Last week, at our annual event, we recognized two “community transit heroes” for their efforts to preserve and grow transit service. We also welcomed two new members into our Transportation Choices Hall of Fame. 

King Council Councilmember Larry Phillips and King County Executive Dow Constantine join our Transportation Choices Hall of Fame which recognizes people and organizations in Washington State who make significant contributions to creating more transportation choices for our communities.

Larry Phillips has been an incredible champion for transit at the King County Council and on the Sound Transit board.  He championed the Sound Transit 2 plan, called for an audit of Metro that resulted in $200 million of savings to preserve service, spearheaded the council efforts to pass 2011’s Congestion Reduction Charge, was the council architect for the 2014 King County transit ballot measure, and has built effective alliances with other members of the County Council to preserve as much bus service in King County as we can.

King County Executive Dow Constantine has been a passionate advocate for environmental protection and public transit.  His many accomplishments include the successful passage of the 2006 Transit Now measure, 2008 Sound Transit 2 measure, creation of the King County Regional Transit Task Force and implementation of its recommendations, successful legislative lobbying for the 2011 congestion reduction charge, and tremendous leadership to get the Move King County Now measure to the 2014 April ballot. His most recent effort to improve the integration and service delivery between King County Metro and Sound Transit is a simple example of how important having a visible pro-transit leader is to our communities.  The results will undoubtedly lead to more choices for residents throughout Puget Sound.

TCC could not do what we do without our community friends and partners. As we say, often times the political power of transit is only as strong as its coalition. That is why we work so closely with our friends in labor, business, environment, public health, and social justice communities to preserve and expand public transit across the state.

Two community transit heroes personify this commitment to preserve and expand transit – April Putney and Alison Eisinger.

April Putney won the People’s Choice Transit Hero Award (an award nominated and voted for by TCC supporters). For the past seven years, April has stood side by side with TCC in Olympia on behalf of Futurewise to fight for more transit. Her leadership during the Move King County Now campaign helped mobilize a broad coalition in support of transit service in King County.

Our Community Transit Hero Alison Eisinger, Executive Director of the Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness was recognized for her work to increase transit access for all. In 2015, for the first time ever, King County Metro will roll out a low-income fare, a groundbreaking policy that is already receiving national attention for helping to make transit more affordable. Alison has been at the forefront of the efforts to create a low-income fare. Her determined advocacy and thoughtful leadership played a significant role in making this ground-breaking policy a reality. Thanks to Alison and other dedicated community leaders of the King County Low-Income Fare Advisory Committee, nearly 25% of King County residents will have access to more affordable public transportation.

Thank you April, Alison, Dow and Larry. It’s people like you that make us believe in everyday heroes.

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