Council Discusses Transit's Future in Snohomish County

Representatives of Community Transit (Roland Behee), Sound Transit (David Beal), and Everett Transit (Tom Hingson) took part in a panel discussion at the Public Works Committee meeting this week. The focus of the discussion was long range goals and plans of each agency and how they interrelated.

"If we are going to address traffic congestion we have to fully understand the problem and possible solutions," said Councilmember Dave Gossett. "The Public Works Committee will hold a number of panels on transportation issues to start that conversation."

The Puget Sound region and Snohomish County have adopted a centers land use strategy that focuses future population and employment growth at identified urban centers. Some of the better known urban centers include Lynnwood, Everett, and the intersections of I-5 and 128^th and 164^th. The transit representatives stressed that their long-range plans focus on corridors which will serve these centers.

"There is a solid interconnection between the long-range plans of all the agencies and Snohomish County land use," said Gossett. "This is crucial because the centers strategy will not work without good transportation connections."

Significant expansions of existing service will be necessary to provide that service.

Behee of Community Transit identified a variety of planned service expansions including expansion of Swift Bus Rapid Transit to serve corridors such as the Bothell-Everett Highway, 128^th, 164^th, and north on Highway 99 to Arlington. Currently Swift only runs on Highway 99 between the King/Snohomish county line and Everett. Feeder service for this system would also be expanded, providing over twice as many hours of service as currently. Community Transit would expect some of the capital projects to be funded by the state or local government.

"This expansion is complicated by the fact that Community Transit in the short run has to cut service," said Gossett, who also chairs the Community Transit Board. "Last year we cut service approximately 15% and will need to make additional cuts of about the same size for 2012. Those service hours will ultimately have to be restored to make the long range plan work."

Sound Transit representative David Beal spoke about the ST2 plan for 2023. Light rail will reach Lynnwood and engineering/environmental work will begin on the extension to Everett. The longer range plan includes construction of light rail to Everett and Bus Rapid Transit from Seattle to Everett.

Tom Hingson indicated that Everett Transit has no major expansion plans, focusing its efforts on serving the Everett urban center. Their plans include $3,000,000 a year for partnerships with other agencies that would improve service. Partnering with Community Transit for Swift in Everett is an example of such cooperation.

"If implemented, these plans will provide excellent mobility for Snohomish County citizens," said Gossett. "But we were told there is a serious shortage of funds."

Both Sound Transit and Community Transit reported that they are already at the maximum legal level of taxation. But the increases in service described require funding beyond what is currently available.

"You're in the range of something like a $2 billion plan to get full implementation," said Behee, referring to Community Transit's plan.  That figure includes capital but did not include restoring $20-25 million a year in the service cuts currently being made. An additional $100 million a year would be needed for operational costs after 2030.

Sound Transit had only a very rough estimate but anticipated the regional cost would be somewhere between $10 and $20 billion.

"There is no question that improved transit has to be a key component of solving our traffic problems," said Gossett. "But the funding shortfall is very significant. We can't solve our $263 million deficit in the 2025 roads plan by depending on transit."

Future panels are being planned, including one dealing with the linkage between economic growth, jobs, and transportation. The video of the panel discussion can be viewed at http://snohomish.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=2. Then click on "Public Works Committee" and choose the video for the May 3, 2011, 9:00 am meeting. Documents passed out can be viewed at the same link by clicking on the links at the end of the agenda.

Council Names Members of Human Rights Commission

The Council recently appointed members to the Snohomish County Commission on Human Rights. Members appointed include:

·         Brenda Newell, Monroe

·         Lieutenant Kevin Young, Everett

·         Timothy Loney, Stanwood

·         Rodney Green, Everett

·         Ron Harrell, Edmonds

·         Margaret Winch, Mill Creek

·         Elizabeth Scott, Monroe

The Commission was created by the Council last year following years of work with local citizens. The Commission will advise county government regarding issues of equal access and discrimination, engage in public education, and investigate and try to resolve complaints if requested to by both parties.

"The Human Rights Commission will assist Snohomish County in accomplishing our goal of improving the lives of all our citizens," said Councilmember Dave Gossett. "It's an important step forward in eliminating all forms of discrimination."

Citizens concerned about discrimination and inclusion had urged the Council to create the Commission. Those same citizens noted that the makeup of Snohomish County's population was changing. Those changes are shown by the 2010 census. Some of the census's findings include:

·         Over the past decade, Hispanic and Asian populations have almost doubled. Each now numbers over 60,000.

·         Non-Hispanic whites remained by far the largest ethnic group in the county, with 74.3 percent of the total population. That was about a 9 percent decline from 2000, even though the group added 24,616 new people.

"Change is challenging. The Human Rights Commission is here to help the community meet those challenges and find the opportunities these changes offer," said Gossett. "We want to make sure that Snohomish County government serves and represents all of our citizens."

In addition to establishing the Commission the Human Rights Ordinance prohibits discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, gender, physical and mental disability, sexual orientation, religion, age, family status, military status, and source of income. Only two other counties, King and Kitsap, have a Human Rights Commission.

"I spent a lot of time working on this ordinance and I'm very pleased to see the Commission begin its work," said Gossett. "The Commission will help to educate people to embrace diversity as a foundation for building a healthy, inclusive and prosperous community."