Transit tax closer to ballot

The Metropolitan King County Council's transportation committee voted Wednesday to ask voters for a one-tenth-of-a-percent increase in the sales tax to upgrade Metro Transit bus service.

The committee's 3-2 vote along party lines suggests that the full, Democrat-controlled council will put the tax on the November ballot despite concerns that asking voters for a transit tax now could hurt the chances of a regional highway and transit package winning approval next year.

Committee Chairwoman Julia Patterson, D-SeaTac, said she will work in the coming weeks to address the concerns of suburban city officials about details of the Transit Now plan.

If approved by voters Nov. 7, the plan would put about 200 more buses on the streets and create "bus rapid transit" service on five heavily used routes in Seattle, the Eastside and South King County.

"The time is right for us to let the people of King County consider improving their bus service," Patterson said.

She said the tax, 0.1 cent per $1 purchase, would cost the average household $25 a year and could help attract 60,000 new transit riders a day.

County Executive Ron Sims proposed the Transit Now plan in April, saying he didn't think it would hurt the multibillion-dollar tax proposal that Sound Transit and the Regional Transportation Improvement District plan to put before voters in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties next year.

But County Councilman Reagan Dunn, R-Bellevue, voted against the tax Wednesday because, he said, it could jeopardize next year's regional tax measure, which he called "the most important transportation package this region will see in a long time."

Jane Hague, R-Bellevue, also voted against the transit tax, saying the added bus service should connect suburban communities better.

Democrats Larry Gossett and Bob Ferguson, both of Seattle, joined Patterson in favor of putting the measure on the ballot.

The transit tax was supported by nearly all the speakers at a public hearing Wednesday. "Labor is 100 percent behind this proposal," said King County Labor Council Executive Secretary David Freiboth.

However, Kent Mayor Suzette Cooke told the committee in a letter that the proposal "will be difficult to sell if we cannot show improved service to Kent users." She said it doesn't address enough of the city's transit goals.

The transit plan, as amended by the transportation committee, lists 30 high-ridership routes that would be funded. Seven of those routes would connect Kent with other cities.

Keith Ervin: 206-464-2105 or kervin@seattletimes.com