Phillips appointed Chair of the Transportation, Economy, and Environment Committee

January 14, 2013

Summary

Economic development, transportation improvements, and environmental sustainability remain Phillips top priorities in 2013

Story

Metropolitan King County Councilmember Larry Phillips will continue his focus on supporting economic recovery, transit options, and environmental sustainability. For the fourth straight year, Phillips was selected by members of the County Council to Chair the Council’s Transportation, Economy, and Environment Committee. He will also continue his leadership on clean water and Puget Sound recovery as Chair of the Regional Water Quality Committee.

“King County achieved some great successes in 2012, including reinvesting Metro transit service hours in order to carry more people to more destinations; preserving the Eastside Rail Corridor for transportation and recreational opportunities; advancing policies to reduce combined sewer overflows; and continuing progress on addressing the climate crisis with adoption of the Strategic Climate Action Plan,” said Phillips. “I am looking forward to harnessing that momentum to accomplish our economic, transportation, and environmental goals in 2013.”

Economy

Phillips economic priority is to promote investments in public transportation, clean water, and energy efficient buildings to create jobs now and in the future. He will also support opportunities to take advantage of low interest rates to reduce borrowing costs by refinancing debt and finance projects that will save taxpayer money in the long run.

Transportation

In 2013, Phillips will continue to advocate for a stable funding source for Metro Transit service, which faces 17 percent service cuts starting in 2014 when temporary funding runs out. He will prioritize Metro’s efforts to maximize their existing resources through service efficiencies, including implementing the RapidRide E Line along the busy Aurora corridor between Shoreline and Downtown Seattle. He will also prioritize looking at ways to improve Metro Transit’s fare structure by ensuring low income individuals can access the system and promoting economic activity by tourists.

As a Sound Transit Board member, Phillips will advocate for maximizing opportunities to promote transit oriented development that will allow more people to access the rail system and spur private investment in the region. He will also continue to monitor Sound Transit’s finances and planning for future expansion.

Environment

Phillips’ environmental priorities in 2013 include continuing to advocate for clean water by exploring ways King County can help address ocean acidification and reduce stormwater runoff. He will also work to reduce climate pollution and prepare for the effects of climate change with a focus on implementing King County’s newly adopted Strategic Climate Action Plan, including exploring reducing the energy footprint of commercial buildings through district energy.

Phillips will also continue to support sustainable growth management and increasing our green spaces by advocating for renewal of King County’s Parks and Open Space Levy and planning for future transportation and recreational opportunities on the Eastside Rail Corridor.

2012 Highlights

2012 marked many important advances in Phillips’ priority areas of the economy, transportation, and the environment. Highlights include:

• Saving county taxpayers $34 million through bond refinances
• Implementing the RapidRide C and D Lines, and reinvesting Metro Transit service to move more people to more places
• Increasing the number of reduced transit fare tickets available to mitigate the impacts of eliminating the Ride Free Area on homeless and low-income individuals
• Supporting funding to study future rail connections to Ballard
• Securing the Eastside Rail Corridor in permanent public ownership
• Adopting the Strategic Climate Action Plan
• Increasing protection of Puget Sound through advancing projects to reduce combined sewer overflows
• Creating opportunities to promote solar energy through the Community Solar Program
• Updating the county’s comprehensive plan for growth management to ensure balanced growth, protection of rural areas, farmlands, and natural resource protection
• Purchasing and protecting open space through the conservation futures fund