Metropolitan King County Council Chair Larry Phillips issued this statement on the passage of “Transit Now,” the proposal to raise the sales and use tax in King County by one-tenth of one percent to add more frequent and faster bus service to the county's busiest and most congested roads and highways:

“This is a positive step toward addressing the traffic gridlock gripping our region. By enhancing bus service, we're not only helping commuters right away, but also preparing for the future by increasing local service that can later complement expansions and improvements to our regional light rail and highway systems. I congratulate Ron Sims for his leadership in bringing this measure forward, environmental groups like Transportation Choices Coalition for their advocacy, and the voters for making the right decision.”