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Activities and accomplishments

2008 accomplishments

Documents

• Letter of Advice: Metro Web site (120KB PDF)

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2007 accomplishments

Overview

The Transit Advisory Committee advises the transit general manager, the King County Executive, the King County Council, local jurisdictions and sub-area transportation forums on transit issues and policy. Other functions of the Committee include: acts as a sounding board for updates of the Strategic Transit Plan; participates in an annual transit open house convened by the Transit Division to inform the public of available transit services and to promote transit ridership; and serves as a resource for inter-jurisdictional transit promotion and coordination.

• Members: 15 (13 are nominated by the King County Council. The remaining 2 positions are at-large positions appointed by the Executive.)
• Term Length: 2 years, with an option to renew for a second term
• Membership Requirements: Must be frequent transit riders and must reflect the diversity and geographic distribution of County residents.
• Appointment Process: Executive Appoints/Council Confirms

Advisory actions

• TAC scheduled a special meeting and provided feedback to Metro management on the Transit Now Partnership Criteria document.
• TAC provided informal feedback to Metro management on the Transit Comprehensive Plan.
• At the request of the King County Council Regional Transit Committee, TAC reviewed Metro’s advertising policy and its application to "The Bodies Exhibit" advertising on buses.
• Chair Mike Taylor presented the results of the review, which confirmed Metro’s current policy, to the Regional Transit Committee.
• TAC wrote a letter to the King County Council Operating Budget Committee expressing support for partial wrap buses.
• Members Ray Day and Andy Bennett presented the TAC’s recommendation to the King County Council Budget Committee.
• TAC wrote a letter to the King County Council Budget Committee expressing support for Metro’s proposed fare increase, although noting concerns about the impact of the decision on low-income and senior riders. Member Dave Elliott presented the letter to the King County Council during a budget hearing held in Bellevue in November.
• TAC wrote a letter of commendation to Metro General Manager Kevin Desmond for the smooth bus tunnel opening in September and Metro’s response to I-5 construction in August.

Committee education

• Met with Kevin Desmond, Metro General Manager, in January and April for discussions about future growth and challenges for the agency in 2007 and beyond.
• Met with Victor Obeso, Manager of Service Development, for discussions on Metro’s Comprehensive Plan, Strategic Plan, the RTID/Sound Transit 2 ballot measures, and Metro’s response to the Alaskan Way Viaduct project.
• Received further presentations on Metro’s Strategic Plan from Rob Fellows, project manager.
• Met three times with Sharron Shinbo, Metro Marketing project manager, about Metro’s bus advertising policy. TAC also learned about the First Amendment aspects of the policy from Cheryl Carlson, King County prosecutor.
• Met on several occasions with David Hull, Supervisor of Service Planning, for regular updates on Transit Now implementation.
• Met on several occasions with Mike Beck, Metro contract manager, for regular updates on ferry district planning.
• Received a presentation from Sharon Slabodnik, Supervisor of Transit Route Facilities, on Metro’s progress in complying with a bus shelter proviso that will eliminate a backlog of shelter requests by 2010.
• Received a presentation from Jim Hammond, Sound Transit II Communications Director, about features of the ballot measure.
• Several members attended a partial bus wrap demonstration to see the effects on passengers for themselves. Received a comprehensive overview of Metro’s budget and proposed fare increase from Jill Krecklow, Finance Manager.
• Received a presentation from Julia Greenlee on Metro’s Fare Evasion Task Force.
• Received a presentation from Gayle Torgerson, ITT Project Manager, about Metro’s Trip Planner.

Committee business

• Held a retreat in January to develop a work plan for 2007.
• Revised and adopted TAC working rules.
• Holly Plackett and Dwight Baker served on the Eastside Transit Sounding Board for service planning.
• Dave Elliott served on the Bellevue-Redmond RapidRide Advisory Panel.
• Joan Sells served on the West Seattle RapidRide Advisory Panel.
• Elected Hans Brandal, Mike Taylor, Joan Sells and Tina Shereen to serve as chair, each for a three-month term per committee by-laws.
• Welcomed provisional members Miranda Leidich, Ed Miller, Joan Michaels and Dan Chavre.
• Celebrated the successful completion of two terms by Hans Brandal, John Coney, John Jensen, Sandy Paul-Lyle and Mike Taylor.
• Tina Shereen and Miranda Leidich attended the statewide Transit Advisory Board Conference held in Mason County. Shereen gave a PowerPoint presentation outlining the groups’ accomplishments in 2006/2007.

