OK. The whole “save King County Metro” thing is hyperbolic. But the threatened cuts are real enough. Metro is going to have to either find emergency funding (the Congestion Reduction Charge to the rescue) or start making even more significant cuts to bus service starting in 2012. Commute Seattle sends out this reminder of Tuesday night’s public meeting to discuss the situation and collect public feedback on solutions. Can’t attend? You can weigh in online here.
Why your route may be affected.
Without more funds, a total of 600,000 hours of transit service would need to be eliminated over the next two years. This is about 17 percent of Metro’s entire system, but it would affect up to 80 percent of bus riders. That means as many as four out of five people will have to walk further, wait longer, make an extra transfer, stand in the aisle, or stand on the curb and see fully loaded buses pass them by. And it will force tens of thousands of people back into cars, worsening congestion for everyone.
What Can You Do? Attend!
Tomorrow the King County Council’s Transportation, Economy and Environment Committee is hosting a special evening hearing in Seattle to hear public testimony on the proposed transit service reduction and congestion reduction charge.
Public Hearing to Save King County Metro
Tuesday, July 12, 6 – 8 p.m.
King County Council Chambers
King County Courthouse, 10th Floor
516 Third Avenue Seattle, WAThis meeting is an opportunity for you to learn about the proposals and weigh in on the future of Metro transit.
If you voted Republican, you don’t get to ride the bus.
I would second this motion.
Besides, REAL republicans would never want to take public transit and have to sit with us plebs.
They should charge a realistic fee for riding the bus, look at what they charge in Europe. In the UK it costs 5 times as much and bus service is 10 times better.
This meeting should be renamed ‘we want more money from people who don’t ride the bus’.
Gas is also 5 times as expensive over there. Are you suggesting that gas stations should start charging you how much people pay in England? I bet not. Look, if you want a better driving experience man up and agree to the $20 tab. You have a car, you can afford it. If this doesn’t happen there are going to be MORE people on the road, which is going to make your commute more unpleasant.
This was my experience on the bus on Monday. This is a common thing on route 566 other than the drivers skipping a route and lying about it:
The bus attempting to go up an off ramp that ended at a street with a median. The bus would not able been able to turn or back up. The conversation I had with the driver in front of 50 people went something like this:
Bus driver: “oops, which way do I go?”
Robert: “par for the course jackass!.”
Driver: “well, what do you want me to do?”
Robert: “How about you initiate some training classes there at metro or buy a map?”
>>He corrected himself by swinging the bus out into 50mph oncoming traffic.
Safety first. I arrived at my car on Monday to find a “Save Metro!” flyer.
First of all I call BS to your story, but stranger things have happened. So if your story is true the driver made an honest mistake, fessed up to it and then asked a fair question and instead of providing advice or even constructive criticism you made several smart ass comments. Yeah, sounds like you’re a douchebag, do everyone a favor, stand behind the white line and don’t talk to the driver while the bus in motion.
Bob,
You sound like a dick.