Drafter

Clerk 10/20/2017

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A MOTION relating to public transportation; accepting a report identifying near- and long-term policy needs identified as part of the METRO CONNECTS development program as required by the work plan submitted with Motion 14949.

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                     WHEREAS, in January 2017, via Ordinance 18449, the King County council adopted, and in February 2017 the executive approved, METRO CONNECTS, a long-range transit service and capital plan that was developed with input from transportation stakeholders, the King County council, the regional transit committee, the executive, other jurisdictions and riders, and

                     WHEREAS, METRO CONNECTS is meant to be a living document setting the vision for and guiding the implementation of Metro's long-range transit service and capital networks while responding to growth throughout the county, and

                     WHEREAS, Ordinance 18449 required Metro to develop a work plan for the establishment of the METRO CONNECTS development program to be transmitted to the council with a motion for its approval by March 30, 2017, and

                     WHEREAS, Motion 14949 was transmitted with a work plan that requires Metro to prepare a policy report to be transmitted to the council by motion by October 31, 2017, to identify the near- and long-term policy needs and include:  (1) a description of the policy guidance that influences service and capital decisions in the regional project schedule; (2) a gap analysis of additional policy that could make the METRO CONNECTS development program more effective; and (3) preliminary recommendations on any changes to policy that could be considered as part of this program and potential timing and method for making those changes, and

                     WHEREAS, the transmitted policy report reflects Metro's best assessment of METRO CONNECTS development program policy needs and priorities as of October 2017, and

                     WHEREAS, the regional transit committee has requested, and Metro has accepted, a revised timetable so the committee can complete action by November 2019 on its recommended updates to the Strategic Plan for Public Transportation 2011-2021, the King County Metro Service Guidelines and the METRO CONNECTS Long-Range Plan;

                     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT MOVED by the Council of King County:

                     A.  The King County council hereby accepts the report entitled METRO CONNECTS Development Program Policy Report, Attachment A to this motion.

                     B.  To accomplish the proposed schedule of activity identified in this policy report, the first biannual status update on the METRO CONNECTS development program in June 2018 shall provide:

                       1.  Detailed information  about the regional service and capital projects envisioned in the METRO CONNECTS 2025 service network, including but not limited to:

                         a.  description of the process for identifying and prioritizing planned service increases and capital investments required to implement the METRO CONNECTS 2025 service network.  This shall include information about how King County Metro intends to use geographic value and social equity to determine the scale and sequence of both service and capital investments; and

                         b.  high-level estimates of projected funding needs, and shortfalls in funding needed to implement METRO CONNECTS; and

                       2.  Information about the role of partnerships, including but not limited to:

                         a.  a description  of different ways to partner, including innovative technology and public-private partnerships, and a defined process for collaboration on each type of partnership;

                         b.  Metro's financial and other assumptions of how partnerships can or will contribute to the projects listed in the Regional Project Schedule and the prioritization of those projects.  The role of partner commitments might include funding, planning, and capital contributions to the delivery of transit service; and

                         c.  strategies and programs to assist cities with less ability to partner on transit projects.

                     C.  The second biannual status update on the METRO CONNECTS development program, anticipated to be transmitted in January 2019, shall provide additional information on these topics as requested by the regional transit committee.

                     D.  The policy report identifies partnerships and the service network as the two work areas in need of updated policy language.  If regional transit committee discussion of those work areas identifies other work areas for which policy language should be revised, the committee intends to work with stakeholders and Metro on those revisions.

                     E.  In future years, one biannual status update shall include an evaluation of funding available to implement METRO CONNECTS and the projected shortfall or funding gap.  One biannual status update shall include a description of the status of projects in the Regional Project Schedule, both planned and underway, needed to implement METRO CONNECTS.  Project descriptions should include the current project phase and what is needed to complete the project.