By CYNTHIA SULLIVAN

A recent survey of King County residents regarding their thoughts on the most important issues facing local government mirror the very concerns of my constituents have expressed in recent years: No.1, continue to improve the transportation system that serves our region. The survey I am referring to was conducted for the King County Department of Transportation. Transportation was consistently identified as an issue county government should continue to improve on.

One of my duties as Metropolitan King County Councilmember is to meet the transportation needs of my district and the county. I joined the King County Council's 1999 Transportation Committee to ensure that District Two is represented as transportation policy is shaped in the coming year. We need to continue striving toward greater and more efficient mobility within the county and the region. Clearly, the enemy is gridlock. Over the past several years, I have been listening to and working with residents to improve their ability to move about quickly and efficiently. At the same time, we can protect the environment and our neighborhoods.

Last year, I worked with North Seattle neighborhoods, Metro Transit and the Council to add new bus routes and improve existing routes which serve my district and the county. The changes I helped implement added approximately 35,000 new annual hours of bus service to District Two alone. New service includes doubling the frequency of some routes and adding weekend and evening service to others.

Neighbors like yourself have told me they want local government to continue working in a seamless manner as we tackle transportation issues now and in the future. This is especially important as we implement Sound Move, Sound Transit's 10-year program for regional high-capacity transportation. The Sound Move plan includes three types of regional transportation facilities and services: 1) Regional Express bus/HOV system; 2) Sounder commuter rail; and 3) Link light rail. As a member of Sound Transit's Executive Board, I will continue to seek your input on how we can meet the transportation challenges facing District Two and the region.

While it is important to continually review existing routes to ensure they are serving the public well, it is equally as crucial that we continue our long-range transportation planning to meet our goals now and in the future. King County Metro Transit's six-year plan for improving bus service is achieving and even exceeding many of its original goals. The six-year Transit Development Plan, approved by the Council in 1995, contains key strategies that are guiding Metro in reshaping service.

Successful planning and implementation of transportation policy requires a partnership between the County Council, transit agencies and the public. I urge all of you to voice your thoughts, concerns, needs and ideas about how we can continue meeting our transportation goals. As your Councilmember and neighbor, I'm listening.

Cynthia Sullivan is a member of the Metropolitan King County Council. She can be contacted at 206-296-1002 or by e-mailing her at cynthia.sullivan@metrokc.gov.