WEST SEATTLE TRANSIT COALITION

September 24 WSTC Agenda  Introductions and background of the formation of the Coalition.  What are the goals of this meeting?  Slide presentation.  Transit challenges – from group representatives.  Open floor – find additional challenges.  Transit solutions – from group representatives.  Open floor – find additional solutions.  Discuss long term goals, and what form the West Seattle Transit Coalition should take after this meeting.

Bus service keeps getting cut back but populations keep growing.

Funding, population, worries.  1999: I-695 cut the MVE tax and 33% of Metro funding.  2008: Metro lost 15% of it’s funding during the recession.  2014: Metro will have another 17% in cuts.  Roughly -45% funding/service reduction in 15 years.  Seattle population is up at least +12.6% in those 15 years.  KING 5 survey this week of 652 voters for major issues:  72%+ are Very Concerned about transit in Seattle  Next nearest issue rated Very Concerned: schools at 58%

West Seattle numbers From a Metro report

Transit service demand grows

Transit service demand grows

West Seattle population, 20 years Seattle population overall: +8% a decade. Overall on pace for a +14% to +17% jump from

Transit demand in West Seattle: Up at least +20% West Seattle’s population: Up at least +10% Transit funding & service hours: Keep going down anyway

On top of this, Metro is getting a NEW funding cut.

17% Metro Cuts. Red: Lines to be 100% cut Blue: Lines to be reduced. Unaffected neighborhoods: None.

“Within any important issue, there are always aspects no one wishes to discuss.” - George Orwell

Some givens.  Transit money to King County Metro appears unsustainable.  In the ongoing political climate (Olympia, Eyman, etc.)  Without constant ongoing voter approval.  History over the past 15 years.  The Viaduct has to come down. The Tunnel is being built.  People are not going to stop coming to live in Seattle.  National news list us among the fastest growing cities in America.  We are a leader in lowest national unemployment rates.  We are a center of technology, biomedical, and other industries.  Seattle = destination. People come here for jobs, culture, scenery.  No decrease or deceleration in growth since the 1970s.

“What do we do now?” - West Seattle Transit Coalition

Some possible solutions.  Draft a letter ASAP to all relevant officials.  Call for action and on-the-record commitments to mitigate cuts.  Drafts are floating around the meeting. We need to act today.  Press – hard – for Light Rail to West Seattle.  Possibly can’t be as easily manipulated as Metro service hours.  A possible long-term stable solution.  Form our Transit Coalition as a permanent advocacy group.  Reports to neighborhood groups and West Seattle District Councils.  Does not answer to any one group or neighborhood.  Pursue long term solutions for the ALL of West Seattle.

Some possible solutions.  Draft a letter ASAP to all relevant officials.  Call for action and on-the-record commitments to mitigate cuts.  Drafts are floating around the meeting. We need to act today.  Press – hard – for Light Rail to West Seattle.  Possibly can’t be as easily manipulated as Metro service hours.  A possible long-term stable solution.  Form our Transit Coalition as a permanent advocacy group.  Reports to neighborhood groups and West Seattle District Councils.  Does not answer to any one group or neighborhood.  Pursue long term solutions for the ALL of West Seattle.

Agenda for the rest of the night.  Transit challenges - group representatives.  Open floor - for additional challenges.  Transit solutions - group representatives.  Open floor - for additional solutions.  Discuss long term goals.  Do we make it a permanent group for the peninsula?  Do we walk out with initial board members tonight?

Additional notes / slides past here

Metro funding breakdown,