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RESOLUTION NO. 4 0 7 2
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
AUBURN, WASHINGTON, STATING THE CITY
COUNCIL'S SUPPORT FOR KING COUNTY'S ''TRANSIT
NOW" INITIATIVE
WHEREAS, King County, Washington is proposing a new four-point initiative,
identified as "Transit Now" that will increase King County Metro Transit service to
provide up to 21 million more annual rides within ten years; and
WHEREAS, King County is endeavoring to have the initiative placed on the
upcoming November 2006 ballot; and
WHEREAS, the initiative aims to get as many as 60,000 drivers off the road and
into buses each weekday to keep regional congestion in check, and it aims to provide
new travel options and traffic relief to thousands of commuters who will be affected by
construction of highways and other transportation projects; and
WHEREAS, this initiative will allow Metro to keep pace with employment and
population growth, and will result in an overall increase of bus service by up to 20
percent system-wide - or as much as 700,000 new hours of bus service over the next
ten years; and
WHEREAS, the environment will also win because more vehicles will be taken
off the road, meaning less air pollution, and the cleanest fuels available will power
Metro's 21 st Century fleet, including hybrid diesel-electric, electric, and biodiesel; and
WHEREAS, the initiative will be funded by a one-tenth of one percent sales tax
measure to be approved by voters in King County, which sales tax increase amounts to
Resolution No. 4072
August 2, 2006
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an estimated $50 million in annual revenues for Metro, and which will fund immediate
transportation improvements to get the region moving through more transit service and
help reduce congestion; and
WHEREAS, if approved by the voters, the initiative would cost the average
household in King County approximately $25 more a year in sales tax - less than the
cost of a tank of gas; and
WHEREAS, some of the particular programs of Transit Now will included the
following:
(1) RapidRide-Create "bus rapid transit" (BRT) with frequent all-day
service and faster travel times on five key travel corridors: three in Seattle; one
connecting Bellevue and Redmond; and one serving SeaTac, Des Moines and
Federal Way.
(2) Improve current service-Enhance 35 major Metro routes with the
highest ridership to provide more frequent two-way, all-day service between key
cities and neighborhoods.
(3) New service for growing areas-Develop new peak and midday
service for residential areas in East and South King County.
(4) Service partnerships-Set aside resources for partnerships with major
employers and cities, potentially leveraging millions in additional funding from
other sources to add new service in rapidly expanding employment centers; and
WHEREAS, the programs of Transit Now will benefit the citizens of Auburn; and
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August 2, 2006
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WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Auburn, is entitled to express its
collective position on ballot measures, in accordance with state law, RCW 42.17.130,
including giving persons at the public meeting at which the collective expression is given
the opportunity to state opposing views.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUBURN,
HEREBY RESOLVES as follows:
Section 1. The City Council hereby expresses its support for the King County
Transit Now Initiative.
Section 2. That the Mayor is authorized to implement such administrative
procedures as may be necessary to carry out the directives of this legislation.
Section 3. If any portion of this resolution or its application to any person or
circumstances is held invalid, the remainder of the resolution or application of the
provision to other persons or circumstances should not be affected.
Section 4. That this Resolution shall take effect and be in full force upon
passage and signatures hereon.
Dated and Signed this '~ day of (l,l-~~
,2006.
"b
ATTEST:
Da ielle E. Daskam, City Clerk
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August 2,2006
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Resolution No. 4072
August 2, 2006
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