Dear friends,
Happy Summer! After a fun and rejuvenating Ride Transit Month, we’re digging in to six of the most important issues facing our transportation system, from transit rider safety to how we fund the multimodal transportation system we need. We look forward to sharing what we learn and working with you to keep making transportation choices accessible to all.
Read on to see more of what we’ve been up to, upcoming events, and opportunities to get involved—and play!
Keep moving,
– Transportation Choices Coalition
WHAT WE’VE BEEN UP TO
What a Ride Transit Month!
June was Ride Transit Month and it was an outstanding success! More than 350 people signed our Ride Transit Month Pledge, and we were thrilled to have Washington State, King County, Jefferson County, Pierce County, and the City of Tacoma issue official proclamations declaring June as Ride Transit Month.
Transit Bingo made its debut this year as well — thank you so much to everyone who played and shared pictures along the way! We also loved seeing many of you at Transit Trivia, our virtual Transit Talk, and at Ride Transit Night at the Ballpark. If only the Ms had won, it would have been a perfect night.
You can read our full recap here and check out the recordings from a couple of Ride Transit Month events:
WHAT’S COMING UP
Get Ready for Tuxes and Trains!
Please 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, and we couldn’t be more excited. Our 2023 gala theme celebrates the 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.
Check out the opportunities to help out below, and hold this date:
Friday, November 17th at 7:00 PM
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? A wine club subscription to donate from, or 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 helping 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.
Celebrate NEW Bus Rapid Transit in Spokane
Saturday, July 15th, from 11 AM to 2 PM, celebrate the opening day of City Line, a new rapid bus line from Spokane Transit. Ride City Line for free to check out five different parties along the route, each with free food and a musical guest.
Attend a Mobility Justice Live Panel Event
Seattle Neighborhood Greenways invites you to “tap into BIPOC-focused efforts to shift power toward mobility justice in Seattle.” Join them at the Mobility Justice live panel event, the second event in their Shaping Seattle series.
Thursday, July 20th, 6-8 PM
Centilia Cultural Center on Beacon Hill
Tickets: Free, with optional $15 donation
GET INVOLVED
Photo Credit: SDOT
Turn Your Healthy Street Into a Play Street This Summer!
Want to make your block a community gathering place this summer? Any existing Healthy Street in Seattle can become a one-block, pedestrian-only Play Street with no fees or permits required.
Learn about how it works and what kind of events you can host.
Ferry Riders: Give Input on Fare Changes
A new Ferry Riders’ Opinion Group (FROG) survey is coming out July 12th on the Transportation Commission’s Ferry Fare Proposal. You can provide input ahead of the Commission’s August 10 final hearing on fare changes. It’s a very short survey, so don’t delay — the survey will be available for one week, from July 12th to July 19th.
Click here to join the Ferry Riders’ Opinion Group and receive the survey.
Give Feedback on Initiative to End Traffic-Related Fatalities
The Seattle Department of Transportation has recently published a draft review of their Vision Zero initiative to better understand a recent rise in serious injuries and deaths on Seattle streets. You can provide feedback and help identify opportunities to reduce traffic-related harm.
Sound Transit Wants Your Feedback!
If you live, work, or spend time in South Lake Union, Sound Transit’s West Seattle and Ballard Link Extensions projects would like your feedback! Two live webinars will be held in July to share project updates for the Denny and South Lake Union Link light rail stations, answer questions, and collect input from current and future transit riders. Feedback from these webinars will be shared with the Sound Transit Board of Directors and inform a status report and potential action on July 27.
Mark your calendars for a webinar!
Thursday, July 20, 12:00-1:00 PM
Tuesday, July 25, 5:30-6:30 PM
For more information about the upcoming webinars and how to attend, visit this website and sign up for project email updates.
WHAT WE’RE READING
What the ‘Amazon Effect’ Means for Seattle Traffic, Bus Ridership — The Seattle Times
“Ridership on King County Metro buses has seen a notable uptick, part of a broader trend that’s giving hope to downtown boosters and transit agencies alike.”
Catch a Shuttle, and Take a Hike — 425 Magazine
“King County Metro and King County Parks […] have teamed up to offer Trailhead Direct, a seasonal shuttle service that takes locals to and from popular trailheads in the area.”
A Lot More Electric Buses Are Coming to Western Washington Roads — KUOW
“King County Metro announced that it has been selected to receive $33.5 million in federal funding to purchase a total of 30 electric buses. These vehicles will be assigned to routes in low-income areas.”
A Fair Share for Walking — Planetizen
“Most people value walkability, yet most communities underinvest in pedestrian facilities. Some jurisdictions are investing more in sidewalks and crosswalks in order to better serve community values.“
SEE IT: Streets Can Be So Much More than Car Sewers — StreetsBlog NYC
“Vital City asked architects and designers to re-envision concrete and pavement without cars. The results were awesome.”
Congestion Pricing Plan in New York City Clears Final Federal Hurdle — The New York Times
“The program, which could begin next year, would charge drivers to enter Midtown Manhattan, with the revenues going to improve mass transit.”
STAFF PICK
Helping Kids Play in Our Streets Again
Raven Cruz
Operations Manager
This blog post about turning Healthy Streets into Play Streets caught my eye. Through Play Streets, as well as initiatives like Youth Ride Free, kids will once again experience how to socialize in our communities! During COVID they did not experience the joy of playing on streets that I experienced growing up. I have a 22-month-old baby and since I gave birth to her she hasn’t been able to play with kids her age. So it makes me happy to see that she can socialize with other kids this way. It’s also nice to know that there are ways to get our kids to play in the streets, instead of playing with their gadgets or watching TV. Having outdoor activities for kids like back in the day will bring joy to our neighborhood!
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