Summary

King County Councilmembers Jeanne Kohl-Welles and Rod Dembowski issued a statement regarding today’s court ruling overturning Initiative 976.

Story

King County Councilmembers Jeanne Kohl-Welles and Rod Dembowski are issuing the following statement regarding today’s court ruling overturning Initiative 976. Kohl-Welles chairs the Budget and Fiscal Management Committee and Dembowski chairs the council’s Mobility and Environment Committee.

“Today’s ruling is a breath of fresh air. Our region’s transit system is struggling to maintain adequate and reliable service as a result of the economic fallout caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“A lack of access to mobility is a major barrier for many in our community to being able to gain employment, attend school and carry out everyday activities that many of us take for granted. Had I-976 been upheld we would not have been able to assure many in our region affordable and reliable transit options.

“Now we can move forward as a region to ensure that we are able to maintain one of the best transit systems in the nation, survive this recession and prepare to continue to improve transit service once this unprecedented storm is behind us.”