In the August issue of the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 587 newsletter, there is a lot of attention given to WPC and our recent reports on King County’s ability to deliver the bus service promised to voters after the last two sales tax increases.

Once you get past the partisan, inflammatory and personal attacks, union leaders aggressively defend the higher pay for bus drivers, which has risen about 60 percent since the tax increases. This is twice the rate of inflation over the same time period.

A driver's union leader says this:

“Bus Drivers [sic] wages have tracked ...

With two groups now pushing for a February vote on the tunnel, it's time to take a deep breath and think of the consequences.

WPC just released two new studies that look into the performance of King County Metro to deliver on its  promises from the last two sales tax increases.

I guess it’s no surprise union bus leaders disagree with our conclusion that their meteoric rise in salaries is harming the County’s ability to provide bus service. Ironically though, they do not dispute any of our key findings. 

In this post on a union transit blog, the author (a union bus leader) takes issue with our research. Update: the author does ...

The council said it plans to hold off on final action endorsing agreements with the state on construction terms but that it will pass a resolution underlining its support.

The council said it plans to hold off on final action endorsing agreements with the state on construction terms but that it will pass a resolution underlining its support. In late afternoon, McGinn responded by saying the council is trying to block a vote by citizens.

Options remain to oppose light rail in Bellevue Bellevue Reporter They can "persuade" the four Bellevue City Council members who oppose the 112th Avenue routing to deny Sound Transit the 10 permits Bellevue must approve ... and more »

Sound Transit board makes light-rail decision, exchanges barbs with Bellevue mayor Bellevue Reporter This Sound Transit rendering shows the 112th Avenue alignment that the Sound Transit board chose as its preferred option Thursday. The trains would cross to ... and more »

Bellevue mayor criticizes Sound Transit on light-rail routes Seattle Times (blog) A heated Bellevue Mayor Don Davidson accused the Sound Transit board Thursday of ignoring the city's preferences when it comes to light-rail routes for ... and more »

Sound Transit board overrules Bellevue on light rail route Seattle Post Intelligencer Despite resistance from the Bellevue City Council, Sound Transit's governing board on Thursday chose the west side of 112th Avenue ... and more »

During this one year anniversary of light rail, Sound Transit officials keep bragging about how they have carried six million riders since it opened. That is about 16,000 trips per day.

In 1996, Sound Transit officials promised voters the line would be complete by 2006 and carry about 107,000 trips per day. That means Sound Transit should be celebrating its four year anniversary, carrying over 100 million trips by today.

Sound Transit officials missed their ridership target by a mile!