May News: Ride Transit Month is Almost Here

Transportation Choices Coalition Staff after a Downtown Redmond preview ride.

Dear friends,

We hope you’ve enjoyed some warmer days on foot, by bike, or by transit! We’re midway into Bike Everywhere Month and getting excited for Ride Transit Month in June.

The 2025 Washington legislative session concluded at the end of April after 105 days, leaving us reflecting on our wins and the work that’s still ahead. But in a tough session, we secured several important victories, including defending Climate Commitment Act funding from highway diversion, winning $100 million for our Megaproject for Safety to transform high-risk corridors, and securing $5 million to expand the Travel Washington Intercity Bus Program connecting rural communities.

Beyond legislative wins, we were excited to celebrate the opening of the Downtown Redmond Link Extension earlier this month, which added two new light rail stations and more than three miles to Sound Transit’s 2 Line on the eastside. This project brings fast and reliable transit access to two fast-growing neighborhoods at Marymoor Village and Downtown Redmond.

Read on for more updates, news from across the state, and ways to take action.

Keep moving,

– Transportation Choices Coalition

WHAT WE’VE BEEN UP TO

Wrapping Up the 2025 Legislative Session!

The 2025 legislative session ended on April 27th. Despite an $8 billion deficit in the transportation budget, we secured critical wins: we protected Climate Commitment Act funding, won $100 million for safety corridors, and gained $5 million for rural bus service.

While there were mixed results on highway spending and a promising Road Usage Charge bill that did not pass, these outcomes still demonstrate progress in challenging times. Read our blog post for a complete breakdown of the 2025 legislative session outcomes and what they mean for communities across Washington.

Celebrating the Opening of Sound Transit’s 2 Line Extension to Downtown Redmond

We had a blast tabling at the opening of Sound Transit’s 2 Line Extension to Downtown Redmond, giving away 2,500 key chains and connecting with transit fans from across the region.

We were honored to capture the excitement of riders experiencing this game-changing transit connection for the first time in a series of short interviews. Community members shared personal stories about how the new light rail access is already transforming their daily commutes and connecting them more easily to jobs, education, healthcare, and recreation throughout the region. Check out our blog post to see what transit riders had to share.

WHAT’S COMING UP

June Is Ride Transit Month!

Ride Transit Month is just around the corner, and we’re excited to celebrate with you. This June, get ready for a full lineup of activities, including the return of fan favorites like Transit Bingo, Transit Trivia, and Ride Transit Night at the Ballpark.

Get Involved Right Now:

Pledge to Ride: Will you ride transit at least five times in June? Take the pledge and share your transit selfies using #RideTransitMonth to show your support!
Rep Your Support: Our official Ride Transit Month T-shirts are now available! With two fun designs to choose from, you can show your love for transit wherever you go:
- See our new “Bus > Tesla” t-shirt
- See our new “Ride Transit Month” t-shirt

More details to come—stay tuned for all the ways to get involved. Let’s make this June a celebration to remember!

Feel free to reach out to Iz Berrang at elizabeth@transportationchoices.org with any questions.

Join Us for a Snoqualmie Valley Rural Advocacy 101 Workshop on June 13th

Transportation Choices Coalition, Hopelink, and the Snoqualmie Valley Mobility Coalition are coming together to provide a hands-on advocacy workshop designed for anyone connected to the Snoqualmie Valley region. Learn how community advocacy shapes our transportation infrastructure and develop practical skills to advocate for safe, sustainable, and equitable transportation in rural communities. The workshop features an expert panel and interactive sessions on effective testimony techniques. Register here to secure your spot.

GET INVOLVED

Seattleites: Sign on to Help Fix the Late Route 8!

Seattle’s Route 8 serves over 7,000 daily riders but remains one of Metro’s least reliable routes, nicknamed “L8” as it averages just 3.5 mph through Denny Way traffic. While the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) has acknowledged issues following community advocacy, solutions such as dedicated bus lanes remain stalled as construction begins. With FIFA World Cup hosting, new light rail connections, and I-5 work on the horizon, fixing this critical transit corridor is increasingly urgent.

Sign the petition from our friends at Central Seattle Greenways demanding that city leaders prioritize transit improvements that would cut travel times and boost ridership.

STAFF PICK

Riding Toward What’s Possible

Tabling this past weekend for TCC at Downtown Redmond Center on Opening Day, I heard so many voices echo a shared feeling: “This is a game-changer.” From teens skipping the DMV to longtime residents finally skipping the car commute on I-405, these stories aren’t just about Redmond — they’re about what’s possible in a region when we invest in connected, people-first infrastructure. We heard it again and again from folks who had traveled in from Sammamish, Everett, and beyond: a longing for more ways to get around without a car. More reliable bus routes. More safe ways to walk and bike to transit. Let’s keep working toward that vision — one that truly connects our communities.

If you haven’t checked out our round-up of voices and pics from the Redmond station opening, I hope you’ll do that now!

Susan Gleason
Development Manager

WHAT WE’RE READING

How Did This Suburb Figure Out Mass Transit? – Bloomberg

“The municipal government considered a pricey light rail plan, but the then-head of local agency Brampton Transit, Sue Connor, had a cheaper idea: Upgrade the existing bus service to a high-frequency network, so people could count on all-day service throughout the city, including separately branded core routes with upgraded buses and shelters.”

Skagit Transit considering improvements, expansions to Sedro-Woolley routes – Skagit Valley Herald

“Skagit Transit officials presented on April 17 to the Sedro-Woolley City Council plans for route improvements and possible expansions. Skagit Transit consultant Sam Zimbabwe laid out the plan — a guide for the next 5-10 years of services provided by Skagit Transit.”

How One Suburb is Using Transit to Transform Into a True City – Streets Blog USA

“A Seattle suburb is making big strides towards transforming into a true urban center — and advocates in the region think it offers lessons for other bedroom communities to evolve beyond car dependence.”

Seattle’s next move to slow Rainier Avenue: Plant trees in the center – The Seattle Times

“To try to further nudge drivers to follow traffic laws and boost safety, the Seattle Department of Transportation is building three center-lane, landscaped medians on Rainier Avenue South at south Spencer, Kenyon and Thistle streets.”

Final State Budget Puts Highway Expansion Ahead of Basic Maintenance – The Urbanist

“The newly approved budget includes a broad array of new taxes and fees, including a six-cent increase to the state gas tax, a luxury vehicle tax, increased vehicle registration fees and an increase to the state sales and use tax on vehicles.”

Light rail grand opening in Redmond draws big crowds – The Seattle Times

“Excited crowds gathered under warm and mostly cloudy skies Saturday to welcome Sound Transit’s two newest light rail stations, as the 3.4-mile extension of the regional system pushed deeper into this Eastside city, a once rural redoubt on the northern tip of Lake Sammamish.”