Transportation Woes & The UW

At UW Impact, we care deeply about state budget issues affecting higher education.  But what about issues that make a college education more difficult to obtain?  What if transportation issues made it impossible for students to come to campus?  Students are in Olympia this week testifying for transportation bills – and here is why:

More people get to the UW by Metro transit than by any other transportation method.  On any given day, 45% of students arrive by bus – and last year, UW Seattle students took nearly 11 million public transit trips in total.  Without a funding solution, nearly one-half of the Metro routes serving the University District would be eliminated or reduced. 

This issue affects both students and employees.  The UW is the largest employer in Seattle and the third-largest in the state, so accessibility and environmental impact are tremendous concerns.

What to do?  Associated Students of the University of Washington (ASUW) and the Graduate and Professional Student Senate (GPSS) are urging members of the UW community to call their legislators this week and ask them to support legislation that would prevent the 17% cuts to bus service next year.

Interested in adding your voice?  Call the legislative hotline at 800-562-6000, or use Transportation Choices’ online advocacy tools by clicking here.  The legislative session ends on Sunday, 4/28 – so take action soon.