March 2020 Newsletter

March Newsletter

What’s new

A 2020 transit funding measure in King County could build on Seattle’s success and provide fast, frequent, reliable transit for people across the county. Transit leaders are examining the opportunity now. 

Washington Legislative Session: Two weeks left! We are working to pass “Don’t Block the Box” bill and ensure we protect and increase multimodal investments in the transportation budget. Our Transportation for All bill isn’t moving forward, but public discussion about how we fund our transportation system continues.

Public transit and the coronavirus. Here’s what transit officials say riders should know about staying healthy while getting where they need to go.

King County Metro will now provide no-cost bus rides to 54,000 people with very low incomes. King County Council unanimously approved the new program last week.

Hop on and go! Intercity Transit’s bus ridership grew 20% after first month of zero-fare service. 

Sound Transit System Expansion Committee votes to advance opening 130th Street station earlier. The Sound Transit Board will make the final vote this month.

Kitsap Transit expands Bremerton-Seattle fast ferry service. A new vessel on the route during peak trips means 24 daily sailings, allowing for a frequency boost to 30-45 minutes and non-reserved sailings.

Confederated Tribes of Colville Reservation receives federal transportation safety funding. A collective $1.18 million was awarded to six tribes in the state and the Colville tribes received $12,500 for the development of their first transportation safety plan.

Sound Transit moves toward adopting new fare enforcement policies. The Sound Transit Executive Committee will hear and may take action on a refined set of fare enforcement proposals this Thursday, March 5. Recap of the community listening session here. 

Community Transit proposes three options for Swift Blue Line extension to Shoreline light rail. Community Transit is working to better connect its buses to the future Link light rail station. 

Yakama Nation proposes 150 miles of trails from White Swan to Union Gap. The Yakama Nation has the highest number of pedestrian fatalities in Washington State. New trails can help address pedestrian safety concerns.

A better ride for 26,000 Seattle commuters. A new bus-only lane along Columbia Street will give riders a faster, more reliable ride to wherever they need to go.

City of Seattle released Bicycle Pedestrian Safety Analysis. The analysis will help the City take a proactive approach to eliminating traffic fatalities and serious injuries.

Washington has a new safe passing law. When passing a vulnerable road user, vehicles must give at least three feet or move entirely into the adjacent lane if there is one. The new law is in effect from January 1, 2020. Drivers who don’t move over can be ticketed and fined.

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Next stop

Action Alert: Protect light rail projects! Write to your Senator today to tell them to keep light rail and rapid bus projects funded and on track!

Survey: Destination 2040. Provide feedback on Pierce Transit’s long range plan through 2040. The long range plan update as currently proposed would increase weekday service almost 200%.

Survey: ORCA for All. Seattle Transit Riders Union wants your input on a policy that would get transit passes into the hands of as many Seattle workers as possible.

Survey: RapidRide R Line. Metro is working to bring better, more reliable bus service to the Downtown Seattle, Chinatown-International District, Little Saigon, Mount Baker, Columbia City, Hillman City, and Rainier Beach. RapidRide R Line will upgrade and replace Route 7 when it launches in late 2024. Submit your comments by March 10.

Survey: Spokane Transit service changes. Big changes are coming to Spokane! Weigh in on transit service improvements coming in 2021-2022.

Travel training. Intercity Transit’s Travel Training Program provides self-paced instruction to help passengers become familiar with riding the bus. Travel Training is customized to meet the needs of each customer.

Webinar recap: The state of transportation and health equity. A look at the intersection of transportation and health equity in the US today. Download the presentation or read the brief recap.

Webinar: Parking reform for 21st century communities. How can we get more out of our public space?

Event: Ride the Link with Chef Jan Parker. Explore downtown Tacoma’s culinary scene on the Link light rail. Free event open to the public. 

Comment: Palouse to Cascades trail report. P2C trail is one of the longest rail-trail conversions in the United Stated. Participate in an online map-based questionnaire to weigh in on use and development.

Survey: E Marginal Way Corridor Improvement Project. As Seattle grows, improvements to freight mobility are essential to promote regional and international economic competitiveness. Provide feedback on how the city can improve a major freight corridor.

What we’re reading

A road trip where you don’t have to drive. Going on a rural-transit adventure is pretty easy. Pacific Northwest Transit Daddy shows the way.

Listen: How do you construct a rail line across a floating bridge? By 2023, Sound Transit’s Link light rail is scheduled to run from Seattle to Mercer Island, then on to Bellevue and Redmond. But there’s one major hurdle — there’s a lake in the way.

Rose Lanes get love from Portland City Council. The Rose Lane Project is a plan to improve transit service through a series of targeted improvements to some of the city’s most delayed bus and streetcar corridors.

Video: Making transit work for parents and caregivers. Parents and caregivers face a host of barriers when riding transit with children. It doesn’t have to be this way.

How to end traffic. European cities offer a roadmap for life with fewer cars.

How Latino Urbanism is changing life in american neighborhoods. Rojas has spent decades promoting his unique concept, “Latino Urbanism,” which empowers community members and planners to inject the Latino experience into the urban planning process.

Teach your kid these pedestrian safety tips. Teaching kids to walk and bike to school independently is easier and safer than you think.

Blocked parking spots, broken sidewalks, and boulders: How common spaces fail people with disabilities. The Americans with Disabilities Act was passed to ensure that we all had access to public spaces, but the implementation has not always lived up to the law.

Cars make your life more expensive, even if you don’t have one. Cities are designed for cars and you’re paying for them in hidden costs and higher rent.

Mission in motion

Listen to a recent 99% Invisible episode on the glorious bus!

“If you heard that there was a piece of technology that could do away with traffic jams, make cities more equitable, and help us solve climate change, you might think about driverless cars, or hyperloops or any of the other new transportation technologies that get lots of hype these days. But there is a much older, much less sexy piece of machinery that could be the key to making our cities more sustainable, more liveable, and more fair: the humble bus.” — 99% Invisible

Staff pick

My biggest joys in life are transit, BTS, dancing, and cats. When 3 of the 4 came together last week, I was absolutely giddy (no cats, sorry). If you have 5 minutes, I recommend watching BTS perform a song from their new album inside NYC’s Grand Central Station. It doesn’t get cooler than this. This video is a reminder that art is an essential part of transit; transforming stations into something more than just a place to wait.

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) published a Best Practices for Integrating Art into Capital Projects. They write, “The visual quality of the nation’s public transit systems has a profound impact on transit riders, the community at large, and the image of a city… High quality public art and design improve the appearance and safety of a facility, add vibrancy to public spaces, and make patrons feel welcome…”

So next time you pass a piece of art or a busker at a transit stop, take a moment to appreciate how it improves your commute!

Meme in motion

Snow is a useful way to show the amount of road space cars actually use. This video highlights how we can make safe streets for people first.

Shout out to all of you riding with TCC! Thank you: Alex W., Andrew A., Andrew B., Andrew G. H., Ann M., Anne W-R., Brynn and Joe B., Carl O., Derek R., Ethan M., Jasmine B., John R., Josh F., Justin W., Karen U., Kate G., Kevin M., Lauren C., Michael H. and Ann C., Nancy G., Nancy P. and David M., Nicholas M., Rebecca S., Rob B., Sam and Jess Z., Tammy K., Teri M., and Toby C.

If we missed anyone our apologies and thank you for your support. Want a little extra TCC love? Support Transportation Choices Coalition and become a donor today!