Dear friends,
This is a slight detour from Olympia, but you’ve likely heard the news by now: the long-awaited Crosslake Connection will open on March 28th! TCC was proud to help lead the successful ballot measure campaign in 2008 that made light rail from Seattle to the Eastside possible, and we’re excited to ride the train with you in just 61 days.
Kelli Refer from Move Redmond, King County councilmember Claudia Balducci, and TCC’s Kirk Hovenkotter celebrate the announcement.
The Crosslake Connection will mark the completion of Sound Transit 2, but there’s still a long way to go to build out Sound Transit 3, which includes extending light rail to Everett, Tacoma, West Seattle, and Ballard, as well as a new tunnel in Downtown Seattle. With that in mind, a big THANK YOU to everyone who took action to support Senate Bill 6148. This bill would allow Sound Transit to issue 75 year bonds, giving them more financial flexibility to avoid cutting Sound Transit 3 projects and keep them moving forward. Our Action Alert generated more than 2,000 letters to members of the Senate Transportation Committee, and people signing in “pro” outnumbered the “cons” three to one.
Last week, our Executive Director, Kirk Hovenkotter, testified in support of SB 6148, and our Policy Director, Katy Ricchiuto, spoke up for House Bill 2134, which would ensure that regional transportation planning organizations provide for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and vehicle miles traveled. TCC’s Advocacy Manager, Holden Ringer, voiced our support for House Bill 2307, which would update Washington’s Commute Trip Reduction law to support more low-income and shift workers. Thank you to everyone who signed in PRO or testified to support these bills.
Here are three other transportation bills we’re tracking this week:
House Bill 2550 proposes free transit for certain students at community and technical colleges. We support the goal of providing free transit for these students, and we want to ensure that this proposal is fully funded and easy for transit agencies to implement. We’ll be signing in PRO and sharing this perspective with legislators at a hearing on Wednesday, January 28th, at 4 PM in the House Transportation Committee.
Senate Bill 6110 would help create a clear distinction between electric bicycles and electric motorcycles. This is a bill our friends at Washington Bikes are leading on. It’s important to keep legal and regulated electric bicycles from getting swept up in the needed regulation of e-motorcycles, which can go up to 45 miles per hour. You can sign in PRO here before a hearing in the Senate Transportation Committee today, January 26th, at 4 PM.
Senate Bill 6243 has to do with the operation of autonomous motor vehicles. We’re concerned that this bill preempts local jurisdictions from enacting laws regulating autonomous vehicles, allowing them on all streets without oversight. We’re also concerned about the safety risks to people from autonomous vehicles. This bill has a hearing in the Senate Transportation Committee on Thursday, January 29th, at 4 PM.
Check out our Bill Tracker for more of what we’re tracking this session.
Ride on!
– Transportation Choices Coalition
What’s Coming Up This Week
A bill to create a clear distinction between electric bicycles and electric motorcycles (SB 6110) has a hearing in the Senate Transportation Committee TODAY, January 26th, at 4 PM. Sign in PRO here.
A bill proposing free transit for certain students at community and technical colleges (HB 2550) has a hearing in the House Transportation Committee on Wednesday, January 28th, at 4 PM. Sign in PRO here.
A bill that preempts local jurisdictions from regulating autonomous motor vehicles (SB 6243) has a hearing in the Senate Transportation Committee on Thursday, January 29th, at 4 PM.
What Happened Last Week
A bill to allow Sound Transit to issue 75-year bonds (SB 6148) had a hearing in the Senate Transportation Committee.
A bill to update regional transportation planning rules to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and vehicle miles traveled (HB 2134) had a hearing in the House Transportation Committee.
A bill to update the Commute Trip Reduction law (HB 2307) had a hearing in the House Transportation Committee.
