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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTIC 2018-08-13 Item 2D - Update - King County Metro Community ConnectionsCity of Tukwila Allan Ekberg, Mayor INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM TO: FROM: Jack Pace, Community Development Director Transportation & Infrastructure Committee BY: Jaimie Reavis, Senior Planner Najma Hashi, Mayor's Office Intern �11 CC: Mayor Ekberg DATE: August 10, 2018 SUBJECT: Update on King County Metro Community Connections Project in Tukwila ISSUE A staff -level team is working with King County Metro on a Community Connections project to connect Tukwila residents to destinations within the City not served by traditional transit service. BACKGROUND Currently, Tukwila is very well-connected to the regional transit network; however, it's not easy for Tukwila residents to access local destinations. For example, areas including Allentown and Ryan Hill are not well -served by local transit connections. Additionally, many residents who are not within walking distance to transit and might otherwise drive to access transit cannot rely on being able to find parking, as the Tukwila International Boulevard Station (TIBS) and Interurban Avenue South Park & Ride lots fill up each day early in the morning. King County Metro's Community Connections Program is dedicated to helping bring mobility services to areas of King County that do not have the infrastructure, density, or land use to support traditional bus service. Several other cities are participating in Metro Community Connections projects, including Normandy Park, Burien and Des Moines. The goal of Tukwila's project is to develop a set of transportation solutions to increase residents' ability to get to where they need to go in an effective and timely manner. DISCUSSION The first step in the Tukwila Community Connections project is to conduct robust community outreach to identify needs around which local transportation solutions will be tailored. Outreach will be conducted through City-wide surveys as well as through work with a Stakeholder Working Group. The Stakeholder Work Group will consist of Tukwila residents and community representatives who will be asked to commit to approximately four meetings that will take place in Tukwila over the course of six months. To ensure the Stakeholder Working Group is comprised of people who will represent Tukwila's diverse range of age groups, neighborhoods, and cultural backgrounds, City staff are guiding Metro in the identification of appropriate groups and representatives for the Stakeholder Working Group and facilitating the recruitment process. The first meeting is tentatively scheduled for mid -September of 2018. SUMMARY Work has begun on the King County Metro Community Connections Program: 1. This program is meant to help Tukwila residents use alternatives to driving in order to connect to regional transit and local destinations within Tukwila. 2. Community outreach via City-wide surveys and a Stakeholder Working Group will be used to identify key needs and transportation solutions. 21 INFORMATIONAL MEMO Page 2 3. City staff will be working with community organizations and Metro to recruit Tukwila residents and community representatives for the Stakeholder Working Group in preparation for the first meeting in mid -September. FINANCIAL IMPACT None. RECOMMENDATION Information Only. ATTACHMENTS 1. Community Connections Overview/Handout 2. Stakeholder Recruitment Flyer 3. Stakeholder Recruitment Application 22 Z:1Metro\Community ConnectionslInfoMemo_Aug13_TIC_v2_EK.doc U1 King County METRO COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS Innovation in action Community Connections is a four-year demonstration program (2015-2018), established through 2015/2016 Biennial Budget Ordinance 17941. Program work is guided by the following priorities: • Service reduction mitigation (8 projects) • Delivery against the Five -Year Plan (7 projects) • Complementary services (8 projects in 2017, additional projects in 2018) Program Definition • Collaborate with local governments and community partners. • Develop cost-efficient transportation solutions in areas of King County not suited to fixed -route bus service. • Test new transportation services that take advantage of innovative ideas, unique partnerships, or emerging technology. Program Services New service solutions to -date include Community Ride, Community Shuttle, Community Van, Community Transportation Hub, Real -Time Rideshare and TripPool. Program Process Community outreach and partnerships are central to the planning of Community Connections projects. Phase 1: Needs Assessment Goal: Understand and identify transportation needs and gaps. Process: Solicit feedback from community key stakeholders via surveys, media, and Stakeholder Working Group. Phase 2: Concept Preference Analysis Goal: Develop and refine alternative service solution concepts. Process: Develop solution concepts with Stakeholder Working Group using survey analysis. Solicit community feedback via surveys etc. Phase 3: Report Back Goal: Communicate results to community stakeholders and decision makers. Process: Convene final Stakeholder Working Group meeting, update project webpage, public, meetings, council presentations, etc. 23 CITY OF TUKWILA & KING COUNTY METRO COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS PROJECT Stakeholder Recruitment King County Metro's Community Connections Program brings alternative transportation options to areas of King County that do not have adequate traditional bus service. Tukwila is well-connected to the regional transit network; however, various geographic and physical barriers, including 1-405 and 1-5, limit residents' direct access to this network. Many residents live in locations that are not within walking distance to transit, and current transit options in several of the City's neighborhoods are indirect or infrequent. Additionally, the Tukwila International Boulevard Station (TIBS) and Interurban Avenue South Park & Ride lots are nearly full each day, beginning early in the morning. Metro and the City of Tukwila have partnered on a Community Connections project to address the local transportation needs of Tukwila residents, and to improve transportation options for residents traveling to, from and around Tukwila. During this project, Metro and City staff will collaborate with a group of community representatives and stakeholders to identify residential mobility needs in Tukwila, and develop mobility solutions to address these needs. These group members will be asked to attend approximately four meetings, over the course of six months, beginning in mid -September 2018. All meetings will occur in Tukwila, during days and times of the week that work best for the majority of the group members. If you are interested in representing your community's mobility needs in this group, and are able to make the time commitment, please contact a Tukwila Community Connector by September 14, 2018. 24 City of Tukwila Community Connections Project Resident Stakeholder Working Group Member Application King County Metro is currently recruiting Tukwila residents for a stakeholder working group. This group will collaborate with City and Metro staff to identify residential mobility needs in Tukwila, and develop mobility solutions to address these needs. Those interested in participating in the working group are asked to attend approximately four meetings over the course of six months, beginning in mid -September 2018. If you are interested in participating in this stakeholder working group, please provide the following information, and answer the following questions to the best of your ability. FIRST & LAST NAME NEIGHBORHOOD OCCUPATION GENDER ETHNICITY AGE GROUP 18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65-74 75+ 1) What affiliations do you have with Tukwila organizations (neighborhood groups, church, etc.)? 2) What has/have been your experience(s) working in a group process? 3) Why are you interested in participating in the stakeholder working group for this project? 4) What mobility issues should Metro consider for this effort in Tukwila? 25