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More buses in Seattle: Larry Phillips co-sponsors contract for city to purchase additional transit
Summary
223,000 hours of service supported through voter-approved measure
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Seattle is one of the first cities in the County to take advantage of a program allowing cities to purchase additional bus service.Last November, Seattle voters approved a ballot measure generating revenue that would go toward the purchase of increased transit service. The proceeds received from an increase in license tabs and Seattle’s sales tax will go toward bus routes with 80 percent or more of their stops in Seattle. At the February 17 meeting of the Metropolitan King County Council, the Council unanimously adopted the contract between Seattle and King County to provide additional service.
“We must keep our buses rolling throughout the region and avoid transit cuts that have a devastating impact on our mobility, economy, environment and vulnerable populations,” said Council Chair Larry Phillips, a co-sponsor of the legislation. “As the representative of District Four I am very happy that routes 5EX, 15EX, 19, 40 and 33 serving the Greenwood, Phinney Ridge, Downtown, Ballard, Interbay, Magnolia, Northgate, Ballard, Fremont, Westlake, and South Lake Union neighborhoods will be restored or increased.”
The increased service hours will be implemented starting this June. The second phase will be put in place with the scheduled September transit service changes.
Seattle will pay for each hour of bus service provided, with the hourly rate reflecting Metro Transit operating costs for each type of bus used. Metro agrees to maintain current bus trips on route that Seattle invests in. The agreement also defines Metro Transit’s commitment to maintaining service in areas where bus service is restructured.
“This agreement is the first step in what I expect to be a larger process to keep buses serving our region and I appreciate Seattle’s willingness to restore, sustain and grow service and help keep King County moving,” said Phillips.