September News: Hop On Board the Campaign Trail!

People pose for a photo at the launch of the Hop on Board Seattle campaign.

Dear friends,

Last Friday, transit supporters in Seattle gathered to kick off the Hop On Board, Seattle campaign, which is working to renew and expand the Seattle Transit Measure this November. The new measure would expand transit service across the city, delivering 100,000 additional annual service hours, particularly at night and on the weekends. It also more than doubles the number of free ORCA cards available for those who need them, from 10,000 to 22,000.

At the launch event, bus operators, transit riders, advocates, planners, policymakers, and business representatives came together as one high-energy crowd. Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson fired everyone up, and cheers erupted for the speakers: Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck, ATU 587 President Greg Woodfill, Nondrivers Alliance founder Anna Zivarts, and Transit Riders Union General Secretary Lam Ho. The message from the event was resounding—let’s vote yes and pass Proposition 1 in November!

With the campaign officially launched, there will be many opportunities to get involved in the next month and a half before election day. Follow Hop On Board, Seattle on Instagram to help spread the word, and sign up to volunteer on the campaign website.

Keep reading for more of what we’ve been up to, along with transit openings, campaign launch events, and more to get excited about in the next month.

See you on the bus!

– Transportation Choices Coalition

WHAT WE’VE BEEN UP TO

Learning About Transit In Southwest Washington

The TCC team takes a tour of the I-5 Bridge set to be replaced between Portland and Vancouver, WA.

At Transportation Choices Coalition, a lot of our work involves partnering with Washington communities to build the transit future they want to see. In just the last year, we’ve worked to defend and expand transit funding in Spokane, Seattle, Pierce County, Ellensburg, and Island County. This year, we’ve also begun building relationships in Southwest Washington.

Home to the City of Vancouver, Washington, this region is forecasted to see substantial population growth in the coming years. It’s also in a crucial era for transportation investment, with major decisions ahead on interstate light rail, Bus Rapid Transit construction, and an ambitious 20-year regional transit expansion plan. As Washington’s statewide transit advocacy organization, we want to be of service and support transit investments where they’re needed.

To learn more and strengthen our relationships, the TCC team took a study trip (by train, of course!) to Southwest Washington. Over a couple of intensive days, we met with Vancouver city leadership, advocates from Portland and Vancouver, engineering and design consultants, and transit agencies. Thank you to the Cowlitz Tribal Foundation and STV for their generous support for this trip.

Here’s some of what we learned about the Interstate Bridge Replacement project, C-Tran’s Bus Rapid Transit expansion, and the local advocacy landscape.

Read our latest blog post.

Hosting a Rural Transit Advocacy 101 Workshop

TCC Executive Director Kirk Hovenkotter moderates a panel.

On August 20th at the Muckleshoot Community Center, more than 30 community members joined Transportation Choices Coalition, Hopelink, and the South King County Mobility Coalition for the South King County Rural Transportation Advocacy 101 Workshop. The workshop explored why advocacy matters and how community voices can help shape transportation investments across South King County.

The day began with a panel discussion featuring Councilmember Steffanie Fain of King County District 5, DeAnna Martin, Chief of Staff at King County Metro, Daeveene May, Special Needs Transportation Manager at Pierce County, and Mike Birdsall, Vice Chair of the Joint Transportation Initiative and retired transportation planner. Panelists shared their perspectives on transportation planning and highligted the importance of personal stories in making the case for transportation investments—particularly in rural communities where data may not always tell the full story.

After the panel, participants used power-mapping and messaging triangle exercises to explore their own priorities, such as door-to-door service for seniors, pedestrian safety near schools, and improving service for deafblind riders. Finally, participants practiced turning their transportation priorities and personal experiences into clear, compelling public comments. Volunteers demonstrated how a specific ask, a personal story, and a strong understanding of the community’s needs can help bring transportation issues to life for decision-makers.

WHAT’S COMING UP

Gear Up for the Grit City Gauntlet on Sep. 19

In his spare time, TCC’s Advocacy Manager, Holden Minor Ringer, organizes long walks that help build community. Coming up this weekend is the Grit City Gauntlet, a 22-mile walk through Tacoma, Washington. Join in for the fun and the challenge — and say hi to TCC’s executive director, Kirk Hovenkotter, to learn more about the campaign to pass Pierce Transit Proposition 1 and win more bus service for Tacoma and Pierce County.

Learn more and sign up here.

Kick Off the Keep Pierce Moving Campaign Sep. 24

We’re excited to join Tacoma On the Go, Pierce County Executive Ryan Mello, Tacoma City Councilmember Kristina Walker, and community members in Pierce County for the official launch of the Keep Pierce Moving campaign next Thursday, September 24th.

On the ballot this November, Pierce Transit Proposition 1 would transform what it’s like to get around Pierce County without a car. Funding more buses, more often, at more times of day, this measure will make life easier for youth, seniors, people with disabilities, and others who can’t drive or who choose not to drive.

