>>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY.
>> A GOOD AFTERNOON.
>> I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT IF
WE STARTED OFF ALL OF OUR
EVENTS BY GETTING OFF THE BUS
TOGETHER. I LOVE THAT. THE BEST
GREEN ROOM EVER. WELCOME TO THE
RIBBON-CUTTING AND TYPICALLY
THE LAST WEEK OF AUGUST IS A
QUIET TIME FOR LOCAL
GOVERNMENT, BUT NOT THIS WEEK.
WE ARE HAVING AN ABSOLUTELY
EPIC WEEK OF TRANSPORTATION
MILESTONES PLUS THIS MORNING'S
OPENING OF THE SEATTLE AQUARIUM
AND WE ARE HERE TODAY TO
CELEBRATE THE COMPLETION OF THE
RAPID RIDE LINE WHICH HAS
TRANSFORMED MADISON STREET AND
IS THAT BETTER? AND WE ARE HERE
TODAY TO CELEBRATE THE
COMPLETION OF THE RAPIDRIDE G
LINE WHICH HAS TRANSFORMED THE
QUARTER AND IT TAKES A VILLAGE
PARTICULARLY IF YOU ARE
REPLACING A 120-YEAR-OLD WATER
MAIN IN THE PROCESS. I BEGIN BY
THANKING THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS
AND LOOK WILL BUSINESSES ALONG
MADISON AND IT HAS BEEN A LONG
AND COMPLEX PROCESS. WE DO
APPRECIATE YOUR ONGOING
INVOLVEMENT AND PATIENTS
THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT AND
THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR AGENCY
AND FUNDING PARTNERS WHO ARE
HERE TODAY INCLUDING THE METRA
, SOUND TRANSIT, WASHINGTON
STATE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION, AND THE FEDERAL
TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION. LET'S
HEAR IT FOR OUR PARTNERS. THIS
PROJECT PROVIDED US WITH A RARE
OPPORTUNITY TO TRULY MAKE A
COMPLETE STREAK WITH A HOLISTIC
MULTI-BENEFIT APPROACH AND WE
HAVE TAKEN THESE INTERSECTIONS
AND MADE THEM SAFER FOR
WALKING, BIKING IN TRANSIT AND
CREATED THE FIRST EVER ISLANDS
NECESSITATING A NEW TYPE OF BUS
WITH LEFT SIDE DOORS ON THEM.
THIS WILL BE REALLY EXCITING
INNOVATION FOR MOVING PEOPLE
AND GOODS THROUGH THE CORRIDOR
QUICKLY. THIS IS A GREAT
EXAMPLE OF OUR APPROACH TO
MAINTAIN AND MODERNIZE THE
INFRASTRUCTURE AND CREATE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOW CARBON
TRANSPORTATION IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE. I WOULD LIKE TO
INTRODUCE MY BOSS, MAYOR BRUCE
HARRELL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
SUPPORT OF ALL OF OUR
INFRASTRUCTURE.
>> THANK YOU, GREG. LET ME
AMPLIFY HERE. AND THANK YOU ALL
FOR BEING HERE. THIS IS AN
EXCITING DAY. IT IS A POINT OF
PERSONAL PRIVILEGE AND IT IS
VERY APROPOS WE ARE STANDING
RIGHT HERE WHEN WE LOOK AT THE
NEIGHBORHOODS WE ARE CONNECTING
AND FIRST THESE AREAS WITH THE
SERVICES AND OPPORTUNITIES OF
THIS CORRIDOR AND I WAS
ACTUALLY BAPTIZED AT THIS
CHURCH, MARRIED HERE AND WENT
TO SCHOOL THREE BLOCKS AWAY
HERE AT TT MINOR AND I AM OLD
AND THAT IS WHAT YOU ARE
THINKING WHEN I SAY THAT. BUT I
HAVE SEEN THIS CORRIDOR CHANGE
IN THE KINDS OF INVESTMENTS WE
HAVE WITH OUR PARTNERS THAT
GREG MENTIONED AND THE
COLLABORATION AND THE
PATIENT'S I WILL TALK ABOUT
THAT THE COMMUNITY HAD TO HAVE
TO GET THIS HERE AND THIS IS
WORTHY THAN A RIBBON-CUTTING
DAY AND A CELEBRATION. I WANT
TO TALK TO VERONICA AND THINK
THE BIDEN/HARRIS ADMINISTRATION
AND THE BIDEN/HARRIS
ADMINISTRATION AND THAT MAY
CHANGE SHORTLY AND THAT IS A
LITTLE INSIDE JOKE THERE. THE
FEDERAL DELEGATION AND I DO SEE
SENATOR PETERSON AND THERE ARE
OTHER ELECTED'S I AM SUPPOSED
TO ACKNOWLEDGE SO YOU COULD
SHOUT YOUR NAME AND THANK YOU
FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS
SIDE AS WELL. THE
REPRESENTATIVE AND THE SENATORS
AND REPRESENTATIVES WHO HELP
PASS THE BIPARTISAN
INFRASTRUCTURE BILL AND THE
AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN AND THE
PERENNIAL TRANSPORTATION PART
IS AND THANK YOU AND LET'S
GIVE THEM A HAND. I WOULD LIKE
TO SHARE A FUNNY QUOTE WITH YOU
IF I MAY. A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT
TO RIDE WITH YOU IN THE
LIMOUSINE. BUT WHAT YOU WANT IS
SOMEBODY WHO WILL TAKE THE BUS
WITH YOU WHEN THE LIMOUSINE
BREAKS DOWN. THAT WAS A QUOTE
FROM THE FAMED TRANSPORTATION
EXPERT OPRAH WINFREY. I HOPE
EVERYBODY WILL TAKE A MOMENT TO
LOOK AT THE BUS BEHIND US WHICH
IS A LIMOUSINE OF A BUS. AND
CONSISTENT WITH OUR
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
EFFORTS AND COMMITMENTS, THIS
DEMONSTRATES OUR COMMITMENT TO
SAVING OUR PLANET, AIR, WATER.
