Last week, at our Transit Heroes Annual Event, we honored Transit Heroes and welcomed our newest inductee into the TCC Hall of Fame.
These awards recognize individuals and organizations who are doing exceptional work to bring more transportation choices to their communities.
Our 2016 inductee into the TCC Hall of Fame is King County Councilmember Claudia Balducci.
When voters approved light rail to Bellevue in 2008, it was the beginning of a long and challenging effort to make sure that East Link was a reality. Councilmember Balducci’s courageous leadership on the Sound Transit Board and Bellevue City Council and her willingness to stand up for transit will ensure that the Eastside has more transportation choices.
Our 2016 Transit Heroes are Community Transit & the Rainier Beach High School Students.
In 2010, because of the great recession and plummeting sales tax revenues, Community Transit suspended all Sunday and holiday service in Snohomish County eliminating 37 percent of its bus service and a third of its workforce. Determined to restore and expand, they persevered at the Legislature and made their case to voters winning new bus and Swift expansion in 2015.
The winner of the People’s Choice, Transit Hero Award is the Rainier Beach High School students. These courageous students fought to make transit service more affordable. Working in partnership with the Transit Riders Union, other high school students and community groups, these students hosted town halls, a rally and appealed to the Mayor and city council to help make transit more affordable.
As a result of their campaign, the City of Seattle approved $1 million in December 2015 to support transit passes for low income students in middle and high school, making transit accessible to more in the community.
Congratulations to all our winners!
