Dear friends,
As the year winds down, we hope you’re taking time to rest, reflect, and gather with your loved ones.
Here at TCC, we’ve been enjoying the relative lull between a busy campaign season and the start of the legislative session, which kicks off on January 13th.
For now, we’re bringing you updates on the transition to a new governor’s administration, a save the date for our leg session preview webinar, and a stellar adaptation of “Hot To Go” from King County Metro.
Keep moving,
– Transportation Choices Coalition
WHAT WE’VE BEEN UP TO
Sharing Our Successes at a Transit Ballot Initiatives Workshop
This week, TCC’s Advocacy Director Matthew Sutherland and our Executive Director Kirk Hovenkotter were in Cincinnati for a Transit Ballot Initiatives Workshop hosted by the American Public Transportation Association’s Center for Transportation Excellence.
Matthew presented on our work to pass the Seattle transportation levy and Kirk talked about the campaign to defeat Initiative 2117. It was inspiring to gather with advocates from across the United States and hear about successful campaigns to fund transit.
Participating in Governor-Elect Ferguson’s Transportation Transition Committee
Transportation Choices Coalition is proud to join fellow advocates for safe, sustainable, and equitable transportation on Governor-elect Ferguson’s transportation transition committee. With looming deficits in both the operating budget and transportation budget, legislators and the new Ferguson administration will have their work cut out for them. We’ll be working to ensure Climate Commitment Act funding continues to go toward transit, complete streets, and active transportation so people can safely get around without driving and we can make progress toward our climate goals.
Honoring Secretary Roger Millar for His Impact on Washington State Transportation
Governor-elect Ferguson will be appointing a new transportation secretary to take the helm at WSDOT, which means Secretary Roger Millar’s tenure is coming to an end. Here’s a little more about Secretary Millar and what he’s helped make possible:
“Secretary Millar has been a champion for transit riders and a nationwide leader on how State Departments of Transportation can prioritize people. We are grateful for his work implementing the Move Ahead Washington transportation package, speaking up for the 30% of Washingtonians who can’t drive, and ensuring Sound Transit invested in people over parking. Our State DOT is a big ship, and while we want to see it and the legislature do more to address the pedestrian safety crisis on our most dangerous roadways, WSDOT would not be ready to tackle that challenge without Millar having set it up to succeed. Washingtonians are better off because of his leadership.”
— Kirk Hovenkotter, TCC Executive Director
Thanking Andrea John-Smith for Supporting TCC Through Transition
Twice now, we’ve been privileged to have the support of Andrea John-Smith as we’ve navigated important staff transitions at TCC. Last year, Andrea helped to bridge a gap in leadership before Kirk’s arrival as Executive Director. This fall, with McKenna Lux stepping into the role of Deputy Director and our hiring and onboarding of a new Policy Director (welcome, Katy Ricchiuto!), Andrea stepped in once again to support our operations.
With more than twenty-five years of nonprofit leadership under her belt, Andrea has been an invaluable resource and worked to ensure the behind-the-scenes processes that make our organization run are as tuned up and efficient as possible. And all while she completes a Masters program in clinical mental health counseling at Antioch University. Thank you, Andrea, for pinch hitting for TCC once again!
WHAT’S COMING UP
Save the Date for Our Legislative Session Preview on January 9th
Mark your calendar for Thursday, January 9th, at 4 PM, when we’ll be hosting a webinar to brief you on the upcoming legislative session.
You’ll hear from TCC staff about what’s on our 2025 legislative agenda, learn about the political landscape for transportation in Olympia, and hear from a special guest (to be announced).
Keep your eye out for an official invite and registration info in the new year!
GET INVOLVED
Learn About WSDOT’s Revive I-5 Project through an Online Open House
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is inviting the public to learn more about the Revive I-5 project from Yesler to Northgate. To complete this project, one direction of I-5 will be reduced to 2 lanes for up to nine months of the year from 2025-2027.
WSDOT’s new online open house website is designed to help you learn more about the project, what to expect during construction, why this work is necessary and how it will benefit folks traveling through Seattle. Check it out!
Give Your Input on King County Metro’s ADA Transition Plan
King County Metro invites you to comment on the final draft of their Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Transition Plan.
