HomeMy WebLinkAbout57_Mayors Newsletter_110217NOVEMBER 2, 2017
This Week
from the Mayor
Denis Law, Mayor
VOL. II, NO. 35
Last Thursday morning I convened
a transportation summit designed
to look for answers to the tough
challenges we’re facing with a
growing workforce.
There’s been tremendous population
and economic growth in Renton
and with that comes the need for
accessible and predictable public
transportation. Employees must be
able to get to and from work without
having to spend a long day in transit.
Employers need to know their
workforce has an option of getting
to and from work other than using
their cars.
The summit brought together Peter Rogoff, Sound Transit CEO; Rob Gannon, General Manager of
King County METRO Transit; Dr. Damien Pattenaude, Renton School District Superintendent; Dr. Kevin
McCarthy, Renton Technical College President; city staff; and about two dozen Renton business owners,
representing many of the 62,000 workers we have in Renton. METRO and Sound Transit provided
updates on planned improvements for Renton, but a majority of the morning was spent listening to
the business leaders express their ideas.
Both the business community and transit representatives were in agreement on the importance of
ensuring bus rapid transit to and from Renton.
Some of what we heard:
• Establish connections from existing light rail stations to Renton
• Fast track the enhanced METRO bus service to and from the NE 44th Street bus rapid transit
station (currently scheduled for 2021)
• More bus service to the southern part of the city and the re-routing of existing routes
• Better access and safety improvements from the Sounder train station
• Improved van pool services, including building partnerships between businesses
It was a very productive session. Our business leaders came with strong ideas, which were well
received. Transit officials stressed a desire to work with businesses to solve the issues. The next steps
will involve city staff, business leaders, and transit officials working together to take these ideas from
the meeting room to our streets and highways, benefitting both employees and employers in Renton.
We are committed to working with our transit agencies to provide better access and service for Renton
residents and those working here. We also will be working internally and externally on ways to address
the traffic that is severely impacting Renton streets during commute hours by motorists trying to avoid
the freeway system.
Summit tackles transportation issues
In Renton we stand for inclusion. Every
day our efforts are designed to ensure
all our residents feel welcomed and safe.
Those efforts include sponsoring events
that ask us to look inside ourselves and
view issues from another perspective
Tonight we are partnering with King
County Library System, and Renton
History Museum to present “Under
Our Skin: What Do We Mean when We
Talk About Race?” another throught-
provoking event at the Renton
Community Center from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
The evening will include a discussion around issues of race and relations, designed to get us thinking
deeper to build common ground. It will be an evening that is well worth your time.
Under Our Skin: A conversation about race
Feedback
Comments, questions or suggestions, or just want to share all the great things that are happening in
the city, please email me. Thanks for reading.
Some very sad news as I learned that Andee Jorgensen, who many of you
know as a tireless volunteer and advocate for Renton, has passed away.
Andee was a past president of Renton Rotary, chamber board member,
Renton Technical College trustee, and RTC foundation board member. Her
list of civic organizations is also extensive including Renton Area Youth
Services, Renton Sister City Committee, Civil Service Commission, and
Hazen High School PTSA Board.
In 2014, it was my great honor to present Andee with the chamber’s
Outstanding Citizen Award. Her tireless energy had a profound impact on
our city. She will be missed.Andee Jorgensen
Civic leader Andee Jorgensen passes away