May News: Ride Transit Month is Almost Here

Transportation Choices Coalition Staff at Transit Trivia

Dear friends,

Summer is in full swing, and we’re thrilled to see people choosing transportation options! As Ride Transit Month has come to a close, we’re reflecting on the incredible momentum building for transit throughout our communities.

June brought exciting news for transit expansion as Sound Transit announced its preferred light rail route for the Tacoma Dome Link Extension and updates on the Seattle to Bellevue connection. Providing fast and reliable light rail service to the South Sound is a milestone that represents a major step forward in connecting Pierce County communities to the broader regional transit network.

Looking ahead, we’re excited to invite you to join us for a special Spokane Walk & Talk on July 16th, where we’ll explore our Megaproject for Safety initiatives and discuss how we can transform high-risk corridors throughout the region. This event will bring together community members and advocates to discuss safety improvements and transit connections in Eastern Washington.

Finally, save the details for our annual Tuxes & Trains celebration included below.

Continue reading for the latest updates, statewide news, and opportunities to get involved.

Keep moving,

– Transportation Choices Coalition

WHAT WE’VE BEEN UP TO

Ride Transit Month

Our sponsor, Lime, at Transit Trivia!

We had an incredible Ride Transit Month throughout June, with riders, agencies, advocates, and communities across the state showing up to celebrate the power of public transit! From Governor Bob Ferguson’s official proclamation to record-breaking Transit Bingo participation and unforgettable events like Ride Transit Night at the Ballpark and Transit Trivia, we saw enthusiasm and community spirit.

Check out our full Ride Transit Month blog post to relive all the standout moments and see how Washington came together to champion public transportation!

Moving Light Rail Forward

Kirk Hovenkotter, Executive Director of TCC, testifying at the City of Seattle bill signing

Last month, the Sound Transit board voted on the final path that light rail will take to extend from Federal Way to Tacoma. We testified in support of moving the route forward and bringing us closer to putting shovels in the ground. Read more on Sound Transit’s blog.

Last week, Kirk spoke at the bill signing of legislation that will speed up the permitting process for light rail in Seattle. Every extra day of planning or permitting means another grinding commute for our nurses, our teachers, and our grocery workers. This legislation and revised code will shave hundreds of days off Seattle’s process.

Seattle Mobility and Housing Candidate Forum

Photo Credit: Clara Cantor

On June 4, Transportation Choices Coalition joined a broad coalition of community and advocacy groups to co-host the Seattle Mobility and Housing Candidate Forum at the Centilia Cultural Center on Beacon Hill. The event drew over 250 in-person attendees and reached an additional 150 online viewers through a livestream, making it one of the most engaged forums of the 2025 election season so far.

Moderated by Crystal Fincher of KVRU 105.7 FM, 18 candidates for Seattle Mayor and Seattle City Council shared their visions, policy priorities, and approaches to some of the city’s most pressing challenges and opportunities. The forum focused on two critical issues, affordable housing and sustainable transportation, and gave attendees a chance to hear directly from those seeking to lead the city forward.

If you missed the event or want to revisit the conversation, watch the full recording here: Seattle Candidate Forum Recording.

The 2025 Primary Election is August 5! Learn more about the primary and register to vote here.

WHAT’S COMING UP

Save the Date: Tuxes & Trains 2025

Our Tuxes & Trains 2025 annual fundraising gala will be held on Friday, November 14th, at 7:00 PM at the Seattle Art Museum, bringing bringing together transit leaders, officials, and advocates for a reception-style event focused on building coalitions for safe, sustainable, and equitable transportation. This year’s theme is “Together We Build,” which celebrates community power in creating transportation change. Mark your calendars today — and ticket registration will be coming soon.

Join Us In Spokane!

We are hosting a “Megaproject for Safety Walk & Talk” on Wednesday, July 16, from 5:00-6:30 PM on Division Street in Spokane to explore safety and accessibility challenges on one of Washington’s Main street highways. This event is part of a statewide effort to redesign dangerous roads to prioritize safety and equity, and includes a guided 1-mile walking tour with community members and decision-makers, followed by a happy hour. Register here.

GET INVOLVED

Flip Your Trip

This summer, the Washington State Department of Transportation will launch Revive I-5 – a multi-year rehabilitation of I-5 in Seattle. Initial work begins soon with several full closures and lane reductions of northbound I-5 this July and August. Skip the traffic — local transit like Link light rail, buses, and the Seattle Streetcar are some of the most reliable ways to get around. Plus, you can pedal a bike, scoot, walk or roll. Learn more about how to flip your trip.

Washington Transportation Plan

The Washington State Transportation Commission has released its draft 20-year Washington Transportation Plan for public review and comment. This statewide policy plan sets guidance for the transportation system and informs state, regional, and local transportation plans, and public comments are being accepted through Friday, July 18th. Community members can share their input by emailing transc@wstc.wa.gov or submitting feedback through the commission’s website to help shape the future of Washington’s transportation network.

