CITY OF SEATTLE
RESOLUTION __________________
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A RESOLUTION supporting Sound Transit (A Regional Transit Authority) Proposition 1 ballot measure and urging Seattle voters to vote “Yes” on Sound Transit Proposition 1 on the November 8, 2016 general election ballot.
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WHEREAS, a Regional Transit Authority (Sound Transit) was created for the Pierce, King, and Snohomish County region by action of their respective county councils pursuant to RCW 81.112.030; and
WHEREAS, in November 1996, the voters of the three-county Sound Transit district approved Sound Move, a ten-year regional transit system plan for high-capacity transit in the Central Puget Sound Region; and
WHEREAS, in November 2008, the voters of the three-county Sound Transit district approved Sound Transit 2, a 15-year regional transit system plan for high-capacity transit in the Central Puget Sound Region; and
WHEREAS, a continued regional investment in high-capacity transit, including light rail (Link), commuter rail (Sounder), and express bus service and facilities (ST Express), will provide fast, frequent, and reliable connections among the region’s major population and employment centers; and
WHEREAS, Sound Transit has engaged in a multi-year planning process with the public, other agencies, and communities to identify and evaluate potential projects for inclusion in the Sound Transit 3 (ST3) proposal, and to evaluate several revenue and investment scenarios; and
WHEREAS, on June 23, 2016 the Sound Transit Board adopted the ST3 plan and voted to send the plan to voters for the November 8, 2016 ballot; and
WHEREAS, the ST3 plan would build a total of 62 miles of light rail with stations serving 37 additional areas, including light rail to Everett, Tacoma, Redmond, and Issaquah; and
WHEREAS, the ST3 Plan is projected to quintuple Sound Transit ridership from approximately 150,000 trips each weekday today to almost 800,000 daily trips in 2040. And the share of all people using rail transit would grow from 17 percent today to 69 percent in 2040; and
WHEREAS, the ST3 plan will directly benefit the residents of Seattle with projects that include building light rail from West Seattle to Downtown and Ballard to Downtown connecting the Interbay, Uptown/Seattle Center and South Lake Union Neighborhoods, new light rail stations at 130th Street and Graham Street, and early investments in the RapidRide C and D Lines and the Madison Bus Rapid Transit project; and
WHEREAS, the ST3 plan will help promote and fund equitable Transit-Oriented Development including affordable housing near new light rail stations, station access programs to make it easier and safer to ride a bike, walk, or take transit to access light rail stations; and
WHEREAS, The City of Seattle has a strong history of partnering with Sound Transit to help deliver Sound Move and Sound Transit 2 projects. In order to accelerate the delivery of transit improvements in Seattle, the City is committed to actively collaborating with Sound Transit early in the environmental assessment and design phases of ST3 projects to refine and provide certainty around project scope and cost estimates, and to streamline and expedite the permitting process; and
WHEREAS, after notice in accordance with RCW 42.17A.555 and Seattle Municipal Code Section 2.04.300, persons in favor of Sound Transit Proposition 1 and those opposed to it have been given an equal opportunity to share their views in an open public meeting, NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE, THE MAYOR CONCURRING, THAT:
Section 1. The Mayor and the City Council support expanding mass transit throughout Seattle and the Puget Sound region in order to help create vibrant, equitable communities and help meet the transportation needs of the City and region.
Section 2. The Mayor and City Council urge Seattle voters to vote "Yes" on Sound Transit Proposition 1 in the November 8, 2016 general election.
Adopted by the City Council the ________ day of _________________________, 2016, and signed by me in open session in authentication of its adoption this ________ day of _________________________, 2016.
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President ____________ of the City Council
The Mayor concurred the ________ day of _________________________, 2016.
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Edward B. Murray, Mayor
Filed by me this ________ day of _________________________, 2016.
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Monica Martinez Simmons, City Clerk
(Seal)