THIS NEW RAPID RIDE G LINE WILL
LAUNCH WITH 21 NEW BUS STOPS
AND 1.4 MILES OF DEDICATED BUS
LANES AND AT SIX MINUTE
INTERVALS MOST OF THE DAY AND
THAT IS A SWEET DEAL. IT WILL
SERVE THE NEW BUSES WHICH YOU
COULD SEE BEHIND ME AND I DO
ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO CHECK IT
OUT WHICH IS WHY WE HAVE IT ON
THIS PARKING LOT FOR YOU TO SEE
IN THE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AS
YOU KNOW PAYS HUGE DIVIDENDS,
FIVE TIMES THE ECONOMIC RETURNS
FOR EVERY ONE DOLLAR INVESTMENT
AND $50,000 FOR EVERY $1
BILLION. I DO WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE AND CLOSING THAT IT
DID TAKE US THROUGH A LONG ROAD
TO GET HERE. BUSINESSES WERE
IMPACTED, NEIGHBORHOODS WERE
IMPACTED AND I AM NOT JUST
TALKING ABOUT THE 9.1 LANE
MILES OF CONCRETE STREETS AS
PART OF THIS PROJECT BUT ALSO
THE TRANSPORTATION LEVY THAT WE
PASSED MANY YEARS AGO OF COURSE
HELPED PAY FOR THIS. WE DO HAVE
ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO PASS
ANOTHER LEVY YOU WILL SHORTLY
SEE THIS FALL THAT VOTERS CAN
VOTE ON WHICH INCLUDES 160
PROJECTS TO IMPROVE BUS TRIP
RELIABILITY AND CONNECT PEOPLE
TO LIGHT RAIL STATIONS AND 15
PAVING PROJECT TO MODERNIZE OUR
STREETS AND JUST A LITTLE PLUG
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT HOW WE
HAVE TO INVEST OUR MONEY. BUT
THE PROJECT IS A DIFFERENCE
MAKER AND AGAIN NOT JUST FOR
THE TRANSIT RIDERS AND
COMMUNITY. I DO WANT TO THANK
THE COMMUNITY AND THE TRANSIT
ADVOCATES AND SMALL BUSINESSES
FOR THEIR PATIENCE, RESILIENCE,
FEEDBACK. MANY OF US HAVE BEEN
AROUND THE BLOCK A FEW TIMES
AND WE DO KNOW SOMETIMES THIS
KIND OF POSITIVE CHANGE TAKES
PATIENCE SO I CLOSE WITH SAYING
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND
I CAN'T
RIBBONBIG SCISSORS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR
BRUCE HARRELL. THIS WOULD BE
POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF
THE FEDERAL TRANSIT
ADMINISTRATION AND THEY
CONTRIBUTED OVER $18 MILLION TO
THE PROJECT AND THANKS TO
PRESIDENT BIDEN'S AMERICAN
RESCUE PLAN AND THE FTA CAPITAL
INVESTMENT PROGRAM. WE DO HAVE
SO MANY PROJECTS THAT WE ARE
COLLABORATING ON WITH THE FTA.
WE ARE SO APPRECIATIVE OF YOUR
SUPPORT OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE
AND THE COUNTY AND THE ENTIRE
PUGET SOUND REGION. WE REALLY
DO WANT TO BE AN EXAMPLE FOR
LOW CARBON TRANSPORTATION. I
WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME THE
FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION
IN THE ACT ADMINISTRATOR AS
WELL. THANK YOU.
>> I HAVE TO PUT THIS
MICROPHONE DOWN. I AM LATINA
AND TALK WITH MY HANDS. THIS
WILL SLOW ME DOWN A BIT. HELLO.
ALL RIGHT. GOOD AFTERNOON,
EVERYONE. IT IS SUCH AN HONOR
TO BE HERE WITH YOU ALL AND
WHAT A GREAT GROUP. LET'S SEE
WHO IS IN THE CROWD. THE
FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION,
WHERE ARE YOU? ALL RIGHT. WHERE
ARE THE LABOR PARTNERS? ALL
RIGHT. WHERE ARE THE VALUED AND
TRUSTED AND TALENTED EMPLOYEES?