Join us at the Berliner Beer Hall to kick off this exciting campaign!

More events and ways to get involved:

Join us for a Canvass Kickoff with the Pierce County Central Labor Council on Saturday, Sept. 26th, at the Willard School. Learn more and register here.

Follow Keep Pierce Moving on Instagram and help spread the word!

Celebrate the Pinehurst Station Opening on Sep. 30

A Link light rail train pulls into the new Pinehurst Station. Photo credit: Sound Transit.

Sound Transit announced earlier this month that Pinehurst Station will open for service on Wednesday, September 30. The newest Seattle station is expected to serve around 3,400 riders with connections to community resources and King County Metro bus service.

The Pinehurst Station was approved in the 2016 Sound Transit 3 ballot measure and is the first infill station to open in Sound Transit’s history. Originally projected to open in 2031, construction was expedited to start before the opening of Lynnwood Link, allowing for a faster, less disruptive process.

On September 30, Pinehurst will open five years earlier than originally planned.

Learn more about the station and the opening day celebration.

Participate in the Week Without Driving, Oct. 1 – 8

What would change in your life if driving wasn’t an option?

What changes when you cannot drive somewhere? Does an errand or a doctor’s appointment become a full-day commitment? Does a job become a question of access, not ability?

If you can drive and have access to a car, these questions might be answered quickly and simply. But these questions reveal how much we assume everyone drives. That assumption reveals who has access and who gets left out. When you don’t drive, everything becomes a negotiation between time, money, energy, distance and a tradeoff of what you can do and can access.

Mark your calendar: Thursday, October 1 through Thursday, October 8, 2026. Join us, spread the word, share your story! Use the hashtag #WeekWithoutDriving and tag @WeekWithoutDriving and @transpochoices so we can amplify your story and show what transportation access really looks like in Washington State.

Learn more about how to participate.

See Many of You at Tuxes & Trains 2026 on Oct. 9

Tickets are officially sold out for our annual fundraising gala, Tuxes & Trains. You can email Iz Berrang to be added to our waitlist for the event.

✨ Tuxes & Trains 2026: History Starts Here ✨
Date: Friday, October 9th, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Venue: Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI), Seattle

This year’s theme, History Starts Here, celebrates a remarkable moment for transportation in our region. After years of advocacy, organizing, and public investment, we’re seeing transformative transit projects become a reality. Together, we’ll reflect on the progress we’ve made and help power the work still ahead.

Keep an eye out for our Tuxes & Trains online auction launch at the end of the month!

STAFF PICK

Losing is Fun When You Lose to the L8!

Fix the L8 co-founders Nick Sattele and Jason Li pose with Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson.

This month, we saw a transit victory with the opening of bus-only lanes on Denny Way in Seattle. The Fix the L8 campaign, Seattle Streets Alliance, and the Transit Riders Union worked tirelessly to support transit riders on this busy corridor, where buses used to sit at a standstill. The “Race the L8” event they organized last year saw walkers, jugglers, and even leapfroggers pass King County Metro’s #8 bus as it stalled out in traffic. But all that changed when Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson announced the Denny Way Bus Reliability Project earlier this year.

I’m inspired by the Fix the L8 organizers’ advocacy and the time they took to properly celebrate this incredible win. Last week, they returned to race the L8 again and lost, as the #8 bus sped along Denny Way in just 4 minutes, compared to 21 minutes last year. But no one was sad about the bus claiming victory. They released some cute merch for the celebration, too, with Plush Bus now available, and all proceeds going to support Seattle Streets Alliance. Fix the L8 has shown us how to infuse joy into advocacy while still fighting for what is right.

McKenna Lux

Deputy Director

WHAT WE’RE READING

“Hop On Board!” Campaign Kicks Off — Seattle Transit Blog

“At the event, speakers shared stories of how important transit is to their lives and how this measure would make public transit in Seattle more useful for more people.”

Week Without Driving is About Access: How the Nondriver Movement is Building Disability Power — Disability Culture Lab

“The goal is to change the narrative that “everyone drives” and to show the other ways that people, especially disabled nondrivers, get around our communities.”

RapidRide J Line upgrades take shape in Eastlake, U District, South Lake Union — SDOT Blog

“What comes next is the part everyone can see and feel: brand-new sidewalks, bus stations, protected bike lanes, better lighting, and a smoother street ready to carry Seattle’s first fully electric RapidRide bus service.”

Can Light Rail Survive Vancouver, Washington’s New Bridge? — NextCity

“Modern-day bridge proposals include a light rail line, which would provide a car-free alternative for traveling between the cities — and a safer, more pleasant experience for cyclists like Cromer, who could bring their bikes onto train cars.”

Open house draws big crowd for proposed Everett Transit merger — Everett Post

“In recent months, Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin and city staff have advocated for Everett Transit’s annexation into the larger CT network to expand transit options and prepare for the incoming Sound Transit light rail extension.”