E-mail news from Larry Phillips, Metropolitan King County Council

Hot topics

Metro Transit faces a $100 million budget hole in 2010, threatening bus service cuts of up to 20%. Read my Seattle Times guest column advocating for action to save Metro bus service.

What’s happening in District 4

Standing Up for East Link Light Rail in Olympia

When state budget actions threatened to delay East Link light rail construction, I spoke up in favor of the voter-approved project. The state House of Representatives reversed courses and passed a transportation budget that allows light rail to move forward. Read more.
Read my statement advocating for light rail.

Celebrating Progress on Gay Marriage

I applauded the legalization of gay marriage in Iowa and Vermont, and called for marriage equality in Washington. Read my statements about Iowa and Vermont.

Council Improves Budget Transparency

Citizens will better understand where their tax dollars are being spent under a budget transparency ordinance adopted by the King County Council that requires a dramatically greater level of detail in the presentation and reporting of the annual County budget. Read more.

Light Rail Tunnel Bid Comes in Under Budget

Sound Transit opened good news when the agency unsealed two bids for the largest contract on the University Link light rail extension. The apparent low bid to dig twin tunnels from the University of Washington to Capitol Hill was more than $86 million below the Sound Transit engineers' estimate. Read more.

Proclaiming "Week of the Uninsured" to Raise Awareness

With 65,000 kids uninsured in Washington state, the King County Council advocated for the need for all uninsured children to have access to the State Children's Health Insurance Program by proclaiming March 23 to 27 "The Week of the Uninsured." Read more.

Council Seeks Efficiencies through Expanded Performance Audit of Metro

An ongoing audit of King County Metro Transit was expanded today by the King County Council to examine the agency's management and operations, in order to find the most efficiencies to keep the most buses on the street. Read more.

Sound Transit Plans for Transit-oriented Development at Capitol Hill Light Rail Station

After listening to suggestions from the Capitol Hill community and the city of Seattle, Sound Transit has adjusted the design of its Capitol Hill light rail station to create more opportunities for nearby housing and shopping. Read more.

In the community

Bothell Deputy Mayor Sandy Guinn and I tour the Bellevue Braided Ramp Project at the Washington Jobs Now kick-off. The project will use federal stimulus money to bring 3000 jobs to King County.