ASK WHERE ARE OUR ADVOCATES? WE
KNOW WHERE THE ELECTED
OFFICIALS ARE AND WE KNOW WHERE
THE LEADERSHIP IS. AGAIN, I AM
DELIGHTED TO REPRESENT HERE ON
THE HALF -- BEHALF OF
BIDEN/HARRIS ADMINISTRATION FOR
FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION. AND TO
BE HERE AND THANK YOU ALL FOR
YOUR STEADFAST CHAMPIONSHIP OF
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. WE ARE
ACTUALLY KICKING OFF ENDED
YESTERDAY IN PORTLAND, OREGON
ON TUESDAY EVENING. WE HAD AN
EVENT YESTERDAY WHERE WE
CELEBRATED ANOTHER OPENING
YESTERDAY IN PORTLAND. WE ARE
HERE TODAY AND TOMORROW AND WE
HAVE ANOTHER EVENT. WE ARE
REALLY EXCITED. I WANT TO SHOUT
OUT TO OUR TEAM SUSAN FLETCHER
OUR REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR AND
OUR TEAM IN THE REGION. THEY
ARE THE EYES, EARS AND
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ON THE
GROUND. THEY REALLY DO
REPRESENT US AT HEADQUARTERS
AND MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND
GUIDANCE TO GET A JOB DONE AND
THE DOLLARS ON THE PAVEMENT. I
DO WANT TO START WITH OTHER
THANK YOUS. I WANT TO THANK
GREG SPOTS AND THE ENTIRE
SEATTLE D.O.T. TEAM. WE NEED
PARTNERS AND THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT IS JUST A DEPARTMENT
AND WE WORK WITH MANY OF YOU. I
WANT TO THANK MICHELLE ALLISON
AND EVERYBODY AT METRA . I
CERTAINLY WANT TO THANK THE
FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL
LEADERS LIKE TRAN ONE. HE SAID
WE NEED PATIENTS WHEN IT COMES
TO THESE PROJECTS AND CHAMPIONS
AND THEY ARE ALL OF YOU. ALL
THE WE STARTED OUT WITH YOUR
ALL CHAMPIONS AND WE COULDN'T
GET THIS WORK DONE WITHOUT U.S.
CHAMPIONS. AS WE HAVE HEARD,
FTA HAS CONTRIBUTED $80 MILLION
TO THIS PROJECT. IT IS ONLY
POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF THE HARD
WORK OF YOU ALL AND OUR ELECTED
OFFICIALS. WE HAVE COME TO
PUGET SOUND TO CELEBRATE A NEW
PROJECT AND IT ISN'T THE LAST
TIME THAT WE ARE COMING TO CUT
THE RIBBON ON THESE PROJECTS.
THERE HAVE BEEN MANY SUCCESSFUL
PROJECTS IN THIS REGION AND THE
PACIFIC NORTHWEST IS VERY
SUPPORTIVE OF PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION. WE ARE HERE TO
DO THAT WITH YOU. IN FACT THE
PEOPLE DO TAKE PUBLIC TRANSIT
QUITE A BIT AND MORE THAN 148
MILLION TRIPS IN PORTLAND AND
SEATTLE WERE TAKEN LAST YEAR
ALONE. SO I DID NOTE THAT I AM
IN OREGON AND WASHINGTON THIS
WEEK TO HIGHLIGHT EXACT WE HOW
IMPORTANT TRANSPORTATION IS.
RIGHT HERE IN SEATTLE, MORE
THAN 60 MILLION TRIPS WERE
TAKEN ON KING COUNTY BUSES AND
THEY ARE THE WORKFORCE OF THE
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.
WE ARE HERE TO CELEBRATE THIS
NEW SERVICE THAT WILL MAKE THAT
NUMBER GROW EVEN MORE. IN
ADDITION TO BIG-TICKET RAIL
PROJECTS, WHICH I KNOW THE
ENTIRE REGION IS EXCITED AND
HAPPY ABOUT, SEATTLE HAS BEEN A
LEADER IN BUS RAPID TRANSIT. MY
PREDECESSOR EARLIER THIS YEAR
WAS HERE TO SIGN THIS AGREEMENT
PROVIDING $64 MILLION TO THE
RAPID RIDE J LINE. SHE ALSO
SIGNED THIS BACK IN THE SUMMER
OF 2021. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
HOW MISERABLE THAT WEATHER WAS
THAT DAY. I AM GLAD TO BE HERE
WITH THE SUN SHINING AND THIS
LOVELY BREEZE OVER HERE WITH
YOU ALL. THIS CONTINUES A
LEGACY GOING ALL THE WAY BACK
TO THE A LINE AND FTA HAS BEEN
A SUPPORTIVE PARTNER TO THE
RAPID RIDE PROGRAM WITH
FINANCIAL AND TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE. THE RESULTS HAVE
BEEN NOTHING SHORT OF
TRANSFORMATIONAL AND IMPACTFUL.
