250 in Tacoma, 400 in Bellevue, 450 in Seattle. Across the state on the Senate Transportation Listening tour, transit advocates have turned out in huge numbers. Thanks to you, we’ve packed rooms, sent thousands of comments, waited in line to testify.
Legislators have heard, but are they listening? Cumulatively over the regular session, special session, and second special session, you have contacted your legislators over 5000 times. You’ve showed up at lobby days and council hearings and “stop the cuts” rallies. Our transportation system is in crisis. Across the state, you came, you told your stories of infrequent mid-day service, service on weekends that is almost non-existent, buses that are older than most cars on the road.
The situation in Pierce County is grim, and King County is facing 17% cuts next year if something doesn’t happen soon. Community Transit has ZERO Sunday Service. The Majority Coalition Caucus’ failure to act, to let a package die on the floor while leaving hundreds of thousands of transit riders literally stranded
is unacceptable. The Majority Coalition Caucus’ proposal increase the gas tax by 10.5 cents to raise $8.4 billion and spend nothing ($0.00) on the infrastructure that makes our communities better and healthier is unacceptable.
We can’t stand by and let bus service get cut time and time again, we need solutions, not stop-gaps. We need sustainable funding for transportation in this state to remain competitive, to attract the kind of business and employees that are proud to call the Northwest their home. We need to get cars off of I-5 so parents can get home to their kids at a reasonable hour. We need to protect our natural environment and prevent more runoff from polluting our Sound. We need good jobs, and access to education, a lifeline for our seniors and people with disabilities. We need transit. And this is why we need a balanced transportation revenue package.
