Council hears public support
for 0.3% transit local option funding

This morning the King County Council heard public testimony on Executive Ron Sims' Transportation Reform and Improvement Plan for the 21st Century (TRIP-21). TRIP-21 would increase the local option transit tax by three-tenths of one percent for public transportation throughout King County. The Council also took testimony on several potential amendments to the measure proposed by various councilmembers.

Nearly two dozen citizens testifying at the committee meeting spoke in favor of a three-tenths increase in the local option transit tax. Several citizens pointed out that Initiative 695 reduced funding for public transit even though the majority of voters in King County opposed I-695. They urged the Council to give local voters the chance to preserve and improve public transportation in the Puget Sound region.

Everett Wilcox from 1000 Friends of Washington said their environmental group supports TRIP-21 because it improves transportation to areas best able to accommodate growth without harming the environment. Lance Norton, President of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 587 said their 3,400 member union supports TRIP-21 because it attracts new riders to our award-winning system by eliminating choke-points like the Spokane Street connection between I-5 and the E-3 bus-way south of downtown Seattle. Tukwila Mayor Steve Mullet said he supports TRIP-21 because it provides an opportunity to connect urban centers like Southcenter to the region's high capacity system.

Last week the Sound Transit Executive Committee, voting by resolution, noted that both King County and Sound Transit will benefit in a number of ways from the TRIP-21 proposal, including better integration of the region's transit systems. The Executive Committee also indicated Sound Transit's intent to enter into an interlocal agreement with King County to carry out its portion of the TRIP-21 improvement program.