YOU ALL HAVE RAPID J RAPID
LETTER I RAPID K RAPID R AND
RAPID G AND YOU HAVE TO RUN OUT
OF LETTERS OF THE ALPHABET
SOMETIME SOON. TENS OF
THOUSANDS OF RIDERS ARE GETTING
READY TO GO QUICKLY AND
AFFORDABLY CORRIDOR AFTER
CORRIDOR AND STREET AFTER
STREET SO INSTEAD OF SITTING IN
TRAFFIC, THE G LINE WILL HELP
YOU SPEND MORE THINGS THAT
MATTER WITH JOBS AND CONNECTING
WITH EACH OTHER. UNDER THE
BIDEN/HARRIS ADMINISTRATION WE
ARE LEVERAGING THE GREATEST
INVESTMENT IN AMERICAN
INFRASTRUCTURE IN A GENERATION
TO MAKE SURE WE INVEST IN
COMMUNITIES FROM THE BOTTOM UP
AND THE G LINE IS A GREAT
EXAMPLE OF GETTING PROJECTS
BUILT. ALL OVER THE COUNTRY,
SEATTLE, PHOENIX, INDIANAPOLIS,
WE DO SEE PROJECTS FUNDED
DURING THIS ADMINISTRATION AND
OPENED DURING THIS
ADMINISTRATION. THINK ABOUT
THAT. FUNDED AND OPENED DURING
THIS ADMINISTRATION. IN SHORT,
WE ARE GETTING STUFF DONE. SO
WE ARE IN THE FOURTH YEAR AND
WE SEE WHAT IS POSSIBLE AND WE
HAVE A PRESIDENT, VICE
PRESIDENT, SECRETARY OF
TRANSPORTATION, AND LOCAL AND
STATE AND FEDERAL
TRANSPORTATION LEADERS WITH A
VISION WHO HAVE NOT JUST BEEN
TALKING ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE
WEEK BUT REALLY MAKING THIS
ABOUT AN INFRASTRUCTURE DECADE.
THANKS TO THE BIPARTISAN
INFRASTRUCTURE LAW, WE FUNDED
10,200 PUBLIC TRANSIT PROJECTS
ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT SUPPORT
GOOD PAIN AMERICAN JOBS IN
MANUFACTURING LIKE THE NEW
BUSES THAT SERVE THE G LINE
THAT REDUCED THE MANUFACTURE IN
ST. CLOUD, MINNESOTA. THAT
ISN'T ALL, WE ARE BUILDING AND
REPAIRING MORE THAN 10,200
BRIDGES, EXPANDING 1100
AIRPORTS AND FUNDING NEARLY 170
RAIL PROJECTS NATIONWIDE
INCLUDING THOSE THAT WILL
MODERNIZE AND EXPAND THE RAIL
NETWORK AND DELIVER THE FIRST
HIGH-SPEED RAIL SYSTEM IN THE
COUNTRY AND WE ARE ELIMINATING
OR IMPROVING MORE THAN 400 RAIL
CROSSINGS. AGAIN,
CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS
MILESTONE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
SUPPORT AND CONTINUING
CHAMPIONS OF THIS WORK BUT MOST
IMPORTANT WE RIDE PUBLIC
TRANSIT. ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO
USE PUBLIC TRANSIT AS PART OF
THEIR DAY-TO-DAY TRAVEL AND BE
AMBASSADORS FOR THIS GREAT WORK
AND INVESTMENT. THANK YOU SO
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
ADMINISTRATOR. I WANT TO GIVE A
SHOUT OUT TO A FEW OF OUR TEAM
MEMBERS. WE HAVE MY SENIOR
DEPUTY OVER HERE AND THE
CAPITAL PROJECTS DIVISION
DIRECTOR JULIUS WHO HAS TRIPLED
THE RATE OF CONSTRUCTION STARTS
THIS YEAR AND WE HAD 24
CONSTRUCTION STARTS IN EIGHT
MONTHS. I WANT TO THANK THE
PROJECT MANAGER ON THE
COMMUNICATIONS TEAM AND THE
DEPUTY MAYOR AND ADONIS DUCKS
WORTH WHO IS ONE OF OUR
EMPLOYEES ON LOAN TO THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE DOING COMMUNITY
RELATIONS ON THIS PROJECT WHEN
I JOINED AND HE TOOK AND MY
FIRST TOUR OF THIS PROJECT IN
2022 AND THANK YOU TO ADONIS. I
WANT TO THANK TWO OF MY
COUNTERPARTS AND OTHER AGENTS,
ANDREW LEE OF SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES AND THE SEATTLE CITY
LIGHT BECAUSE WE REFRESHED ALL
INFRASTRUCTURE ALONG THIS
IMPORTANT CORRIDOR. I WOULD
LIKE TO NOW INTRODUCE THE
EXECUTIVE DEL CONSTANTINE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP OF MTHE REGION.
