August News: We’re Hiring, Taylor + Transit, and More!

Dear friends,

We hope you’re having a wonderful summer. Here at TCC we’re excited to share that we’re hiring for a very important role: our next Executive Director! We’d love your help spreading the word so we can find the best person for the job. We’re also now accepting nominations for the Transportation Hall of Fame – so send us your favorite transportation champions by September 1st.

Read on for more events, opportunities to take action, and transportation news (including Taylor Swift as a transit icon).

Keep moving,

– Transportation Choices Coalition

We’re Hiring Our Next Executive Director!

Transportation Choices Coalition seeks an Executive Director to take our organization to the next level. This is an incredible opportunity to help shape the future of transportation in Washington. Maybe you’re the person for the job — or maybe you know someone who would be a great fit. Learn about the role and please help us spread the word!

The Seattle Transportation Levy is One of Our Top Priorities—Here’s Why

As we shared last month, Transportation Choices recently published our top 6 priorities for 2023 and beyond. One of these priorities is to support local funding initiatives, and in particular, the Seattle Transportation Levy, which will be up for renewal next year. This is a huge opportunity to invest in safe, equitable, and sustainable multimodal transportation and it will take all of our support. Read our new blog post to learn about the Levy, and how we can all stay engaged.

Nominate a Transportation Champion for Our Hall of Fame

We’re now taking nominations for the Transportation Choices Hall of Fame! Please tell us about the people, projects, and organizations helping to make transportation choices more accessible in your community. Submissions are due by September 1st, and all new inductees will be honored at Tuxes & Trains (more on that below). Make a nomination.

Save the Date for Tuxes & Trains — And Consider Helping Out!

Mark your calendars for our annual can’t-miss event, Tuxes & Trains! We’re hosting this year’s reception-style fundraiser at the Seattle Aquarium on Friday, November 17th at 7:00 PM. Our 2023 gala theme celebrates Waves of Change across Washington’s transportation system and within our own organization, as well as TCC’s 30th year fighting for more and better transportation choices for all. Ticketed registration is coming soon.

Donate to Our Auction

We are on the lookout for some exciting, adventurous, delicious, and inspiring items for our 30th Anniversary auction fundraiser. Do you have season tickets to spare for a favorite sports team? A vacation home for a special getaway? Gift certificates to a local restaurant? Your in-kind contributions and/or connections will go a long way towards helping us meet our fundraising goals this year. Email Susan Gleason at susan@transportationchoices.org to explore some options.

Volunteer at the Event

Volunteers help make Tuxes & Trains happen! Are you interested in supporting us with check-in, games and activations, or fundraising support? We’d love to have you! Email McKenna Lux at mckenna@transportationchoices.org to let us know you’re interested.

Take a Ride on Seattle’s FREE Waterfront Shuttle

The Waterfront Shuttle is back, and it’s running daily through September 24th. Go from Seattle Center to the Sculpture Park, the Seattle Aquarium, Ivar’s, and more! The Shuttle runs every 15 minutes and is a great way to see more of the Waterfront. Learn more.

Walk, Scoot, Roll, and Play at the Move Redmond Open Streets Festival

Come on down to Redmond to play in the street on Saturday, August 26th, from 10 AM – 3 PM. This event promotes healthy, active transportation, celebrates local businesses and community organizations, and fosters civic pride in our streets! Learn more.

Comment on Washington’s Transportation Carbon Reduction Strategy

The Washington State Department of Transportation has released a draft of the Washington State Transportation Carbon Reduction Strategy for public review, and you can share your comments with them through August 16th. Learn more and take a survey here.

​Weigh in on Bus Routes in Northwest King County and South Snohomish County

To support the opening of Lynnwood Link light rail in 2024, King County Metro and Sound Transit are creating new service plans. Help finalize these bus routes by taking this survey by August 27th.

Visit Lynnwood Link Connections to learn more about the potential bus route changes, take the survey, and register for an upcoming online open house.

Help Set Transit Priorities in Pierce County

IPierce Transit invites riders and the community at large to voice their priorities for the future of local transit by taking a short and interactive “Build Your Own System” survey. Although pre-COVID service levels cannot be restored immediately, public input will help select the improvements that matter most to the community. Do you want better frequency on routes with high ridership? More evening service or enhanced weekend service? Fill out this survey by August 31st.

Report: “People First” — TransitCenter

“How a more strategic approach to human resources can help transit agencies attract and retain the talent they need to run great service.”

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Report: Divided by Design — Smart Growth America

“If we’re ever going to truly move past the disgraceful history of our highway program, we have to discard the systems of the past.”

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Less Driving Is Possible — And These US Communities Are Already Doing It — StreetsBlog USA

“Vehicle Miles Traveled per capita fell more in Washington state than in any other state over the past 25 years. Contributing factors in this decline may include the state’s decades-long program to reduce drive-alone trips to work, as well as reduced driving in Seattle, the state’s largest city.”

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Seattle Is Seeing Less Post-Pandemic Car Traffic Than Other Big Cities — The Seattle Times

“The driver data […] comes amid hopeful news about increased foot traffic and transit use downtown.”

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Most Washington Drivers in Favor of Replacing Gas Tax with Pay-Per-Mile Program — KOMO News

“The Washington State Transportation Commission (WSTC) heard the results of a recently completed Road Usage Charge (RUC) study. […] According to the report, 56% of those who participated in the study support transitioning to a RUC program.”

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Sound Transit Can’t Deliver Planned ST3 Service Levels Without Major Changes — The Urbanist

“Starved of vehicles and storage space, the full light rail expansion program is threatened with reduced service levels and quality. Another major reset is now in order to deliver the voter-approved Sound Transit 3 program.”

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When Taylor Meets Transit

On July 22nd, two parts of my identity came together. I’m a transit rider and self-proclaimed Swiftie, so you can imagine my excitement that public transit was being heavily pushed as a way to get to and from Taylor Swift’s Eras tour. I love that King County Metro, Sound Transit, and agencies across the country have been extending service and leaning into all the Taylor puns to attract riders. This article from CNN Business joins in on the fun and dubs Taylor a transit icon, but it goes beyond the transit hype generated in a city for one weekend. The article states “Transit experts say that increasing service, rather than cutting it, will lead more people to take public transit, and that cutting transit service often leads to a downward spiral of declining service and ridership.” I couldn’t agree more. We are all people with full lives that deserve to be supported with great transit. I am so glad that agencies are meeting the demands of mass crowds at large events, and I hope this is just the start of a trend to extend evening service for everyone.