Documents

• Presentation to the 2007 Statewide Citizen Advisory Conference (1.7MB PowerPoint)
• Letter of Advice: Fare Increase (38KB PDF)
• Letter of Advice: Partial Bus Wraps (49KB PDF)
• Letter of Advice: Advertising Policies (42KB PDF)
• Letter of Advice: Transit Now Partnership Criteria (45KB PDF)

2006

Advisory actions

• Wrote a letter to the Regional Transit Committee praising Metro’s feasibility study on waterborne transit but cautioning against transferring transit funds to ferry service.
• Wrote a letter of advice to the Regional Transit Committee supporting an increase in the number of bus shelters being installed by Metro annually. Highlighting the letter’s contents, Chair John Coney testified at the March RTC meeting.
• Wrote a letter to King County Executive Ron Sims supporting the Transit Now proposal to raise the sales tax 1/10th of 1 percent in support of additional transit services. Chair John Coney testified on behalf of TN before the June Regional Transit Committee.
• Wrote a letter of advice to the Seattle City Council Transportation Committee members, Councilmember Jan Drago Chair, requesting that the City of Seattle re-consider its ordinance banning advertising on bus shelters.

Committee education

• Met with Rachel Smith, Transportation Choices Coalition, to preview the 2006 state legislative session.
• Met with KCDOT Deputy Director Ron Posthuma to review Metro and King County’s 2006 legislative priorities.
• Received a presentation by Liz Krenzel, Bus Tunnel Closure Project Manager, regarding the successful closure of the downtown transit tunnel.
• Met with King County Councilmembers Julia Patterson and Reagan Dunn in March to exchange views about on the work priorities for the TAC, the Transportation Committee and the Regional Transit Committee.
• Received a presentation from Sharon Slabodnik, Supervisor of Transit Route Facilities, regarding bus shelters.
• Received a presentation from Metro General Manager Kevin Desmond regarding the Transit Now preliminary proposal. Met with David Hull, Supervisor of Service Planning, for a thorough review of the TN package put before voters.
• Toured The Village at Overlake transit-oriented development with Gary Prince, Metro TOD project manager.
• Received a presentation on Sound Transit Phase II from Sound Transit planner and STII project manager Matt Sheldon and Metro transit planner Rob Fellowes.
• Met with Seattle City Councilmember Jan Drago (chair of the Transportation Committee) to discuss areas of mutual interest, such as bus shelter advertising.
• Received a presentation on the Burlington Northern right of way discussions from Doug Hodsen, KCDOT Government Liaison.
• Received a presentation on Metro security from Mike DeCapua, Metro’s manager for Homeland Security.
• Received a presentation from Bob Sahm, manager of Accessible Services, regarding the challenges and range of services associated with this Metro service.
• Received a presentation from Bob Virkelyst, Supervisor of Marketing Services, regarding the progress his group has made on promoting bus riding and new routes introduced in 2006.

Committee business

• Held a retreat in January to develop a work plan for 2006.
• Holly Plackett and Dwight Baker served on the Eastside Transit Sounding Board for service planning.
• Sandy Paul-Lyle served on the Kent-Auburn Transit Sounding Board for south King County service planning.
• Ray Day, Jr., served on a Metro marketing focus group looking at new initiatives in signage.
• Ray Day, Jr., participated in the ORCA (Smartcard) beta test.
• Elected Dick Burkhart, Dave Elliott, John Coney, and Anirudh Sahni to serve as chair, each for a three-month term per committee by-laws.
• Welcomed new members Claudia Saulter and Tina Shereen.
• Celebrated the successful completion of two terms by Dick Burkhart.
• Reviewed Committee bylaws and confirmed the current practice of electing chairs to serve three-month terms.
• Anirudh Sahni and Hans Brandal attended the state CAC conference held in the Tri-Cities in September. Sahni gave a Powerpoint presentation outlining the groups’ accomplishments in 2005/2006.

Documents

• Letter of Advice: Bus Shelter Advertising in Seattle
• Report to Washington State CAC Conference (2.5MB PowerPoint)
• Letter of Advice: Sound Transit
• Letter of Advice: Transit Now
• Letter of Advice: Bus Shelters

2005

Advisory actions

Waterborne Transit

• Met throughout 2005 with Planning Supervisor Victor Obeso, Metro planner David Hull and IBI consultant Paul Lavallee to review and monitor Metro’s Waterborne Transit study.
• Attended a stakeholders’ meeting for the Waterborne Transit Study.
• Attended a public open house for the Waterborne Transit Study.
• Met with Councilmember Dow Constantine to address concerns about the TAC letter of advice on the waterborne transit study.

Waterfront Streetcar

• Met several times with Planning Supervisor Victor Obeso to review efforts to save the waterfront streetcar.
• Met with King County Executive Transportation Director David Hopkins regarding a proposal from the Port of Seattle to build the streetcar bus barn on property controlled by the port.

Metro Marketing

• Met with Bob Virkelyst, Metro’s Marketing Manager, to learn more about Metro’s marketing efforts and financial needs.
• Met with Diane Harper, Metro transit planner, to learn more about her initiatives to create better signage in Metro bus shelters.