>> THANK YOU, GREG. THANK YOU,
EVERYONE, FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
THERE IS NOTHING LIKE
CELEBRATING THE ADDITION OF
ANOTHER ESSENTIAL ELEMENT OF
OUR EXPANDING AND INTEGRATED
REGIONAL TRANSIT NETWORK AND
THE ADMINISTRATOR, TO DO IT IN
THE SUNSHINE, THAT IS
UNFORTUNATE IS ONE OF THE VERY
VERY RARE RAIN EVENTS WE HAD
THAT DAY AND NORMALLY YOU COULD
COUNT ON THIS WEATHER. I DID
SEE THE MAYOR INTRODUCE SENATOR
PETERSON FROM THIS VERY
DISTRICT AND A STRONG ADVOCATE
AND PARTNER IN ALL THAT WE DO.
I ALSO SAW MY OWN COUNTY
COUNCILMEMBER TERESA HERE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING
HERE. I BET YOU THERE ARE OTHER
ELECTED OFFICIALS HIDING HERE.
RAPIDRIDE G LINE WILL BE THE
SPINE THAT CONNECTS SOME OF THE
DENSEST NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE
PACIFIC NORTHWEST AND CREATES
REAL MOBILITY FOR PEOPLE LIVING
IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS TO REACH
NOT JUST DOWNTOWN BUT
DESTINATIONS THROUGHOUT CENTRAL
PUGET SOUND . WITH THIS NEW
ROUTE, WE WILL MAKE IT EASIER
FOR PEOPLE, REGARDLESS OF
INCOME AND ABILITY TO ACCESS
OPPORTUNITY. IF YOU DRIVE,
IMAGINE INSTEAD BEING ABLE TO
SIMPLY WALK TO A FREQUENT,
RELIABLE BUS AND TO BE ABLE TO
GET WHERE YOU NEED TO GO
WITHOUT HAVING TO DRIVE TO
FIGHT TRAFFIC, TO PARK, DOING
SO QUICKLY AND RELIABLY EVERY
TIME. IT IS ALSO ANOTHER VITAL
TOOL IN OUR WORK TO REDUCE
LOCAL AIR POLLUTION AND COMBAT
GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE.
INCREASING TRANSPORTATION
OPTIONS MEANS DECREASING THE
NUMBER OF CARS ON THE ROAD. AND
AT THE SAME TIME, WE ARE
BUILDING A 100 PERCENT ZERO
EMISSION TRANSIT FLEET. THANK
YOU, MICHELLE ELLISON, FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP. THIS PROJECT, A
REMARKABLE ADDITION TO ALL OF
THAT, WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN
POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE
COLLABORATION OF LOCAL, STATE,
AND FEDERAL PARTNERS AND
COUNTLESS COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO
ADVOCATED AND DEMANDED AND
SUPPORTED IT AND PUT UP WITH
THE CONSTRUCTION FOR IT. WE DO
STAND, REALLY, IN THIS WORK ON
THE SHOULDERS OF MANY WHO CAME
BEFORE US. I WANTED TO TAKE A
MOMENT AS WE OPEN YET ANOTHER
LINE TO THANK OUR PREDECESSOR
RON SIMS WHO CREATED THIS
PROGRAM. IT WAS HIS VISION TO
CREATE A SERIES OF ROUTES THAT
WOULD BE FREQUENT, RELIABLE,
HIGH-QUALITY, AND ALLOW PEOPLE
A REAL CHOICE TO CONNECT NOT
JUST ONE AND TO THE OTHER BUT
TO THE EXPANDING LIGHT RAIL
SYSTEMS THROUGHOUT THE REGION.
THANK YOU, RON. TRANSIT IS A
TAPESTRY. THERE ARE DIFFERENT
PIECES WOVEN TOGETHER TO CREATE
A COMPLETE PICTURE. RAPIDRIDE G
LINE IS NOW A PART OF OUR
TRANSIT TAPESTRY. EACH NEW BUS
LINE OR RAIL LINES STRENGTHENS
THE FABRIC AND CONNECTING
COMMUNITIES AND ENHANCING
ACCESSIBILITY FOR ALL THE
PEOPLE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
FOR HELPING TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. AS FOR
CELEBRATING THE WONDERFUL BUS
SYSTEM, I WANT TO MENTION THAT
I AM TRANSIT DEPENDENT BY
CHOICE AND I MOVED UP HERE
WITHOUT A CAR. TO MY GOOD
FRIEND, MICHELLE OF KING COUNTY
METRO, I AM NOT JUST YOUR
COLLEAGUE, BUT I AM YOUR
CUSTOMER. I RECEIVED EXCELLENT
SERVICE SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. I
REALLY DO FIND IT A PLEASANT,
ON TIME, SMOOTH AND CLEAN RIDE
CONSISTENT WE BEING YOUR
CUSTOMER. COME ON UP. THANK YOU
SO MUCH, MICHELLE.
