News, Politics, Transportation

Sic Transit? Seattle and King County Councils Weigh Car Tab Fees

The Seattle City Council, acting in their capacity as the Seattle Transportation Benefit District (STBD) Governing Board, voted unanimously to approve a $60 vehicle licensing fee for the November 8, 2011, ballot. If voters approve, says the Council’s press release, they’ll receive:

Transit: Speed and reliability improvements to eight major corridors; projects that provide better access from neighborhoods to light rail and frequent bus service corridors; and improved safety for transit riders. Continue reading Sic Transit? Seattle and King County Councils Weigh Car Tab Fees

News, Politics, Transportation

$80 Seattle Car Tab Fee Unites Greens That Tunnel Split Asunder

Over on Mayor McGinn’s blog, there’s an interesting entry in the post titled “Community support grows for investing in Seattle’s transit future.” A group with environmental leanings has reunited in favor of the $80 vehicle licensing fee, the same people who not so long ago had a public falling out over the “greenery” of the deep-bore tunnel. Continue reading $80 Seattle Car Tab Fee Unites Greens That Tunnel Split Asunder

News, Politics, Transportation

Op-Ed: For Rail, Be Bold (by Mayor McGinn)

The Transit Master Plan showed that Seattle’s greatest weakness was connecting neighborhoods to each other. It identified fifteen corridors overall, five of which will need high capacity service – and four of these are suitable for some form of rail transit. To some degree, we’ve all known this, but the rigorous approach of the Transit Master Plan clearly identifies the best corridors, and points to the better ways to serve each corridor. In a number of cases, it points to rail, specifically a concept that has come to be known as “rapid streetcar.” Continue reading Op-Ed: For Rail, Be Bold (by Mayor McGinn)