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A MOTION expressing support for regional planning, coordination and funding efforts to address the implementation of METRO CONNECTS, King County Metro's long-range transit service and capital plan and the ongoing maintenance needs of King County's transportation infrastructure.

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                     WHEREAS, in July 2011, the King County council adopted Ordinance 17143, which adopted the King County Metro Strategic Plan for Public Transportation 2011-2021 and the King County Metro Service Guidelines, and

                     WHEREAS, the strategic plan and the service guidelines incorporated regional transit task force recommendations for transparency and clarity, cost control, productivity, social equity, geographic value and sustainable funding, and

                     WHEREAS, in July 2013, the King County council adopted the 2013 update to the strategic plan and service guidelines under Ordinance 17641, and

                     WHEREAS, the 2013 update to the strategic plan incorporated a new strategy 6.1.2 which reads, "Establish and maintain a long-range transit service and capital plan developed in collaboration with local comprehensive and regional long-range transportation planning," and

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

                     WHEREAS, METRO CONNECTS builds on Metro's strategic plan, service guidelines, the King County Strategic Plan 2010-2014, the policy framework and recommendations of the regional transit task force, Metro's work with the Linking Transit and Development process and the Access to Transit Report, and

                     WHEREAS, METRO CONNECTS outlines a vision for a seventy percent increase in bus service hours by 2040, accompanied by significant capital investments in fleet, operating base capacity, passenger access and facilities, transit pathways and other needs, and

                     WHEREAS, METRO CONNECTS is also guided by the challenges King County Metro faces, including population and economic growth, demographic changes, funding, the environment, customer service and satisfaction, access to transit, the need to build complementary capital projects for transit service, an evolving transportation system and the emergence of new technologies, 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, in July 2014, through Motion 14190, the King County council approved the 2014 update to the Strategic Plan for Road Services, which identified a significant funding shortfall in the county's ability to maintain its network of roads and bridges, and

                     WHEREAS, the bridges and roads task force, which was convened in August 2015, was asked to, "recommend financially sustainable and equitable strategies to deliver an unincorporated road system that supports people's transportation needs, local and regional economic development and quality of life," and

                     WHEREAS, the bridges and roads task force developed a number of high impact and low impact recommendations to address the maintenance needs of the county's transportation infrastructure network, and

                     WHEREAS, achieving the vision of METRO CONNECTS for an interim network by 2025 and the full network by 2040, as well as the recommendations of the bridges and roads task force to maintain the county's transportation infrastructure, will require regional collaboration and partnerships;

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

                     A.  The King County executive, working in coordination with the King County council, should initiate a regional planning effort during 2019 to address the implementation of METRO CONNECTS, King County Metro's long-range transit service and capital plan, as well as the ongoing maintenance needs of King County's transportation infrastructure.

                     B.  To prepare for the regional planning effort, King County Metro should prepare updated information to supplement METRO CONNECTS to adjust for increased population growth, increasing regional congestion, inflation and construction costs, regional mobility needs and innovations in transportation.

                     C.  During the first and second quarters of 2019, the King County executive should work collaboratively with the King County council to develop and propose a strategy to convene regional leaders to develop a regional funding plan to implement METRO CONNECTS and explore ways to support the ongoing maintenance needs of King County's transportation infrastructure.  In developing the proposed strategy, the executive should consult with representatives from communities historically lacking in access to or underserved by transit, the Sound Cities Association, the city of Seattle, the former roads and bridges task force, King County's regional transportation boards and any other organization necessary to ensure that a broad representation of regional leaders is convened.

                     D.  The King County council requests the King County executive to report on the status of the regional planning effort by May 31, 2019.  The report should be filed in the

form of a paper original and an electronic copy with the clerk of the council, who shall retain the original and provide an electronic copy to all councilmembers.