>> I DO LOVE THIS MOMENT AND I
GET TO BE INVITED TO THIS SPACE
TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE
ORGANIZATION, BUT I DO LOVE TO
SAY THAT IF YOU ARE IN THE
CROWD, PLEASE GIVE YOURSELVES A
ROUND OF APPLAUSE. WE ARE HERE
BECAUSE YOU HAVE ALL WORKED
TIRELESSLY FOR MANY YEARS
PLANNING, ORGANIZING, WORKING
ON THE CONSTRUCTION TOGETHER
AND ALSO WORKING WITH THE
COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE THIS
VALUABLE ASSET GETS LAUNCHED
INTO HER NEIGHBORHOODS AND
CONTINUES TO BE THE RESOURCE TO
HELP CONNECT PEOPLE TO THE
REGION AND TO OPPORTUNITY. IT
IS THROUGH YOUR PARTNERSHIP
TOGETHER AS AGENCIES AND WITH
THEIR COLLEAGUES AND LABOR AND
ACROSS THE WHOLE INFRASTRUCTURE
THAT HELPED BRING TODAY INTO
REALITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH AND
I HOPE YOU ALL FEEL PROUD AND
EXCITED BECAUSE I AM CERTAINLY
PROUD TO REPRESENT YOU HERE
TODAY. AT METRO, WE ARE
INCREDIBLY PROUD OF THE ROLE
OUR AGENCY HAS PLAYED AND WILL
CONTINUE TO PLAY IN SUPPORTING
NEIGHBORS AND BUSINESSES WHO
HAVE CALLED THIS CORRIDOR HOME.
AND NOW, TOGETHER, WE ARE
CONNECTING SOME OF OUR OLDEST
NEIGHBORHOODS WITH OUR NEWEST
LINE. WE ARE SO EXCITED TO
LAUNCH ANOTHER LETTER INTO OUR
RAPID MINE AND IT'S AN HONOR
TO BE PART OF THE LOCAL,
REGIONAL, STATE AND FEDERAL
COOPERATION THAT HAS MADE THIS
POSSIBLE. EACH PARTNER BROUGHT
INCREDIBLE EXPERTISE AND
RESOURCES TO LISTEN AND DELIVER
TO THESE NEIGHBORHOODS AND AS
HAS BEEN MENTIONED THIS WAS AN
INCREDIBLY POSSIBLE PROGRAM NOT
BECAUSE OF WHAT WE ARE
DELIVERING BUT THE IMPACT OF
WHAT IT TOOK TO GET HERE. I
WANT TO SPEND A FEW MINUTES
CALLING OUT MY NAME A FEW OF
THE ORGANIZATIONS WHO DEDICATED
THEIR TIME, RESOURCES, PATIENCE
AND MOST OF ALL THEIR EXPERTISE
TO REPRESENT THE COMMUNITIES
THEY SERVE SO THAT THIS
RESOURCE COULD REFLECT THE
NEEDS OF THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
CAPITOL HILL FARMERS MARKET,
COMMUNITY ROOTS HOUSING,CITY,
MILLER COMMUNITY CENTER, MOUNT
ZION BAPTIST CHURCH, SEATTLE
CENTRAL COLLEGE, SEATTLE FIRST
BAPTIST CHURCH, VIRGINIA MASON
HOSPITAL, AND THE COMMUNITY
CENTER. TODAY IS THE
CULMINATION OF THE KINDNESS,
GENEROSITY AND EXPERTISE THAT
YOU HAVE GIVEN TO SUPPORT YOUR
COMMUNITY AND THANK YOU FOR
YOUR INVESTMENT IN THIS WORK.
WE KNOW THE FREEDOM TO MOVE IS
A HUMAN RIGHT AND THE G LINE IS
AN EXAMPLE OF LIVING THIS
BELIEF AND BECOMING A REALITY.
WE WILL DELIVER CONNECTIONS
FROM DOOR-TO-DOOR AND CITY TO
CITY. WHEN THE G LINE SERVICE
BEGINS SEPTEMBER 14, IT'S
RIDERS WILL BE PART OF THIS IS
A REGION AND LIGHT RAIL
CONNECTION NORTH TO LYNNWOOD
AND SOUTH PAST SEATAC WITH
WATER TAXI RIDES AND THE
FERRIES TO BREMERTON. AND OF
COURSE BUSES THAT PROVIDE
ACCESS TO COMMUNITIES NEAR AND
FAR. THE G LINE IS THE NEXT
STEP IN OUR VISION OF
DEVELOPING FAST, FREQUENT
ALL-DAY SERVICE THAT OUR
CUSTOMERS WANT AND EXPECT. AT
THE SAME TIME THAT THE G LINE
STARTS, WE HAVE SO MUCH MORE TO
CELEBRATE WHEN IT COMES TO
TRANSIT AND THIS WEEKEND. IT IS
TRULY A MOMENTOUS SERVICE
CHANGE HERE AT METRO. IT IS ONE
OF THE LARGEST IN MANY YEARS.
