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AN ORDINANCE approving August 2024 public transportation service changes for King County related to G Line Rapid Ride and Madison Area Public Transportation Changes.

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STATEMENT OF FACTS:

1.  The proposed changes to the Metro transit department's bus transit network include revisions to bus service in the city of Seattle.

2.  The proposed changes are consistent with the policy direction and priorities adopted in Ordinance 19367, enacted December 15, 2021, which adopted the 2021 update to the King County Metro Strategic Plan for Public Transportation 2021-2031, the King County Metro Service Guidelines, and Metro transit department's long-range service and capital plan, Metro Connects.

3.  The proposed changes will implement the second RapidRide line to be developed through the Metro transit department's RapidRide Expansion Program, created by Ordinance 18409, enacted November 17, 2016, in partnership with the city of Seattle's transportation Levy to Move Seattle, enacted July 7, 2015.

4.  The proposed changes will create new route RapidRide G Line, consistent with the alignment and station locations approved in Ordinance 19012.

5. In 2021 the City of Seattle was awarded a $59.9 million Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grant from FTA’s Capital Investment Grant (CIG) Program.  The proposed changes will establish service levels for the new route RapidRide G Line fulfilling requirements from the Federal Transit Administration.  The service levels are required to be maintained for a minimum of five years per the agreement with the FTA.

6.  The proposed changes and their incremental implementation are consistent with the policy direction and policies approved in the Metro Service Recovery Plan by the adoption of Ordinance 19581.

7.  In 2023, the Metro transit department conducted public engagement concerning changes to service in the central Seattle areas of King County currently provided by Routes 3, 10, 11, 12, 47, 49, and 60.

8.  Metro Connects includes goals to expand and improve the RapidRide network and work with partners to deliver mobility improvements.

9.  The proposed service changes would eliminate Route 47.

10.  The proposed service changes would modify the routing of Routes 3, 10, 11, and 12.

11.  The proposed service changes would reduce service on Routes 10, 12, and 49, modify service on Routes 3 and 11, and expand service on Routes 4 and 60.

12.  The proposed service changes include reductions in Seattle Transit Measure funds to Routes 10, 11, and 12, and increases to Routes 49 and 60.

                     BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:

                     SECTION 1.  The Madison Area public transportation service changes for King County, substantially as described in Attachment A to this ordinance, are hereby approved.  The Metro transit department may implement the changes included in Attachment A to this ordinance beginning with the fall 2024 service change.

                     SECTION 2.  A.  To ensure successful implementation of the G Line RapidRide and Madison Area Public Transportation Changes, the executive is directed to work with the city of Seattle to carry out a joint public educational campaign focused on passenger safety in accessing the center island platform stations the new G Line RapidRide will use.

                     B.  The executive shall provide a summary of the activities already implemented or planned to be implemented for the joint public educational campaign focused on passenger safety in accessing the G Line Rapid Ride center island platform stations in a letter to the council, to be sent no later than the date of the Fall 2024 service change to the clerk of the council, who shall retain an electronic copy and provide an electronic copy to

all councilmembers, the council chair of staff, and the lead staff for the transportation, economy, and environment committee or its successor.