Skip to main content Skip main menu and go to secondary menu
King County
Executive Office
Ron Sims, King County Executive 701 Fifth Ave. Suite 3210 Seattle, WA 98104 Phone: 206-296-4040 Fax: 206-296-0194 TTY Relay: 711
Image: King County Exeutive Ron Sims, News Release

June 15, 2006

King County’s Transit Now draws strong public support

Transit nowPeople are enthusiastic and supportive of King County's Transit Now proposal to add more frequent and faster bus service to the county's busiest and most congested roads and highways. More than 5,000 King County residents have weighed in during an extraordinary public outreach process to help the county finalize a proposal that will get more than 50,000 drivers a day out of their cars and onto buses.

"We asked people what they wanted and they said they want more transit now," said King County Executive Ron Sims. "Unlike major construction projects, we can begin adding new bus service within months of voter approval. More people choosing to ride the bus is critical to keeping pace with growing congestion, especially as the economy grows and major construction projects like the Alaskan Way Viaduct begin.

"After the amazingly large and positive response to Transit Now, we are proposing to give people more bus service more frequently. We will help keep the region moving and reap the environmental benefits of adding more clean fuel buses to our fleet."

Sims transmitted a final proposal for review by the Metropolitan King County Council today with a recommendation that Transit Now be placed on the November ballot. When combined with current resources, Transit Now expands King County Metro bus service by more than 20 percent with funding from a proposed 1/10th of one percent sales tax increase. The proposal would only cost the average family about $25 a year, less than a tank of gas. It would allow Metro to keep pace with regional growth and use the final tenth of one percent sales tax authorized by the state legislature after Initiative 695 cut transit funding statewide.

County Council Transportation Committee Chair Julia Patterson and community leaders joined Executive Sims as he announced the final proposal and the results of a two month public review.

Since unveiling the plan, Metro Transit's outreach found 79 to 90 percent support for major service improvements included in Transit Now. Transit staff connected with more than 80 stakeholder groups, including employers, community organizations and local government agencies. Information and feedback forms were mailed to more than 20,000 people on transit's mailing lists. More than 3,700 community members completed the feedback form, a very high 18 percent return rate.

Transit Now would put new bus service on the road within months of voter approval and help the region address growing traffic congestion caused by the strong economy and planned major road construction projects such as the Alaskan Way Viaduct and the Highway 520 Bridge. Service will be continually expanded as 175 clean-fuel buses are purchased and put into service during the first four years of the plan.

Transit Now, unveiled in April, proposes to expand Metro service to keep pace with population and employment growth. By 2016, more than a half million people will be within walking distance of the new service and 50,000 new riders are expected to be taking the bus weekdays.

The Sims initiative contains four key strategies for delivering improved service across the county:

  1. Bus Rapid Transit in five of the most congested travel corridors in Seattle, East and South King County where the goal is buses running every 10-minutes most of the time.
  2. More frequent buses – every 15 minutes where possible – and running more hours of the day where needed – on 35 high-ridership routes, cutting the wait time for thousands of passengers.
  3. New service in rapidly growing neighborhoods.
  4. Partnerships with other agencies or businesses to target transit investments to maximize ridership and better serve expanding employment centers.

The plan will also expand paratransit and rideshare services, and add more environmentally friendly hybrid and clean diesel buses. The cleanest burning fuels available will power the entire transit fleet. Metro will buy 75 hybrid (diesel/electric) buses and 100 buses that will run on ultra low sulfur diesel with a biodiesel blend.

A separate random survey of 633 households commissioned by Metro in May revealed 77 percent support for a one-tenth of one percent sales tax increase to pay for the service expansion. Most of those responding thought proposed services such as Bus Rapid Transit and frequent all-day service in heavily traveled corridors were important. There was also significant support for improving services and facilities for seniors and people with disabilities. Nearly 80 percent said they supported more Metro service in growing residential neighborhoods and all-day service in areas where there is the potential for high ridership.

"The public's input was particularly valuable in helping us fine-tune the service partnership element of the proposal," Metro General Manager Kevin Desmond said. "Our more detailed proposal will permit both suburban and Seattle employers and governments that have expressed interest in this program to qualify. Residents also told us they support expansion of our Access service serving persons with disabilities and our commuter Vanpool program."

"This stakeholder feedback proves King County residents increasingly recognize the need to give people an easy alternative to driving alone," Sims said. "It also shows people are tired of talking and want action on transportation improvements – they want more transit service and they want it now before the region falls even further behind in meeting our transportation needs."

  To top
  Updated: June 15, 2006