A hearing to discuss the King County Metro bus routes will be held on May 14 at Union Station (401 S Jackson Street, Seattle), which begin at 3:30 p.m.
At risk are roughly two-thirds of metro bus routes, which might be eliminated, reduced or revised. The bus routes at risk include the BC-serving routes of 221, 245, 271 and 226.
Metro is up to $75 million annual shortfall and will have to cut service by up to 600,000 hours, which is 17 percent, beginning Fall 2014 until or unless new funding becomes available.
Since 2008,King County Metro has had a revenue shortage caused by the weak economy and their reliance on sales tax.
On May 14, The King County Council’s Transportation, Economy and Environment Committee will take public testimony about the potential service cuts.
3:30 p.m. is the open house, and at 4 p.m., testimonies will be heard.
The public is invited to speak about the effect bus service cuts will have on their transportation and ideas for alternatives.
Alex Clark, communications coordinator for the Office of Sustainability, has been handing out flyers and asking students to attend the hearing. “Bus routes are being cut, voice your opinion on Tuesday,” he said.
For those who can’t attend, testimonies can also be submitted via an online form at: http://kingcounty.gov/council/testimony.aspx More information about Metro services at risk can be found on the King County Metro’s website.