May NewsletterWhat’s newAgency updates. Find updated information about your local transit agency’s service changes on our COVID-19 news and resources page. WSDOT COVID-19 multimodal transportation performance dashboard. Data updated daily on COVID-19’s impacts to our state’s transportation system. Did you miss TCC’s virtual Transit Talk on how COVID-19 is impacting transit? Watch the recorded video here. Stay tuned for more virtual Transit Talks soon. Communities Count: COVID-19 vulnerable communities data tool. Focusing resources for vulnerable communities is critical to ensure health equity across all of King County’s communities. Seattle’s ‘Stay Healthy Streets’ plan. Seattle will close portions of neighborhood greenways to thru-traffic so people can bike and walk in the road. I-976 moves to the Supreme Court. The Washington State Supreme Court will hear a challenge to I-976, the initiative approved by statewide voters last November to remove car tabs. The accelerated review means a decision is likely this summer. Metro creates passenger limits to support social distancing. To support the health of passengers, drivers, and community members, King County Metro has instituted new passenger limits to promote social distancing. Are you walking more during the pandemic? Here’s what people are noticing and what they say can be improved. West Seattle Bridge will stay closed through 2020 and 2021. The West Seattle Bridge will remain closed at least until 2022 because of the prolonged efforts needed to first brace, and then repair, the cracking concrete main span. Listen: Operating a bus during a pandemic. King County Metro bus driver Nathan Vass offers a glimpse into life on the frontlines. Intercity Transit implements reservation transit service. Intercity Transit transitioned to providing essential trips for the public using an advance reservation system. Pierce Transit public buses doubling as WiFi hotspots in rural areas. Pierce Transit is extending internet access to people in rural areas with broadband service. GiveBIG starts tomorrow!GiveBIG, a statewide fundraising event to support nonprofits, starts tomorrow! We have a goal of 50 people giving to TCC to show the collective power that will keep transit moving. 100% of your contributions will help us as we work to protect riders, operators, and agencies. Please consider joining Catherine, Emily, Justin, Lincoln, Maradel, Mary Ellen, Nancy, and our anonymous donors by scheduling your gift today. Any gift made before May 6th 11:59 PST will help us reach our goal. Next stopUntokening transformative talks: Community resilience & COVID-19. Untokening will come together throughout May and June to continue to share ideas and create a healing space for BIPOC community leaders, advocates, and practitioners engaged in mobility justice. UW pandemic urbanism symposium. What does COVID-19 mean for city life? What are the implications of this pandemic for urban mobility, sociability, politics, and density? WSDOT first mile/last mile funding opportunity. The purpose of the new first mile last mile state grant program is to improve the beginning or end of a trip to public transportation services. Deadline May 22, 2020. UW COVID-19 mobility survey. UW wants to learn how you are coping with mobility during the pandemic, Watch: Planning an equitable route to reduce traffic. Pricing our roadways may prove to be a critical traffic and climate solution. Watch: Lessons learned for a common-sense, street-smart recovery. PolicyLink shares lessons learned from previous recovery efforts, and explains how leaders can help rebuild the nation by centering racial equity, putting people first, investing in community infrastructure, building an equitable economy, and protecting and expanding community voice and power. Webinar: Walking and walkability in the time of COVID-19. Explore how walking and walkable community advocacy have been affected by physical distancing, stay-at-home orders, a slower economy, and racial and economic disparities in the impact of the virus. Survey: King County Metro’s employer survey. The information you provide will help Metro plan service and develop programs to assist your organization with getting employees back to work. Survey: Are you still riding transit during COVID-19? TCC is partnering with Seattle Transit Rider’s Union to understand how we can best advocate for and support riders. Survey: Northgate Link light rail extension. Sound Transit will add three new light rail stations in 2021. Share your thoughts on connection improvements by May 6. Who’s left riding public transit? Hint: It’s not white people. Millions continue to ride transit. Who are they and how can we help get them to their destinations? Listen: The impacts of COVID-19 on public transit with Paul Skoutelas, APTA President and CEO. Learn about short- and long-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on public transit and how the industry is responding. What we’re readingRural transit agencies are keeping people alive. Public transit agencies in rural areas are the lifeline for some of America’s most vulnerable people. In a pandemic, we’re all ‘transit dependent.’ Now more than ever, public transportation is not just about ridership. Buses, trains, and subways make urban civilization possible. Equitable enforcement of public health laws. To avoid potential inequitable impacts, however, jurisdictions should think carefully about how they enforce stay-at-home orders. Tamika Butler: Confronting power and privilege. Transportation must use this time to “look at old problems in new ways.” This means being “willing to assess the problem honestly, deeply, and thoughtfully — even when it reveals things in ourselves and in our society that make us profoundly uncomfortable.” Automobiles seeded the Coronavirus epidemic in New York City. Some folks have been arguing that the subway was a big factor in the spread of COVID-19 in NYC. Here’s an argument that spread was *negatively* correlated with public transit use — that cars, not subways, spread this thing. How cities are reshaping streets to prepare for life after lockdown. How to prepare for a future where people can’t crowd into trains and buses? Make sure you get more bikers—not more drivers. Smart Growth America: Emergency stabilization and economic recovery recommendations. Funds must go to investments that build lasting economic prosperity and ultimately help all Americans have the opportunity to live in a place that is healthy, prosperous, and resilient. Broad alliance tells White House: Transit workers need better protection from COVID-19. Dozens of unions, business groups, economic justice organizations, and local transit advocates from across the nation demanded better federal coordination to provide personal protective equipment (PPE) for transit workers. Tailoring transit service for essential workers is a matter of racial justice. The toll of COVID-19 is exposing America’s longstanding public health inequities. 4 ways agencies can fight for more funding. The $25 billion in emergency funding provided for transit agencies in the first COVID-19 relief package was a great start—but as the crisis continues, agencies likely need more funds to keep their personnel safe and return to normal service when stay at home orders loosen. Transit has been battered by coronavirus. What’s ahead may be worse. “The number of scenarios that we have to plan for is staggering.” Opinion: How US public transit can survive coronavirus. Subway and bus systems in the U.S. face financial peril as ridership collapses due to lockdowns. To keep transit alive, here’s a playbook for immediate and long-term fixes. Paris has a plan to keep cars out after lockdown. As the city prepares to reopen, Mayor Anne Hidalgo plans to use bike lanes, buses, and social distancing to keep more cars off the roads and reduce pollution. Mission in motionCoronavirus/COVID-19 News and ResourcesWe know there’s a lot of information out there about the current pandemic impacting our world a the moment. We’ve gathered resources to help you find accurate and up-to-date information on how COVID-19 is affecting Washington State transit service, agencies, riders, and operators. We are also convening a strong coalition of advocates, agencies, businesses, and labor to respond to the immediate crisis and are developing a policy framework for a just recovery. Email us to join our coalition and for more information on how to stay connected. Stay tuned for our framework! Staff pickThis is Fiona Apple wearing a suit of armor on transit. I’ve been listening to her new album Fetch the Boltcutters (which I would add to my commute playlist if I was still commuting). Music has been nourishing my soul during this time, whether I’m rocking out to an online dance class (dance church?) or relaxing before bed. What have you been listening to? Meme in motionMetroCard Collages. New York-based artist Nina Boesch makes use of expired and used MetroCards by turning them into mosaics. Thank you for your overwhelming support this month! You are part of the collective power that will keep transit moving: Adé N., Alex P., Alex W., Alison T., Andrew A., Andrew B., Ann M., Anne W-R., Barbara W. and Dwight G., Bart C., Brynn and Joe B., Cailtlin R., Carl O., Carla S. and Adam E., Cathy J., Charla S., Charles P., Chris S., Christina D., Colleen G., Conrad W., Dana H., Darryl Y., Demi A., Derek R., Dhyana Q.S., Diane H., Ethan M., Gina T., Janet W., Jasmine B., Jeff S., Jennifer D., Jessica K., Jessica R., Joe K., Joel M., John R., Jordan H., Josh F., Karen U., Kari N., Kate G., Kelsey T., Kevin M., Kim F., Kristina W., Laura and Bruce E., Lisa U., Mark S., Matthew L., Megan J., Michael H. and Ann C., Milenko M., Nancy P., and David M., Nicholas M., Nick Y., Paula H., Rebecca S., Rick M., Rob B., Robert G., Sam and Jess Z., Shayla M., Stephanie P., Tammy K., Teri M., Tim G., Toby C., and Warren Y. If we missed anyone our apologies and thank you for your support. Want a little extra TCC love? 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