AND IN MID-SEPTEMBER, YOU WILL
SEE THOUSANDS OF MORE WEEKLY
BUS TRIPS, MORE NIGHT AND
WEEKEND SERVICE BUS CONNECTIONS
TO FOR NEW LIGHT LINK REAL
SERVICES AND THE ON-DEMAND
SERVICE WILL EXPAND THE NORTH
SHORE. OF COURSE IT DOES START
HERE WITH THE G. THANK YOU FOR
YOUR SUPPORT OF TRANSIT AND YOU
ALL MAKE TODAY POSSIBLE AND THE
REASON WHY WE CONTINUE TO BUILD
UP THAT ALPHABET AND PROVIDE
YOU THE SERVICE TO MAKE THE
CONNECTIONS YOU NEED. THANK YOU
FOR BEING HERE.
>> MAYBE WE KEEP THE G VIBES
GOING. IF TRANSIT IS A TAPESTRY
THEN THIS IS A GOLDEN THREAD
WHO IS WOVEN HIS WAY AROUND ALL
OF OUR TRANSPORTATION NETWORKS
AND THE CITY OF SEATTLE, THE
CITY OF BELLEVUE AND THE
PRIVATE SECTOR HELPING US FROM
THERE. AND NOW AT SOUND
TRANSIT, WE DO APPRECIATE ALL
OF YOUR SERVICE TO MOBILITY IN
THE REGION AND I APPRECIATE
YOUR FRIENDSHIP AND PARTNERSHIP
AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS YOU MADE
AT FDOT. -- SDOT.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY. I
THINK YOU FOR INVITING ME TO
HELP CELEBRATE THIS REALLY
SIGNIFICANT LOCATION. OBVIOUSLY
SOUND TRANSIT IS HAPPY TO JOIN
WITH OUR PARTNERS TO CONTRIBUTE
RESOURCES AND SUPPORT TO THE
RAPIDRIDE G LINE PROJECT. JUST
LIKE YOU HAVE HEARD FROM THE
SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION, THEY PROVIDE
RELIABLE FREQUENT TRANSIT FOR
THIS REGION AND IT'S AT THE
CORE OF THIS MISSION. IN THE
CONTEXT OF THE SHARED MISSIONS,
THIS RIBBON-CUTTING IN THIS NEW
BUS SERVICE IS HAPPENING TODAY.
AS MANY OF YOU KNOW AND SO MANY
TIMES YOU WILL HEAR IT IF I
REPEATED THAT I CAN'T RESIST
BUT TO POINT OUT THAT TOMORROW
SOUND TRANSIT WILL OPEN THE ONE
LINE EXTENSION FROM NORTHGATE
TO LYNNWOOD WITH THOSE FOUR
STATIONS. AND FROM A TRANSIT
PERSPECTIVE IT IS A MOMENTOUS
OCCASION BECAUSE WE WILL FOR
THE FIRST TIME EVER EXTEND
SERVICE FROM KING COUNTY AND
SNOHOMISH COUNTY. FRANKLY, WE
EXPECT SOMETHING ON THE
CALENDAR FOR THOUSANDS OF NEW
PASSENGERS TO USE THE SERVICE
WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE. THIS
IS A NEW DEDICATED BUS LINE
HERE IN THE CORE OF THE CITY
AND THE KING COUNTY METRO
SERVICE, CHANGES ARE COMING AND
THERE WERE FOUR NEW LIGHT RAIL
STATIONS WILL EXPAND SERVICE
FOR THOUSANDS OF RIDERS IN THE
REGION WHEN THEY CREATE TRULY
INTEGRATED SYSTEMS. AND THE
THREE AGENCIES GET SIGNIFICANT
SUPPORT FROM OUR PARTNERS AT
THE FTA SO THANK YOU VERONICA
AND THEY ARE DELIVERED ON A
SHARED PROMISE MAKING IT
EASIER, FASTER AND MORE
AFFORDABLE FOR PEOPLE TO GET TO
WITHIN EACH PART OF THE DAY
WITHOUT HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT
GETTING STUCK IN TRAFFIC. THE
CONNECTION BETWEEN THE SERVICE
AND THE LIGHT RAIL AND IF YOU
THINK ABOUT IT WITH THE
RELIABLE AND FREQUENT SERVICE
BETWEEN DOWNTOWN SEATTLE AND
FIRST HILL, CENTRAL DISTRICT,
CAPITOL HILL AND MADISON
VALLEY, THE NEW G LINE WILL
DIRECTLY CONNECT ALL OF THE
WRITERS -- RIDERS DIRECTLY TO
ACCESS THE SOUND TRANSIT 1 LINE
AT THE SYMPHONY STATION WHICH
BY THE WAY IS A CURRENT STATION
AND HAS BEEN OR WILL BE RENAMED
IN SEPTEMBER. THERE WILL BE A
NEW NAME FOR IT. THAT
CONNECTION WILL ALLOW PEOPLE TO
USE THE ONE LINE ALL THE WAY
FROM THE AIRPORT AND STARTING
TOMORROW ALL THE WAY TO
LYNNWOOD IN SNOHOMISH COUNTY.
