Reminder: King County Metro's First Public Hearing is Tonight
Last week, Arts Editor Jose brought you up to speed on Metro's financial hardships--and how they could lead to your bus line getting reduced or altogether cut. He also let you know that there will be public hearings on the matter, where you can make your opinion heard. The first of those hearings is tonight.
The service cuts, which are the result of a $60 million shortfall in the budget, would impact almost 80% of Metro riders, the majority of whom use the buses to get to and from work or school. But even with the fiscal woes that Metro's facing, there's hope--in the form of a potential vehicular fee, proposed by Metro champion, King County Executive Dow Constantine.
Dow's plan goes like this: When buses get harder and harder to ride, more people turn to cars. Thus, a reduction in buses would likely lead to more cars on the road, and more congestion during peak hours. The $20 fee, (a "congestion reduction charge") then, is designed to maintain levels of bus service, and thus, deter new drivers from entering the fold.
Other alternatives, like raising rates for the second time in as many years, run the risk of pricing out Metro riders who not only rely on the bus to get around for practical reasons, but wouldn't be able to retreat to the ease of driving personal vehicles if bus lines were cut. These are the folks who would be hit the hardest, and Dow and Metro feel that they need some support.
Don't agree? Feel that, as a motorist, it's not your responsibility to pay for buses? Or maybe you're a driver and bus-rider, and wouldn't mind kicking in a couple of extra bucks each year to keep Metro afloat? Either way, make your voice heard at tonight's hearing.
Tonight // Kirkland City Council Chambers, 123 Fifth Avenue, Kirkland // 6 p.m.
