King County Seeks Public Comment on Transit Cuts

Editor's note: The following is a press release from the city of Shoreline.

The King County Council's Transportation, Economy and Environment Committee will hold a special meeting Tuesday, May 14 to take public testimony about potential Metro Transit service cuts. Committee members want to hear how you might be affected by service reductions and your ideas for alternatives.

Metro faces a $75 million annual shortfall and will have to cut service by up to 600,000 hours, or 17 percent, beginning in fall 2014 unless new funding becomes available. Roughly two-thirds of Metro bus routes might be eliminated, reduced or revised. Learn about services at risk: www.kingcounty.gov/metro/future

Service cuts hearing: 
Tuesday, May 14 
3:30 p.m. - open house 
4 p.m. - testimony begins 
Union Station 
401 S Jackson St, Seattle 

Can't attend? Submit your comments online

Metro has had a severe funding shortage since 2008. So far major service reductions have been avoided by cutting staff positions and programs, raising fares, digging into reserves, and taking many other actions. King County has adopted recommendations from a performance audit to save about $22 million annually, and has secured $121 million in grant funding to help develop high-volume RapidRide lines in major travel corridors.

The County adopted a congestion reduction charge to provide supplemental funding for two years while the Legislature considered transportation funding solutions. That charge will run out in mid-2014, and no more reserve funds will be available. If no additional funding is approved, Metro will have to reduce service to close the budget gap.