County commends Legislature for transportation support; announces next steps for funding solutions

King County Executive Ron Sims and Councilmembers Louise Miller and Dwight Pelz today commended King County lawmakers on their outstanding and successful effort to restore funding to Metro Transit and to offer local governments options for restoring road funding during the recently completed legislative session. Sims further outlined a series of next steps he will take to ensure that County residents have continued outstanding transit service and road networks.

King County’s Metro Transit, public health and criminal justice services suffered significant cuts as a result of Initiative 695 (I-695). The Legislature approved an appropriation for bridge funding to continue transit services while a long-term funding solution is adopted. Lawmakers also adopted a local option to allow individual areas to fund their own programs.

"The Legislature has provided $80 million for transit agencies statewide, which means about $36 million to keep Metro buses rolling in King County," Sims said. "This is one-time interim assistance for transit from the state’s general fund surplus. For King County Metro Transit, it provides only about four months worth of the car tab funding lost because of I-695 - but it’s a critical bridge as we look at whether voters want to approve a replacement funding source."

"The Legislature also gave transit agencies the authority to go to the voters for additional sales tax of three-tenths of one percent, or sales tax of three cents on a $10 purchase," Sims added. "Such a sales tax would permanently replace lost car tab funding and allow for a modest increase in bus service next year. We applaud the efforts of our King County legislators in helping these measures pass."

For roads, the Legislature will transfer general fund surpluses of $35 million annually to help finance an $823 million program for new highway capacity projects. For King County, this provides construction funds for several projects like Sunset Interchange, east of Issaquah; an Interstate 405 access ramp in downtown Bellevue; extension of the freeway high-occupancy vehicle lanes; and five projects to separate roads and railroad tracks in Seattle, Tukwila, Kent and Auburn.

Sims also noted that the Legislature is providing $15 million statewide for congestion relief on principal arterials in key county corridors. "This marks the first time the state has provided money directly to counties for multi-jurisdictional corridor projects," Sims said. "It directly supports King County’s Regional Arterial Network initiative."

"The State Legislature is giving King County the chance to save Metro Transit," said Pelz, who chairs the County's Legislative Steering Committee. "I think voters in King County will respond positively. They know that Metro works, that our bus system is the most successful part of our transportation system. Metro gets people to work, to school, to the doctor, and to church, on time, courteously, and for a fair price. Metro is worth fighting for. It is worth saving."

Sims announced he will convene elected officials and local transportation experts for a Regional Transportation Summit May 2nd at Bellevue’s Meydenbauer Center* to determine how best to use the funds and local options to address transportation issues for the region. The group will be asked to take a regional perspective on the overall transportation picture - from immediate bus service to long term road planning. Sims said he will ask the leaders to create a working group to report back within 60 days.

"We are extremely grateful that the legislature worked so hard to fill the holes created by I-695," said Miller, Council vice chair and former state legislator. "Now that the rhododendrons are in full bloom, it's time for legislators to head home."

The three also said they support efforts in public health and criminal justice. These areas will receive some replacement for lost revenues as a result of I-695. Over the next 18 months, law, safety and justice programs will receive $3.9 million, about 63 percent of the $6.2 million that was lost, and public health will receive about $12.5 million over 18 months, almost 90 percent of what was lost due to I-695.

Sims added he is pleased that at least some statewide appropriation ($442,000) was made for drug courts, of which King County will receive $150,000. The program, that directs offenders to treatment services if appropriate, costs about $1 million annually, and, with the state funds, the program now has $517,000 for the year’s operation. Sims said as this is about half of what King County needs, he will continue to seek support for this effort during future sessions.

"In addition, a capacity charge measure, which will allow growth to pay for growth as we fund our future sewer system, was adopted by the Legislature. We thank our King County legislators for their support," Sims said.

* Attention Assignment Desks/Editors:
The media is invited to the Regional Transportation Summit Tuesday May 2 at the Meydenbauer Center, 11100 NE 6th in Bellevue, at 1:30 p.m. For additional information or to reserve a space, contact Elaine Kraft.

Updated: April 27, 2000