The ADA requires government agencies to make sure everyone can use their programs and services. The ADA also requires these agencies to have an ADA Transition Plan, which is a guide to removing barriers and improving access for everyone.
Take a look at the plan and provide your comments by January 10th.
Weigh in on Proposed Transit Changes in South King County
As Link light rail extends south, King County Metro’s South Link Connections mobility project is working to improve public transportation for communities in south King County.
Learn more about proposed service changes and take a survey by February 28th.
You can also join Metro at an upcoming online open house:
Tuesday, January 7th, 12-1:30 PM Register here.
Saturday, January 25th, 10-11:30 AM Register here.
Monday, February 10th, 6-7:30 PM Register here.
Honor Jemae Hoffman’s Legacy
Last year, we were devastated to learn about the passing of Jemae Hoffman, a TCC Hall-of-Famer and a pillar in the transportation community. Thirty years ago, Jemae was one of the visionaries who helped found Transportation Choices Coalition (née AltTrans), and she didn’t stop relentlessly pursuing safe, sustainable, and equitable transportation in the 30 years since.
After not only founding, but growing and strengthening TCC, Jemae helped prioritize active transportation and livability at the City of Seattle, worked at VIA Architecture designing transit-oriented development, and finally landed at Sound Transit, where she co-led development of the Federal Way and East Link Extensions. She played a critical role in advancing an intersectional transportation agenda in our region and state.
Now, Jemae’s friends and colleagues have come together to raise funds for a five-year sustainable transportation scholarship program in her honor. This funding will help support women and non-binary students advance their careers in sustainable transportation, further amplifying Jemae’s amazing legacy.
Please join us in contributing to this scholarship fund to honor Jemae Hoffman.
STAFF PICK
M-E-T-R-O G-O
Just when I thought “Hot To Go” was not going to be stuck in my head, King County Metro dragged it right back in. Their newest music video, “Metro Go,” is perfect. Kudos to the Metro comms team on this one. Their rendition of Chappell Roan’s hit joins the pantheon of other transit music videos like TARC’s bike rack how to rap, or TransitCenter’s ode to transit signal priority, “Waiting for the Light.” I’m now going to go back to dancing foolishly in my office to “Metro Go.” Hope you’ll join me!
Kirk Hovenkotter
Executive Director
WHAT WE’RE READING
Roger Millar’s Departure Leaves Big Shoes to Fill at WSDOT — The Urbanist
“Widely praised within progressive transportation circles, Millar has been a strong advocate for investments in the state transportation system that prioritize sustainability and safety over catering exclusively to traffic throughput.”
SDOT Director Greg Spotts announces February resignation — Seattle Bike Blog
“Although only 14 percent of urban road miles nationwide are under state control, two-thirds of all crash deaths in the 101 largest metro areas occur there.”
Ben Franklin Transit rolls out holiday themed buses with a special twist — KEPR
“One is a dial-a-ride bus and the other will be running fixed routes. Anyone lucky enough to catch a ride on either of the two busses will be getting a free ride.”
King County Metro has second-fastest rider increase in U.S. — Metro Matters
“APTA also celebrated the successes of another Puget Sound regional partner. Among transit agencies with 3 to 15 million annual trips, Kitsap Transit was ranked fifth nationally.”
Spokane is getting a 27-mile biking and mobility network — RANGE Media
“The ’27 by 2027 Urban Mobility Network’ would fortify a few of Spokane’s many existing neighborhood streets to make them comfortable for users of all ages and abilities to walk, ride a bike or use a mobility device.”
At Least Local Transit Initiatives Won Big in the Election — Streetsblog USA
“It was a banner year in which 46 out of 53 initiatives passed overall — a nearly 87 percent win rate that sends a strong message that the American people want more choices about how they get around even if they didn’t always vote for transit-friendly politicians elsewhere on the ballot, advocates said.”
Why It’s So Frickin’ Hard to Stop Driving — Slate
“Typically, travelers stick with whatever mode and route they are used to. But once in a while, an unusual event like a new job or a closed highway upends the status quo. Such disruptions can become inflection points, compelling commuters to alter travel habits that are otherwise entrenched.”
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