April News: A BIG Year for Transit Takes Shape

Dear friends,

We keep saying that this is a big year for transit and transportation. This month and last show us just how big, with major campaigns afoot and exciting new transit openings.

Read on to learn about our wins for transit in Wenatchee and the Tri-Cities, the newly launched No on 2117 campaign, 2 Line opening day celebrations, and more! 

Keep moving,

– Transportation Choices Coalition

Successfully Defending Transit in Wenatchee and the Tri-Cities

We recently notched some critical wins for transit in Wenatchee and the Tri-Cities. Together with local community members, we helped defend two transit agencies from funding cuts proposed by their Boards of Directors. Huge thanks to the hundreds of people who sent letters, wrote public comments, and testified to stop these cuts and defend transit and paratransit in their communities!

Celebrating the New Swift Orange Line

We had so much fun at the Swift Orange Line Block Party on March 30! Thanks to everyone who turned out and stopped by our table.

The Orange Line is Community Transit’s new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line running through Lynnwood on an east-west route. It will help connect thousands of people to light rail when the 1 Line extends to Lynnwood on August 30.

Learn more about the Swift Orange Line. 

Releasing Our 2023 Annual Report

In 2023, we championed safe, equitable, and sustainable transportation across Washington, worked to advance mobility justice, did in-depth policy research on critical transit issues, and engaged the next generation of transit riders. Thank you for being part of that work.

Read our 2023 annual report. 

Celebrate the 2 Line Opening on April 27!

On April 27, Sound Transit’s new 2 Line from Bellevue to Redmond will open to the public.

Following a ribbon-cutting event at the Bellevue Downtown Station starting at 10 AM, there will be opening day festivities from 11 AM to 4 PM at all eight of the new stations!

Riders can hop on and off the 2 Line to enjoy a range of community events at each of the stations. You’ll find everything: a bouncy house, food trucks, bike helmet giveaways, live music, fire trucks, and interactive mural painting.

Stop by the Move Redmond celebration at the Overlake Village Station to say hi to TCC staff, use our photo booth, and get a commemorative t-shirt (while supplies last!)

Learn more about the 2 Line opening day celebrations.

Save the Date for Our Transit Talk: Why Move Ahead Washington Matters

Move Ahead Washington is a transformative transportation funding package. Passed by the Washington State Legislature in 2022, this package is making historic investments in transit and active transportation and has helped fund new transit and youth ride free programs across the state. Now, these gains are threatened by Initiative 2117, which would repeal Move Ahead Washington’s main funding source.

Transportation Choices Coalition is hosting a webinar to explore what Move Ahead Washington funding has already achieved in our communities and why it is vital that we protect and expand equitable, sustainable, and safe investments in transportation.

Our panelists are Representative Joe Fitzgibbon, David Mendoza (Director of Public Advocacy and Engagement, The Nature Conservancy), Angie Peters (General Manager, Valley Transit), and Cheryl Chow (Youth Activist, Citizens Climate Lobby).

Mark your calendars for May 15 at 2 PM! We’ll send out a registration link soon. 

Protect Investments in Transportation: Pledge to Vote NO on I-2117

Yesterday, Transportation Choices Coalition joined more than 100 organizations across Washington to launch the No on 2117 campaign.

Initiative 2117 threatens critical investments in sustainable transportation, from the expansion of transit and paratransit service across the State, to safety improvements for people walking and biking, to fare-free transit for 1.6 million Washingtonians ages 18 and under. It would punch a major hole in our state’s already strained transportation budget.

Will you join us in the fight to defeat it? Pledge to vote NO on I-2117.

Seattleites: Give Your Input on the City’s Next Transportation Levy

Just a couple of weeks ago, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell revealed his draft proposal for the Seattle Transportation Levy, a critical funding measure that will go before voters in November.

Right now, the public is being asked to weigh in—please make your voice heard and ask for more funding for transit, walking, and biking. Learn more and share your feedback by April 26! 

Pedestrian fatalities at historic high — Smart Growth America
“15 months after the end of 2022, the 2022 traffic crash data is finally out. And while traffic fatalities decreased overall, there’s no cause for celebration—pedestrian fatalities increased once again to historic levels and our roads continue to grow more dangerous for people outside of cars.”
READ MORE

Contentious 4-hour Tri-Cities transit meeting splits board. Here’s what they decided — Tri-City Herald
“Kirk Hovenkotter, Executive Director of the Transportation Choices Coalition, said that they will continue fighting to ensure Tri-Citians have access to transportation.”
READ MORE

When will light rail reach Lynnwood? Sound Transit sets opening date — The Seattle Times
“Sound Transit’s light rail service will extend another 8½ miles on Aug. 30, when two stations open in Shoreline and trains finally cross the Snohomish County line into Mountlake Terrace and Lynnwood.”
READ MORE

Bellevue City Council All But Abandons ‘Bike Bellevue’ Network  — The Urbanist
“The Bellevue City Council dealt a significant blow to efforts to complete a fully connected on-street bicycle network in central Bellevue, with most councilmembers vocally distancing themselves from the recommended network of 11 corridors in the Downtown, Wilburton, and BelRed neighborhoods that the city’s transportation department put forward last year.”
READ MORE

Here’s what’s in the proposed $1.35B Seattle transportation levy — Cascade PBS
“The property tax would pay for road repaving, bridge repair, bike lanes and sidewalks. Advocates say it should do more.”
READ MORE

Sound Transit Welcomes New Megaproject Leader

I live in Tacoma, and I rely on transit to get to work and visit family in Seattle. Right now, my family uses the Sounder Train to get from Tacoma to Seattle, but we’re looking forward to getting there via light rail… eventually. That’s why I was excited to hear that Sound Transit’s leadership team has recruited a new megaproject leader, so they can deliver planned projects on time, and work on providing better transportation from South to North. When Sound Transit 3 projects are completed, it will be a massive change for people like me who rely on public transportation. We’ll be able to get to where we need to go much more easily and visit beautiful places like Ballard. I’m excited for ST3 to transform communities across the Puget Sound region.

Raven Cruz
Operations Manager

Help Defend Our Transportation Future!

We’ve won tens of billions of dollars for transit, walking, and biking, but now a right-wing megadonor is threatening to reverse our hard-won gains with Initiative 2117.

We’re ready to fight, but we need your help! Together, we can protect the transportation future we need and deserve.

Please donate to support our work.