yes, we will have our iconic yellow shirts available!)
Buy Our Merch
Did you know? Transit Riders Union has a merch store! If you’ve ever thought you could use a fabulous shirt, hoodie, or onesie with our fabulous fundraiser logo, or a baseball cap, coffee (or tea!) mug, and water bottle with our iconic yellow logo, now’s your chance.
Check out our Bonfire store here: https://www.bonfire.com/store/seattletru/
(As always, the only way to get one of our iconic yellow shirts that are hand-printed by members is to see us in person.)
2025 Fundraiser – This Is Our City!
Our 2025 fundraiser is this Thursday, December 11th, at El Centro de la Raza on Beacon Hill. Come out and celebrate our powerful wins and excellent candidates with your fellow TRU members and allies!
TRU members get a complimentary ticket (see the Members Wall for details), everyone can sign up here: https://givebutter.com/Z0191M
- When? December 11th!
- What time? 6pm to 8pm (doors open at 5:30pm)
- Where? El Centro de la Raza cultural center room, just north of Beacon Hill Station
- Who? You!
2025 General Election Endorsements
Katie Wilson for Seattle Mayor
Alexis Mercedes Rinck for Seattle City Council Position 8
Dionne Foster for Seattle City Council Position 9
Erika Evans for Seattle City Attorney
Claudia Balducci and Girmay Zahilay for King County Executive
Maya Vengadasalam for King County District 7
Jude Anthony King County Council District 9
Andrew Reding for Bellingham City Council Ward 6
Brittany Miles for Bothell City Council Position 5
Hugo Garcia for Burien City Council Position 1
Sam Mendez for Burien City Council Position 3
Sarah Moore for Burien City Council Position 5
Rocco DeVito for Burien City Council Position 7
Nigel Herbig for Kenmore City Council Position 4
Kurt Dresner for Kirkland City Council Position 7
Josh Rosenau for Lake Forest Park City Council Position 3
Josh Binda for Lynnwood City Council Position 3
Paul Charbonneau for Newcastle City Council Position 6
Michael Westgaard for Renton City Council Position 1
Carmen Rivera for Renton City Council Position 2
Paul Dutton for Renton City Council Position 6
Ling Yang for Sammamnish City Council Position 5
Caitlin Konya for SeaTac City Council Position 2
Mohamed Egal for SeaTac City Council Position 4
Hannah Hedrick for Tukwila City Council Position 3
Devin Rydel Kelly for Pierce County Charter Review Commission
We’re Hiring!
TRU’s long-time leader, Katie Wilson, will be leaving her role by the end of this year. We are excited to begin the process of hiring for a new full-time staff position!* You can find all the details here. Please apply if you are interested, and share widely.
* A little more context: Katie has long held two official positions in TRU. She’s been our General Secretary, serving as an elected officer (and board member), a position similar to president. And she’s been our Campaign Coordinator, a paid staff role responsible for working with the membership and with allies to carry out TRU’s campaigns and projects. Together these roles have been much like an executive director position at a more traditional nonprofit. Moving forward, we are separating the (volunteer) elected role from the paid staff role, but also want to recognize that the paid staff role includes many responsibilities beyond coordinating campaigns. For that reason, we are calling the new role General Manager (if Metro has one, why can’t we?).
Take our Transit Benefits Survey
Transit Riders Union is conducting two surveys about transit benefits. We’ve got one survey focused on commuters (people who work in Seattle) and another for people living in affordable or subsidized housing in Seattle.
Our results will inform our advocacy to make public transit more affordable and accessible to workers, lower-income riders, and residents of subsidized housing. Participants will be entered in a drawing for a $100 ORCA card.
2025 Primary Election Endorsements
TRU’s membership has made the following endorsements for the August 5, 2025 primary election. If we make further endorsements we will add them to this page.
Katie Wilson for Seattle Mayor
Alexis Mercedes Rinck for Seattle City Council Position 8
Dionne Foster for Seattle City Council Position 9
Jamie Fackler for Seattle City Council Position 2
Rory O’Sullivan for Seattle City Attorney
Claudia Balducci and Girmay Zahilay for King County Executive
Andrew Reding for Bellingham City Council Ward 6
Brittany Miles for Bothell City Council Position 5
Hugo Garcia for Burien City Council Position 1
Sam Mendez and Rashell Lisowski for Burien City Council Position 3
Sarah Moore for Burien City Council Position 5
Rocco DeVito for Burien City Council Position 7
Nigel Herbig for Kenmore City Council Position 4
Kurt Dresner for Kirkland City Council Position 7
Josh Rosenau for Lake Forest Park City Council Position 3
Josh Binda for Lynnwood City Council Position 3
Paul Charbonneau for Newcastle City Council Position 6
Michael Westgaard for Renton City Council Position 1
Carmen Rivera for Renton City Council Position 2
Paul Dutton for Renton City Council Position 6
Caitlin Konya for SeaTac City Council Position 2
Mohamed Egal for SeaTac City Council Position 4
Hannah Hedrick for Tukwila City Council Position 3
Krysteena Mann for Tukwila City Council Position 7
Devin Rydel Kelly for Pierce County Charter Review Commission
Raise the Wage Burien is on the ballot February 11
The November election might be over, but the February 11th special election is coming fast, and there are two critical local measures on the ballot. One is TRU-endorsed Seattle Prop 1A to fund social housing. The other is in Burien, where voters will vote on raising the minimum wage. For the past two years TRU has been coordinating the Raise the Wage Burien coalition, which ran the citizen’s initiative that brought this measure to the ballot. Whether you live in Burien or elsewhere in King County or Washington State, the outcome of this vote matters for you, because what happens in Burien will set a precedent that other cities could follow.
Last year, a majority of the Burien city council passed a business-backed ordinance that pretends to raise the minimum wage but actually excludes most low-wage workers. Our Initiative Measure #1 will fix the problems with the City’s law. Check out this brand new analysis by the Economic Opportunity Institute, and The Urbanist’s endorsement of Initiative Measure 1.
Corporate opponents and some city officials are doing their best to confuse Burien voters. We have to set the record straight and win. If we fail, industry-backed elected officials in other cities may follow Burien’s lead and pass Swiss Cheese minimum wage laws (full of holes!) to prevent residents and workers from winning real ones.
Ballots will be mailed to Burien voters on January 22nd, and we need your help. Every dollar donated will help us reach two voters to counter the misinformation they’re hearing from the opposition. You can also join us knocking on doors, making phone calls, and writing letters to voters. Visit RaiseTheWageBurien.org to learn more.