Summary

Executive Dow Constantine, along with county council members Phillips and Gossett, today praised the Washington State Legislature for passing a bill that could prevent deep Metro Transit service cuts.

Story

Executive Dow Constantine, along with county council members Phillips and Gossett, today praised the Washington State Legislature for passing a bill that could prevent deep Metro Transit service cuts.

"I would like to thank the state legislature for passing Senate bill 5457 in the House and the Senate. The bill provides King County with the ability to enact a temporary congestion reduction charge to fund metro bus service, and its passage is critical to the residents who use Metro buses and transit service throughout the county.

"Thanks to action today by the legislature and the leadership of the bill's main sponsor, Senator Scott White, now we have a tool to protect public transportation. I look forward to working with the King County council to enact this authority and revenue tool. I appreciate them working collaboratively with me and the state legislature to achieve this great result today.

"This is important to our residents now more than ever given high costs of fuel. I am pleased that today's legislation will allow us to provide a more affordable way for residents to get to work, school, childcare, cultural events and vibrant retail centers. This short-term local option funding tool will keep our community moving, and our economy growing."

Statement from Metropolitan King County Council Chair Larry Gossett:

"We are facing devastating cuts to our transit system. The actions of the state legislature make it possible to lessen the severity of the potential service cuts to the residents of King County. I look forward to working with the Executive and my colleagues on the County Council on this issue in the coming weeks."

Statement from Metropolitan King County Councilmember and Chair of the Transportation, Economy and Environment Committee, Larry Phillips:

"The state legislature's passage of SB 5457 offers hope for the recovery of King County's economy and for the mobility of the hundreds of thousands of people who rely on Metro Transit every day. I phoned my colleagues in Olympia on a daily basis making sure they understood the magnitude of the transit cuts the people of King County would be facing--cuts that would take our transit system back to mid-90s service levels--without stable funding. Now I will work with the Executive and my colleagues to get the Congestion Reduction Fee enacted in King County."

###

Due to the current economic recession, and steep declines in sales tax revenue that Metro depends on, it faces a shortfall of 600,000 annual service hours. This is equivalent to cutting all Metro service in East King County or all weekend bus service. In the past two years, Metro Transit has transformed its operations, achieved new scheduling efficiencies; eliminated more than 100 staff positions; deferred planned service expansion; reduced operating reserves; and reduced its capital program. In addition, riders are sharing the pain: since 2007, Metro has raised fares four times, an increase of 80 percent. Metro's employees were also part of the solution: salary and wage freezes, coupled with cost-of-living raise givebacks and other concessions, will reduce Metro's labor costs by up to $17 million per year.

Despite these fare increases, budget reductions, and operational efficiencies, it is not enough to cover the anticipated shortfall, which is what prompted the need to seek additional revenue tools.