king county metro changes 2011

 While I'm very relieved that King County Metro won't be cutting 17% of their routes, I am deeply disappointed that the city is moving backwards with regard to public transit, rather than forward. We're trying to cut traffic and create a green, sustainable city and cut carbon emissions... by cutting public transit? We show our humanity and altruism... by cutting out our downtown free-ride zone? 

I realize the country is really struggling economically. But what I don't understand is that--rather than cutting some of our war spending--we, the middle-class and the poor, have to suffer to try to make up for stupid decisions by the rich in this country.  This is a perfect example. 

Metro's statement:

Council supermajority agrees to vote for $20 charge to avert Metro service cuts

King County Executive Dow Constantine announced this morning that a supermajority of seven County Council members have agreed to support the proposed $20 congestion reduction charge to help fund Metro for two years.

They are supporting the charge in combination with additional actions to increase the transit system’s efficiency.

Approval of their agreed-upon legislative package would avert a 17 percent cut of Metro bus service. The Council is scheduled to take action next Monday, Aug. 15.

Read the County Executive’s news release»

The agreement announced today would do the following:

• Develop a new transit incentive program that will offer bus tickets to people when they renew their car tabs.
  People can either use the tickets to try transit or donate the ticket value to a pool that human service agencies will use to provide mobility for people in need.

• Phase out the downtown Seattle Ride Free Area (RFA) in October 2012. The City of Seattle pays Metro $400,000 a year to support the RFA, but that covers only about 18 percent of Metro’s $2.2 million annual cost to operate the RFA. Phasing out the RFA will increase fare revenue for Metro. Other advantages:
  - The transit system will be simpler—riders will always pay when they board.
  - Passengers heading away from downtown will get off the bus at any door, making deboarding easier and faster.
  - Metro expects a decrease in the number of people who board downtown and don’t pay when they reach their destination.

• Increase the pool of funds that provides discounted bus tickets to human service and homeless programs.
  Metro sells human service agencies deeply discounted tickets worth nearly $2 million annually. Metro will either increase the current ticket allocation or further reduce the discount, while giving the public the option of donating their transit incentive tickets. Metro will seek the advice of human service agencies on how to best help those in need. This enhanced program will assist those who have relied on free service downtown--and give them the ability to travel outside of downtown with the tickets.

• Move ahead with "right-sizing" transit service, consistent with the aim of Metro’s strategic plan to build a more productive, cost-effective transit system. In communities where Metro’s fixed-route buses serve few riders, Metro will deploy lower-cost, more efficient Dial-a-Ride Transit (DART), community access transportation services, and vanpools. Metro will reach out to community organizations and local residents to help shape “right-size” transportation strategies.

• Consider routes that carry more riders due to the effects of highway tolling as candidates for added services.
  This is consistent with principles to enhance Metro’s productivity developed by the Regional Transit Task Force and adopted in Metro's strategic plan.

While the temporary congestion reduction charge is in effect, the County would continue working with state and regional leaders on a long-term funding solution for transit. 

For updates and background information, visit www.kingcounty.gov/metro/future

truism: karma's a b*tch

7 o'clock last night, waiting wet and bedraggled at the downtown Seattle bus stop for my ride home, I had the dubious honor of listening to a man, also taking shelter from the rain, reaming out a Metro dispatcher on his cell phone.  According to his tirade, he'd been waiting for 50 minutes for bus #355, and it hadn't come by, no-it-hadn't-he'd-been-standing-here-the-whole-time-don't-tell-him-it-came-by, and Metro really needed to get their act together, because it wasn't acceptable! 

Everyone around him found some fascinating point in the distance to stare at, and like me, probably wondered if Seattle-ites were the most uptight people in the nation, or just the state? Still on the phone, still ranting to the poor Metro employee, the man stalks off and crosses the street. 

Just as he reached the other side of the street, the #355 rumbled up.

My faith in Seattle-ites was restored.  Two women standing close to me started laughing.  So did I.  We tried to crane our necks--ever so delicately--to see if he'd noticed... nope, he was still clutching his phone, turned away.  Too far away to summon without a whole lot of hullabaloo.  And being Seattle-ites, we oh-so-detest hullabaloos of any sort. 

"I guess that goes to show that karma really is a bitch," remarked one of the ladies as we watched #355 rumble off along its route.

The man was marching stiffly down the opposite side of the street, still on his cell. We craned again to see if he noticed his missed ride as it passed him... couldn't really tell, but we shared a glance of unholy glee as we fought our snickers.

Karma, indeed.  Don't be an ass.

Men are not punished for their sins, but by them.  

~Elbert Hubbard

commuter's sunrise

Since moving to Seattle, I've enjoyed the most beautiful morning commute. I thought I'd share pieces of it, and at the same time, introduce my amazing holiday gift from John, Mr. Nikon COOLPIX *bows*.

And now, for his debut:

Here, I am on the bus wandering through West Seattle on my way to the West Seattle Bridge.

And here, the bus pulls onto the bridge, and you can see the Port of Seattle and behind it---beautiful downtown.

There is an actual sunrise/sunset feature on Mr. Nikon, which I felt took the best representation of one (that I've taken). No more of the flash bleaching it out, or the lack of flash making it a dark burnt blur. Here's some examples.

Good John. Good Mr. Nikon COOLPIX, who fits neatly and snugly in my purse for just such occasions. Good fellow bus commuters, who didn't bitch or moan about my early morning interruption of their normal, comatose ride. I am happy with the world right now. I'll post more about that, later.

my bus-stop gargoyle

This morning when I got to my lonely, wind-swept bus stop, there was a friendly grin to greet me:

This little Gargoyle was perched so cheerfully on the bench in the dark, grinning up at the street light. I felt quite a bit less lonely waiting for my bus.