>> SO TO WRAP UP MY COMMENTS, I
WANT TO THANK THE SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION,
THE KING COUNTY METRO FOR
DELIVERING THIS NEW SERVICE TO
TO BE
SEATTLE'S TRANSIT
INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE OWN
LIGHT RAIL SERVICE WHICH SAW IT
SERVE FAR FEWER PEOPLE AND THEY
REALLY DID THAT AND I WILL HAVE
TO SAY YOU WALK YOUR WALK AND
YOU HAVE BEEN EXCELLENT AND
I'D DO COUNTER THAT GOING
FORWARD AS WELL. I WANT TO
FINISH BY THINKING THE MAYOR
FOR LEADING AN AGENCY THAT
REALLY MEETS THE PUBLIC DEMAND
FOR GETTING THE JOB DONE. WELL
DONE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. AND THE LAST
SPEAKER IS GISELLE. SHE IS THE
SEATTLE ACADEMY ASSOCIATE HEAD
OF SCHOOL. IT DID MEAN A LOT TO
ME WHEN I TOURED THE PROJECT IN
THE FALL OF 2022 TO WALK THE
AREA AND LEARN THAT YOUR
STUDENTS WALK UP AND DOWN
MADISON EVERY DAY BECAUSE THE
CAMPUS IS SPREAD OUT ALONG THIS
SPINE. WE HAVE JUST MADE MANY
OF THESE INTERSECTIONS MUCH
SAFER FOR KIDS. WE ARE VERY
HAPPY TO BE WORKING IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH YOU AND COME
ON UP, GISELLE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. IT IS A
PLEASURE TO BE WITH YOU THIS
AFTERNOON ON BEHALF OF THE 1254
SEATTLE ACADEMY STUDENTS AND
THEY ARE ALL IN CLASS RIGHT
NOW. IT IS THE SECOND DAY OF
SCHOOL. AND THE 200 FACULTY AND
STAFF AND WE ARE OF COURSE
GRATEFUL TO THE MAYOR AND THE
KING COUNTY METRO AND SDOT WHO
ARE KEY PARTNERS WITH THE
SEATTLE ACADEMY STAFF AND
STUDENTS. WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON
DRAWING FROM DIVERSE
NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS THE CITY.
IN FACT, OUR STUDENTS COME FROM
67 FRONT ZIP CODES EVERY DAY.
WE DO RELY ON PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION TO GET SO MANY
OF OUR KIDS AND TEACHERS TO
SCHOOL SUSTAINABLY. JUST THIS
MORNING, I WAS CHATTING WITH AN
11th GRADER WHO CAME TO SCHOOL
FROM NORTH SEATTLE VIA THE
LIGHT RAIL. A MIDDLE SCHOOL
STUDENT WHO CAME TO US THIS
MORNING ALSO ARE ALREADY
IMAGINING WHERE THEY WILL GO ON
THE NEW G LINE. BOTH STUDENTS
TALK ABOUT THE SKILLS AND
INDEPENDENCE THEY ARE LEARNING
BY TAKING PUBLIC TRANSIT AND
THE CONFIDENCE THEY DEVELOPED
TO NAVIGATE THE CITY AND THE
SOCIAL CONNECTIONS AND
FRIENDSHIPS THAT HAVE BEEN
FACILITATED AND THE ABILITY TO
BECOME IMMERSED IN THE LIFE OF
THE CITY DIRECTLY. OUR MISSION
AT SEATTLE ACADEMY IS TO
CHALLENGE STUDENTS TO QUESTION,
IMAGINE AND CREATE IN ORDER TO
CONTRIBUTE BOLDLY TO A CHANGING
WORLD. THANK YOU TO SDOT AND
EVERYBODY WHO HAD JUST A FINGER
IN THIS PROJECT FOR PROVIDING A
LITERAL VEHICLE TO HELP HER
STUDENTS GROW INTO CONFIDENT,
RESOURCEFUL CITIZENS AS THEY
CONTRIBUTE TO THE WORLD AROUND
THEM. YES. WE ARE SO LOOKING
FORWARD TO WHAT THIS NEW LINE
MEANS FOR OUR COMMUNITY AS WE
KICK OFF THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. WITH
THAT, WE WILL GET READY TO CUT
THE RIBBON AND CELEBRATE THIS
MILESTONE AND I DO WANT TO
INVITE EVERYBODY UP HERE AFTER
TO TAKE A STROLL DOWN THE HILL
AND CHECK OUT THE CENTRAL BUS
BOARDING ISLAND AND THE WAY WE
CREATED A BEAUTIFUL PEDESTRIAN
AND BICYCLE CONNECTIONS IN THE
FIVE LANE INTERSECTION. YOU
WILL SEE WHAT THIS PROJECT IS
ALL ABOUT. THANK YOU, EVERYONE,
FOR COMING. AND WHERE IS THE
RIBBON-CUTTING TAKING PLACE?
RIGHT OVER HERE. WE WILL BE
DOING THAT NOW.