Another transportation note: You can apply now for city’s new Transit Advisory Board

| Transportation | West Seattle news

If you’re interested in being on the city’s new Transit Advisory Board, it’s time to make your move, since the City Council officially approved its creation with a vote this afternoon. Ahead, the announcement, including how to apply:

City Council unanimously voted to create a Seattle Transit Advisory Board today, and Mayor Murray announced his intention to sign the legislation into law.

The Board will provide recommendations and oversight on the spending of approximately $45 million which will be raised for transit service in Seattle as a result of the approval of Proposition 1 last fall. The Board will also advise the Mayor, Council, and City departments on all other matters related to transit within Seattle, such as implementation of the Seattle Transit Master Plan and operation of the City’s streetcar system.

“Taxpayers deserve to know their money is well spent, which is why we’re creating this Seattle Transit Advisory Board,” said Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, the legislation’s sponsor. “We’re looking for thoughtful, dedicated people to advise on how our new transit hours are dedicated, and I’ll be relying on their feedback for future decisions.”

“The expansion of bus transit services is a huge win for everyone who lives and works in Seattle,” said Mayor Ed Murray. “Citizen oversight of where we direct these new resources will help ensure that we’re meeting the needs of every neighborhood and community in the city.”

The Board will be comprised of 11 members, plus a member of the Get Engaged program, all of whom will serve staggered two or three-year terms. Five appointments will be made by the Council and six appointments by the Mayor. The Board is expected to meet monthly.

The legislation passed today calls for Board members to be representative of:

· Different geographic areas of the city;

· Different transit rider groups (persons with disabilities, senior and school age citizens, commuters, low-income riders);

· Travelers of different modes of public transportation (e.g. bus, light rail, streetcar, and ferry);

· Seattle residents with an interest in improving transit conditions within the City and region, and have experience with urban transit issues;

· Transit-related organizations/clubs; and

· Schools, business, and neighborhood organizations that particularly depend on the City’s public transportation system.

The City of Seattle is committed to promoting diversity in the City’s boards and commissions. Women, young persons, seniors, persons with disabilities, sexual and gender minorities, persons of color, and immigrants are encouraged to apply. Seattle residents interested in serving on the Advisory Board should submit a resume and a letter of interest to Bill LaBorde of the Seattle Department of Transportation at Bill.LaBorde@seattle.gov.

West Seattle Hipster March 2, 2015 (6:50 pm)

I am thinking of applying, and among the many questions I will ask is why can’t Sound Transit buses take over more of the Seattle routes.

Kathy March 3, 2015 (11:22 am)

We can beef up the transit system all we want. Unless we make it more inconvenient and expensive to drive and park a private vehicle, and make bus trip times closer to car trip times, the ridership will not fill those extra service hours. Then the low ridership will lead to cuts again the next time money is short. I would say eliminate free parking in the neighborhood business districts like West Seattle. Can there be an arrangement with the big malls to eliminate free parking there, too, so the competition for business is equal? Dedicate more road right of way for public transportation. Create more bike and car share opportunities for “last mile” trip extensions.

Then you will start to see people in the outlying neighborhoods actually using those added service hours. People will then wholeheartedly support the kind of transportation system we need and deserve. This is not a war on cars, this is about making it easier for everyone to get around. As much as I love my bus and would love to see more service hours, I don’t see ridership increasing greatly in my neighborhood unless the city has the courage to stop favoring private automobiles over public transportation as a way to move people around.

I think joining this newly created board will be about getting all you can for your neighborhood. But I have my doubts it will have any impact on the real changes we need to have a good, well-used public transportation system.

That said, I think a good candidate for West Seattle representation on the board would be someone who depends on one of the busier bus lines that would really fill up additional service hours like the 120 or the C line.

Scott Coomes March 3, 2015 (3:14 pm)

IT seems like all of this stuff is being planned for the benefit of all modes of public transportation except the auto users, who have been given the burden of paying the increase in fees and being the ONLY mode that doesn’t seem to be making any gains loosing parking spots, lanes of travel,etc.. am I off the mark on this or does the city need to have yet another seat on the counsel for auto drivers?

Scott Coomes

WSB March 3, 2015 (3:33 pm)

The city notes that (a) the attention had been on cars and almost exclusively on cars for decades, but they’re no longer the only mode and (b) more transit use means fewer cars on the roads and that’s good for the remaining car drivers. Also, as we discuss here often, since it’s become a multi-modal world, those you see on transit and bikes often also own cars, meaning they ARE paying increased fees too.

sc March 6, 2015 (8:48 am)

so what I understand you to mean is. because a bicycle is a secondary vehicle it doesn’t have to pay a separate fee, because they already pay the increase on there primary vehicle…. that makes sense. my main mode of transportation is a small pickup truck, then my 4 motorcycles and 3 trailers shouldn’t be required to register?

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