Fix traffic by increasing transit options, forum participants say

More than 450 King County residents think traffic congestion is the largest transportation problem facing the county. And they also say expanded public transit is the preferred solution.

That's among the many results of a 65-page survey that was handed out as part of King Countywide Community Forums, an initiative designed to expand public input on local issues beyond town-hall meetings. People volunteered to participate in the citizen-run program and small groups met in a series of gatherings scattered around the county in coffee shops, businesses and homes.

The forums were developed and funded by Seattle restaurateur Dick Spady, co-founder of Dick's Drive-In restaurants. This first collection of forums, which started in June, focused on transportation.

Participants watched videos explaining different transportation issues — such as light-rail expansion, the Highway 520 bridge and Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement — then discussed solutions and filled out the questionnaire.

Besides congestion complaints and calls for more transit lines — points that forum Deputy Coordinator Jim Spady, who is Dick Spady's son, and Metropolitan King County Council members agreed were no surprise — 82 percent of participants agreed that land-use policies should encourage development around transit stations. The 82 percent in favor was the largest majority of any question.

Sound Transit received mixed reviews. In one question, 43 percent wanted a public vote in November on Sound Transit's proposed expansion of light rail, commuter trains and buses, more than those who wanted to wait until 2010 or those who don't live in Sound Transit voting areas.

But participants were split on whether they actually favor expansion: 38 percent were opposed and 37 percent were in support of it.

Sound Transit is expected to vote today whether to place the proposed expansion on the Nov. 4 ballot.

Who's listening?

So the forums have been held and the participants have filled out the surveys. But who's listening?

Metropolitan King County Councilmember Jane Hague, a Republican from the Eastside who sits on the Transportation Committee, said the forum responses would carry as much weight as a town-hall meeting. But she said they won't affect Sound Transit's decision about the ballot measure.

"The folks at Sound Transit are going to be making decisions on their own merit," Hague said.

Councilmember Julia Patterson, a South King County Democrat who is also on the Transportation Committee, said the council will consider the survey. But she said she was concerned the participants in the forums may not represent an accurate gender, racial and economic cross-section of King County.

Jim Spady said the forums take the concept of a town hall and multiply it.

"The purpose of our process is to be much more welcoming, much more convenient," he said. He referred to the 72 percent of participants who answered that they had never testified at a town-hall meeting before.

The next forum will probably be in October, Jim Spady said. A majority of participants said they wanted to discuss taxes and the budget next. But under the rules of the forums, the King County auditor, Cheryle Broom, gets to choose the topics, to make sure the forums are impartial.

Sean Rose: 206-464-2292 or srose@seattletimes.com