Sunday, May 1st is International Workers’ Day! TRU will be rallying and marching in solidarity with workers and immigrants in the annual rally and march organized by El Comite, and we invite you to join us. We’re also launching the spring issue of our Transit Reader newsletter that day.
1 PM – Gather at Judkins Park, 2015 S. Norman St. (served by Metro routes 8, 48, 27, 3, 4, 7) 2 PM – Rally at Judkins Park 3 PM – March begins, proceeds to downtown Seattle.
TRU will have our table set up in the park from 1-3 PM, so come by to say hi and grab a free copy of the Transit Reader! We’ll also have copies of the Seattle Transit Map, and balloons for the kids. After that we’ll be marching with our banner, and we’d love to have you join us!
UPDATE: Monday, May 2nd Friday, April 29th is the last date for public comment on ST3, the 25-year, $50 billion light rail expansion package that will be heading to the ballot this November. Click the image at the left to visit the ST3 website, where you can read about the package, take a survey, and find details of public meetings.
TRU is submitting a letter (you can read a draft here) urging Sound Transit to make the following improvements to the ST3 proposal:
Use their progressive Employer Tax authority to raise an additional $1-2 billion
Speed up the timeline for an infill station at Graham St.
Add funding for a station at 130th St.
Prioritize affordable housing and equitable Transit-Oriented Development near stations and on Sound Transit land
Starting in June, social service organizations will be able to purchase these “combo-tickets” to distribute to very low-income and homeless riders. Until then, organizations that purchase light rail passes will receive bus tickets for free.
Thank you to everyone who signed our petition and helped us to win this campaign! TRU will continue to push for more tickets to be available to organizations at a lower cost, and for monthly ORCA passes that are affordable and accessible for very low-income and no-income riders. Join us – together we can win!
Starting mid-June, social service organizations will be able to distribute these new “combo-tickets” so that riders who rely on tickets can ride the light rail as well as buses.
Saturday, April 16th @ Westlake Park
3:00 PM Community Meal
3:30 PM Rally
4:00 PM Ride the Rail!
Thousands of riders in King County rely on bus tickets from social service agencies. But, these tickets aren’t accepted on Link Light Rail. Especially since the March 26th bus service restructure, these riders are being left with a second-class transit system.
In 2015 the ORCA LIFT program that TRU and others championed brought welcome relief from high fares for low-income riders who can afford $1.50 per ride, or $54 for a monthly pass. But for riders with very low or no income, this is still unaffordable. And it’s these people who are most reliant on public transit – to get to work and job interviews, to school, to medical appointments, and to access basic necessities like shelter and food.
In January, the Transit Riders Union and the Our City Coalition called upon Sound Transit and Metro to find a solution that doesn’t create a two-tier transit system and is affordable for all. Join us on April 16th for a community meal, rally and direct action to turn up the ????HEAT!????
Welcome to the new Transit Riders Union website! The old site served us well for the past 4 years, but as TRU has grown so have our electronic needs, and so we must discharge our old friend from duty.
Please excuse us while we finish updating some of the content. And if you find any broken links, or otherwise have any suggestions, just send an e-mail to our volunteer webmaster scott@transitriders.org.
Homeless and very low-income transit riders depend on bus tickets from social service agencies for basic mobility. Riders use these tickets to travel to work, housing, shelter, medical appointments, and essential services.
These tickets aren’t accepted on Link Light Rail or Sound Transit Buses.
On March 26th, King County Metro is restructuring bus service in NE Seattle to integrate with the newly extended Link Light Rail line. That means thousands of riders who depend on the tickets will be left with a second-class transit system, or in danger of penalties for fare evasion.
Please sign our petition below, and join us on Saturday, April 16th, 3:00 PM at Westlake Park for a free community meal, demonstration and action to bring attention to this issue.
Our region’s need for transportation infrastructure and transit service is far from satisfied. Even in Seattle, Prop 1 and Move Seattle notwithstanding, riders continue to struggle with overcrowded buses, scant late-night service, and crumbling or nonexistent sidewalks. Now the global economy appears to be sliding toward a revenue-shrinking recession. So, when our state legislature considers a progressive funding option for transportation, we should sit up and take notice.
On Thursday, February 18, the House Transportation Committee will hold a public hearing on HB 2186, which would grant local authority for a Non-Residential Parking Tax (NRPT)… please come down to register your support: 3:30 pm in House Hearing Room B in the John L. O’Brien Building.
TRU wants to hear from you. How do you use the public transit system? What could be changed to improve your riding experience and your quality of life? What transit issues do you care about most, and what campaigns do you think TRU should focus on this year? Our 2016 Transit Rider Survey will probably take you 15 to 30 minutes to fill out, depending on how detailed you are with your answers. Thanks for taking the time to tell us what you think!
Saturday, February 6 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM Hillman City Collaboratory, 5623 Rainier Ave S. (Route 7 bus) Optional RSVP on Facebook
You’re invited to a community viewing of The Long Walk Home! This 1990 film depicts two women, black and white, in 1955 Montgomery Alabama, who must decide what to do in response to the famous bus boycott. Doors open at 6:00, the movie starts at 6:30. There will be food! Bring something to share if you’d like. The event is family-friendly and free, though we welcome donations to help cover costs. You can RSVP on Facebook here, and please invite your friends!
Check out this draft of a fantastic new Seattle Transit Map created by Oran Viriyinci! TRU is collecting feedback on the design so that the map can be improved and printed after the March 2016 service changes. Please submit your comments and suggestions here. If you would like a paper copy to study and comment on, email us at contact@transitriders.org and we may be able to get one to you. (Click on the image to get to the full map.)
