On September 29, the King County Council voted to cancel the upcoming bus cuts. They’re banking on optimistic sales tax projections, and taking a gamble by digging further into Metro’s reserve fund. If another recession hits in the next few years we’re in big trouble. But in the meantime, if Prop 1 passes in November, Seattle will be able to not only preserve but expand and improve our bus system.
Transit News
The Seattle Times came out with an unbelievably misleading editorial about Metro. Here’s David Goldstein’s take on it. The Seattle Times editorial board apparently wants to see our public transit system dismantled, and is willing to more or less lie to make it happen.
Sound Transit is considering following Metro’s lead in implementing a Low Income Reduced Fare. This is great news, and a testament to the power of the Transit Riders Union and all the organizations that campaigned for a low income fare. However – they’re considering a general fare increase of $0.25 to cover the costs. Is this necessary? No – actually, with voter approval, Sound Transit could assess an Employer Tax of $2 per employee.
Sound Transit’s public comment period is open now until October 23. Please let them know what you think!
The Transit Riders Union will be discussing these and other issues at our Membership Meeting on October 6, 6:30 – 8:30 at the Labor Temple Hall 6. Join us!
Get Involved
Want to get involved in TRU’s campaign to pass Proposition 1 and expand Seattle’s bus service? Email contact@transitriders.org.
Printable 8.5 x 11 Poster Printable 1/2 sheet Flyer (2-sided)
Vote YES on Seattle Transportation Benefit District Proposition 1
On July 17 the Seattle City Council, acting as the Seattle Transportation Benefit District Governing Board, voted unanimously to place a measure on the November ballot that would preserve most bus service in the city of Seattle and on some intercity routes by means of a 0.1% sales tax increase and a $60 vehicle license fee.
The Transit Riders Union urges a YES vote on Seattle’s ballot measure to save transit. Thousands of Seattle and King County residents depend on Metro buses every day, and we cannot afford to lose our service.
At the same time, this is not a solution. The proposed measure pushes the burden of funding public transit further onto working and poor people, leaves transit riders in the lurch throughout the rest of King County, and contributes to the fragmentation of what should be a unified regional mass transit system.
Take Action for Progressive Metro Funding
This month the Seattle City Council, acting as a Transportation Benefit District, will be voting on a proposal to prevent cuts to Seattle’s Metro service. Mayor Murray has proposed “Prop 1 for Seattle” – but whereas the county had no better options, Seattle does. Councilmembers Sawant and Licata are putting forward an amendment to make the Mayor’s proposal more progressive. The vote may take place as early as this Thursday.
Please come to City Hall council chambers this Thursday to show support for transit and speak out for this amendment – and if you can’t make it, please email the councilmembers.
2:00 PM, Thursday, July 10
Transportation Benefit District Meeting
Seattle City Hall, Council Chambers
600 4th Avenue
Please email and call your elected representatives and urge them to support Sawant and Licata’s proposal to remove the sales tax increase and replace it with a tax on businesses.
Tom Rasmussen tom.rasmussen@seattle.gov 206-684-8808
Sally Bagshaw sally.bagshaw@seattle.gov 206-684-8801
Tim Burgess tim.burgess@seattle.gov 206-684-8806
Sally Clark sally.clark@seattle.gov 206-684-8802
Jean Godden jean.godden@seattle.gov 206-684-8807
Bruce Harrell bruce.harrell@seattle.gov 206-684-8804
Mike O’Brien mike.obrien@seattle.gov 206-684-8800
Why Progressive Funding?
Why replace the 0.1% sales tax with an Employee Hours Tax on business and a Commercial Parking Fee increase?
TRU Marches Again!
TRU took it to the streets today for a mini-march with our ‘dead bus’. Remember, rally Thursday 6/26 4:00 PM at City Hall! Public hearing in City Council chambers begins at 5:30 PM. Can you help with publicity? Print a poster or some flyers to post at your bus stops or hand out to fellow riders on your routes.
Rally for Public Transit!
Mobility is a human right. Public transit is basic infrastructure. Let’s rally to send a message to all our elected leaders that we can’t wait any longer for a fully-funded public mass transit system, affordable and accessible to all! Facebook Event Page.
Fund Metro Now!
Transit Riders Union Rally & Press Conference
Thursday, June 26: 4:00 – 5:00 PM
600 4th Avenue, outside Seattle City Hall
Following this rally there will be a Public Hearing at City Hall of the Seattle Transportation Benefit District, concerning a possible November 2014 ballot measure to raise funding to save Seattle’s bus service. TRU and allies will be there to testify in support of city action & specifically to support the amendment to the Mayor’s proposal put forward by Councilmembers Sawant and Licata. Come testify in support of progressive transit funding!
Public Hearing
Seattle Transportation Benefit District
Thursday, June 26: 5:30 – 8:00 PM
City Hall, Council Chambers
600 4th Avenue, Seattle
New TRU Mailing Address
The Transit Riders Union has a new mailing address:
Transit Riders Union
P.O. Box 20723
Seattle, WA 98102
Why Are We Even Talking About Cutting Public Transit?
With the failure of Proposition 1 on April 22, the future of our public transit system hangs in the balance. In September King County Metro will implement the first of four planned rounds of bus service cuts. If all of these cuts happen, 16% of our bus service, or 550,000 annual service hours, will simply disappear.
We all know that these cuts are unacceptable. They are unacceptable from an economic point of view, they are unacceptable from an environmental point of view, and most of all they are unacceptable from a human point of view. To gut our public transit system when buses are already overcrowded, when the polar ice sheets are melting, and when tens of thousands of King County residents have no other way to get around, is nothing short of insane.
The City of Seattle and other cities in King County now have a duty to act to save as much bus service as possible. Mayor Murray has proposed a sales tax increase of 0.1% and car tab fees of $60 to be put on the ballot in November: Prop 1 replayed in Seattle only. While this is preferable to service cuts, we believe the city should consider more progressive options first. We strongly support the amendment put forward by Councilmembers Kshama Sawant and Nick Licata, to replace the sales tax increase with a Commercial Parking Tax increase and an Employer Head Tax.
But in the end, we cannot forget that all these local options are last-ditch emergency measures, and we cannot let arguments over which is the least bad distract us from the real question: Why are we even talking about cutting public transit? Public transit is basic infrastructure, and we should not be forced to vote to preserve it. Affordable mass transit is an environmental, economic, and social necessity, and it needs to be treated as such by those who represent us in government.