Dear Neighbors, In this e-newsletter you will find information about a proposal that would have King County trade Boeing Field to the Port of Seattle for a portion of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Rail Line. King County government owns Boeing Field. I encourage you to read about the proposal share your thoughts by clicking on the "instant poll" link below. This idea will be considered over the course of the next year, and I value your input. Also in this newsletter you will find information about new improvements and enhancements coming to Metro buses, new plans for the county to combat global warming by purchasing hybrid trucks, and personal efforts my staff and I took to participate in the "Live Well Challenge". As always, I value your input and feedback on these and any
other county issues. It is an honor to serve you. Sincerely, |
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| Proposed
Land Swap:
Recently, King County Executive Ron Sims and Port of Seattle Chief Executive Officer Mic Dinsmore announced a proposed land swap between the Port of Seattle and King County. The proposal would have the Port acquire the 47 mile Burlington Northern Santa Fe rail corridor that stretches from Renton to Snohomish, and then transfer ownership to the county for development of a recreational trail. The option of constructing light rail or commuter rail along the corridor in the future would be preserved. In exchange, King County would transfer ownership and operations of King County International Airport—better known as Boeing Field—to the Port. The concepts outlined in in this proposal represent an incredible opportunity for cooperation among governments. As a strong advocate for the expansion of our trail system and for the preservation of the BNSF rail corridor, I am thrilled at the opportunity to preserve this corridor for public use through an innovative approach that would not require an increase in King County taxes. The acquisition of the BNSF corridor could provide a seamless trail network in King County, linking the Burke Gillman, I-90, Lake Sammamish, Tolt Pipeline, and Puget Power trails and also allow us to make important connections between the BNSF corridor and South King County’s extensive trail system.
This proposal would also realign the governance of King County Airport and could deliver more coordinated and seamless airport planning and operations. As a longtime representative of communities surrounding the SeaTac International Airport, I am well aware of citizen concerns when it comes to the operations and governance of major airports in our region and believe that proper due diligence and public involvement must occur before significant decisions involving air traffic are made. A transfer of this nature is complex and must be done in a transparent and public manner. In addition, this proposal would also expand our region’s rail capacity across Stampede Pass through a $25 million investment by the State of Washington, allowing our Ports to remain competitive with those in Los Angeles and Vancouver. The Stampede Pass tunnel currently cannot accommodate double-stacked trains, and an investment would be made so that they can clear the tunnel. The Ports of Seattle and Tacoma are facing a substantial increase in container traffic in the next decade and we must expand our rail capacity to move freight out of our region so we can increase family wage jobs and keep our economy strong.
This proposal is in its early stages and I am committed to thoroughly analyzing the potential financial, legal and policy impacts of this plan well before any decision is made. The Port of Seattle Commission will be conducting its own review and analysis of this proposal as well. Collectively, between King County and the Port we must provide ample opportunity for the public and interested stakeholders to comment and gain information about this complex proposal. |
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| Metro Bus Improvements on the Way
The 2007 King County Budget will include funding to make the experience of riding a Metro Transit bus easier and more accessible. Funds will be provided to install electronic scrolling reader boards announcing the next stop and increase the number of new bus shelters. The 2007 Budget provides $2.5 million to install scrolling electronic reader boards announcing “next stop” information to riders inside the bus, along with the official Metro time of day that riders need to plan their bus connections. The funding will also provide recorded stop announcements, schedule performance information for the bus operator, and automatic passenger counters. The budget also sets aside $850,000 to expand the bus shelter construction program to enable the Transit Division to build at least 100 new bus shelters per year. King County Metro now has a backlog of 481 qualified bus zones awaiting passenger shelters. Too many people today are forced to stand out in the rain and wait for a bus, particularly in suburban areas. My constituents and fellow bus riders on the route 194 from SeaTac to downtown Seattle want a reliable, frequent and dry bus ride into work. They have approved an increase in bus service and deserve investments that make their transit experience more comfortable and enjoyable. Finally, I have also heard from riders who complain of the darkening, blurring effect of the vinyl wrap advertising that now covers the side passenger windows of 25 of Metro’s 1,300 coaches. Riders say the vinyl film darkens the bus interior and obscures the view. The 2007 Budget phases out advertising that wraps over the windows of Metro coaches. |
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| King County among first in nation to order hybrid trucks
Already known for its expanding use of cutting-edge hybrid buses and cars, King County will soon be adding hybrid trucks to its fleet of vehicles. The county is heading up a group of local and state government agencies interested in taking hybrid vehicle technology to the next level with the production of medium and heavy-duty work trucks that use less fuel and produce fewer harmful emissions. The hybrid trucks will be cheaper to operate because they use less diesel. And, because the trucks run on both diesel and electric, the diesel motors will last longer and require less maintenance. The long-term outcome of this project is to improve air quality, create less dependence on fossil fuels, and make hybrid trucks more affordable for both public and private use. I was pleased to join my colleagues last week in accepting a $250,000 grant from the Environmental Protection Agency to help with this effort. We all, including governmental agencies, have a moral imperative to step up to the plate and change behavior to combat global warming. |
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King County, like employers across the nation is facing continued double-digit increases in health care costs. King County has embarked on a Health Reform Initiative to reduce increasing health care costs, in part, by improving the individual health of King County employees. This approach to cutting health care costs stresses effective disease management and rewards healthy lifestyle choices. The Health Reform Initiative includes a new benefit plan -- called Healthy Incentives-- and provides case management, disease management, and outreach and education on how to eat smart, move more and quit tobacco. One of the components of the Health Reform Initiative was the "Live Well Challenge"-- a recent workplace competition to foster healthy workplaces and encourage healthy behaviors in a friendly team-based event. More than 1200 King County employees on 172 teams participated in the eight week competition to track and improve exercise and diet habits. My personal staff and I formed a team and we all exercised and ate well for eight weeks. Our efforts paid off with better health...and a FIRST PLACE victory in the competition! |
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| About my ENewsletter Click here to remove yourself from my enewsletter list. Click here to subscribe yourself to my enewsletter. If you have any questions or comments, please email me, julia.patterson@metrokc.gov. To review my recent e-newsletters, click here. |