Advisory Actions

• Wrote a letter directed to state Representative Ed Murray, state Senator Mary Margaret Haugen, and King County Councilmembers Dwight Pelz and Julia Patterson, requesting that the Regional Transportation Investment District legislation be amended to allow for transit funding.
• Wrote a letter to Metro General Manager Kevin Desmond and Seattle Art Museum board member Mimi Gates emphasizing the importance of the waterfront streetcar to the International District, Pioneer Square and waterfront merchants, and requesting that all agencies work together to resolve possible loss of the waterfront streetcar service.
• Wrote a letter to the King County Council requesting more funding for Metro’s marketing budget.
• Chair Ray Day Jr., and past Chair Andy Bennett presented the above mentioned letter to the Regional Transit Committee.
• Drafted a letter of advice to Metro General Manager Kevin Desmond regarding Metro’s waterborne transit study.
• Designated Holly Plackett and Dwight Baker to serve on the Central-Eastside Transit Sounding Board, and Sandy Paul-Lyle to serve on the South Sounding Board.

Committee education

• Met with Ron Posthuma, Deputy Director of the Department of Transportation, to preview Metro’s legislative priorities.
• Met with Peter Hurley, Executive Director of Transportation Choices Coalition, to preview the 2005 state legislative session.
• Met with Mike Cummings of the Puget Sound Regional Council to learn more about PSRC’s role in regional transportation planning.
• Sent various TAC representatives to several Regional Transit Committee meetings, both to testify and report back to the group.
• Attended the annual Washington State Transit Advisory Committee convention in Bremerton on September 20.
• Met with Raj Cheriel and Rob Coughlin, Program Managers for Metro’s Research and Management Information section to learn more about Metro’s research methods and to discuss fare policy and potential fare increases.
• Sponsored a Legislative Forum featuring King County DOT Director Harold Taniguchi and state Representative Fred Jarrett, member of the House Transportation Committee, on November 21.
• Met with Jill Krecklow, Metro’s Finance Director, to learn more about Metro’s 2006 budget.

Committee business

• Held a retreat in January to develop a work plan for 2005.
• Elected Sandy Paul-Lyle, Mike Taylor, Ray Day, Jr., and John Jensen to serve as chair, each for a three-month term per committee by-laws.
• Welcomed new member Joan Sells.
• Celebrated the successful completion of two terms by Claire Schary.
• Renewed memberships for a second term for Hans Brandal; John Coney; Ray Day Jr.; John Jensen; Sandy Paul-Lyle; Holly Plackett; and Mike Taylor.

2004

Advisory actions

• Wrote a letter supporting proposed changes to Metro’s Six-Year Plan. Chair Dick Burkhart presented the letter to the Regional Transit Committee.
• Met with Harold Taniguchi, King County Department of Transportation Director, to provide input into the criteria for a new Metro General Manager.
• Attended an open house for Metro General Manager candidates and provided feedback on the candidates to staff.
• Developed a work plan for 2004 and worked with Regional Transit Committee staff to align the TAC
• Chairs Lynn Johnson and John Coney presented the TAC
• Sent TAC representatives to all RTC meetings.
• Wrote a letter to Candace Carlson, project manager for the Smart Card project, expressing concerns about the proposed beta test.
• Wrote a letter to the King County Council in support of Metro’s proposed fare increases for the 2005 budget.
• TAC member Hans Brandal served as a member of the Burien Transit Center Community Advisory Group.

Committee education

• Met with Rick Walsh, Metro General Manager, to discuss Metro planning and committee directions for 2004.
• Met with Bruce Agnew of the Discovery Institute to discuss transit in the Puget Sound region.
• Met with Cathy Clemens, Supervisor of the County Ethics Board, for an overview of ethics rules and regulations.
• Met twice with Councilmember Rob McKenna, chair of the Regional Transit Committee, to discuss items of concern.
• Met with Councilmember Bob Ferguson, a member of the Regional Transit Committee, to provide input into the committee’s work.
• Met with new Metro General Manager Kevin Desmond to discuss his vision for the agency and also provide input on TAC concerns.
• Met with Candace Carlson, Smart Card project manager, to discuss progress on the project, including the beta test.
• Met with Arthur Thornbury, Council staff, to learn more about Six Year Plan sub-area allocation formulas.
• Received Metro staff reports on the bus tunnel closure, the tunnel closure surface traffic plan, Metro’s customer service program and Metro’s 2005 budget.

Committee business

• Held a retreat in February to develop an annual work plan. Revised the committee working rules to reflect current practices.
• Elected Lynn Johnson, John Coney, Dick Burkhart and Hans Brandal to serve as chair, each for a three-month term per committee by-laws.
• Celebrated the successful completion of their terms by Lynn Johnson and Nancy Penrose.
• Held orientations for new members Ray Day, Jr., and Holly Plackett.
• Renewed the memberships of Anirudh Sahni, Dwight Baker, Andy Bennett and Dick Burkhart.
• Andrew Bennett represented TAC at the state Transit Advisory Committee conference.

Last update: August 14, 2008