Fix the L8

The Fix the L8 campaign is hosting an event to race the bus on Thursday, July 10th at 5 PM from Dexter to Stewart, starting at the southwest corner of Denny Park. The campaign invites people to join one of their race activities or bring their creative ideas for beating the bus. They have transit swag available to give out for the best ideas and signs. The organizers are looking for photographers and videographers to help document the event – interested volunteers can reach out to fixthel8@gmail.com.

Earn Free Bike, Scooter, and Transit Rides

Seattle’s “Bike and Scoot to Transit” program has expanded for summer 2025, allowing people to earn free transit trips and bike/scooter rides by connecting their Transit GO Ticket app with Lime or Bird accounts and parking at designated transit hubs. The program is designed to help navigate the busy summer season that includes major events like the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 and large construction projects.

STAFF PICK

No Car? No Problem. Trailhead Direct Is Back.

Photo Credit: Brave Space Media

Seattle summer is here: long days, sunny skies, and that irresistible pull to get out of town and into the mountains. This time of year, I’m always looking for ways to spend more time on trails and less time in traffic. That’s why I’m so excited about the return of Trailhead Direct, King County’s weekend and holiday hiking shuttle that runs through September 1.

Trailhead Direct connects Seattle neighborhoods with popular trailheads in the Issaquah Alps and along the I-90 corridor, making it easier to trade city streets for forest switchbacks, no car required. It’s a unique service with big impacts: more people able to access nature, fewer cars crowding trailhead parking lots, and a small but meaningful step toward a transportation system that supports recreation, sustainability, and equity.

I’m a trail runner, and Mount Si is one of my go-tos, especially when I’m craving a good climb and a nice view, so Trailhead Direct is a welcome alternative to the weekend parking hassle.

Just hop on the shuttle and hit the trails. Maybe I’ll see you, sweaty and smiling, on the summit!

Iz Berrang
Education and Engagement Manager

WHAT WE’RE READING

WSDOT’s Revive I-5 work kicks off this summer – here’s how you can keep moving in Seattle – SDOT Blog

WSDOT’s Revive I-5 project will launch this summer to rehabilitate the aging Ship Canal Bridge in Seattle. The project will cause significant traffic disruptions, including four weeks of lane closures and multiple weekend closures of northbound I-5 from July through August 2025, with additional phases continuing through 2027.

Route 8 improvements underway and on the horizon – King County Metro

King County Metro’s Route 8, one of Seattle’s busiest and most challenged bus routes, continues to face significant delays and reliability issues despite years of improvements, including transit-only lanes, signal prioritization, and service increases. Metro and the Seattle Department of Transportation are now launching new technical evaluations and operational analyses to identify additional transit priority improvements along the congested Denny Way corridor.

Graham Station Area Planning Survey

The City of Seattle is conducting a 10-minute survey to gather community input on the future development of the Graham neighborhood surrounding the planned Graham Street Station. This Station Area Plan aims to address key community priorities, including public space, housing, transportation, and small business retention, based on earlier community visioning work from 2019.

King County and City of Seattle to increase Metro’s safety and security presence – King County Metro

King County Executive Shannon Braddock’s proposed 2025 supplemental budget includes $26.1 million in safety and security investments for King County Metro, with the City of Seattle contributing over $5 million in voter-approved funding to support these efforts. The investment will fund 10 additional Metro Transit Police deputies, bringing the total to 89 when fully staffed, and support the expansion of Transit Security Officers from 60 in 2021 to 220 as of April 2025.

New bus-only lanes coming to Crown Hill, Ballard, and Westlake as part of Route 40 project – SDOT Blog

Seattle is installing new bus-only lanes along Route 40 in Crown Hill, Ballard, and Westlake to improve transit reliability and encourage ridership, with installation beginning as early as June 30, 2025. The Business Access and Transit (BAT) lanes will prioritize bus travel while still allowing drivers to use them for right turns and accessing local businesses, striking a balance between improved transit service and neighborhood access.

The West Coast’s Most Beautiful Amtrak Station Is Also Its Most Underrated – The Travel

Seattle’s King Street Station, completed in 1906, stands as the West Coast’s most beautiful yet underrated Amtrak terminal, featuring stunning Venetian-style architecture, including a 245-foot clock tower modeled after St. Mark’s Campanile in Venice. This architectural masterpiece now serves as a vital transportation hub connecting Seattle to destinations across the Pacific Northwest and beyond.

Spokane Transit Authority confirms Karl Otterstrom is sole finalist for CEO – The Spokesman-Review

The Spokane Transit Authority confirmed Friday that Karl Otterstrom, co-interim CEO and chief of planning and development, has been advanced as the sole finalist for permanent CEO. The announcement ends speculation about the selection process, as the transit agency moves forward with finalizing leadership for the public transportation system.