Let’s remember when voters (finally) approved a measure to create King County Transit, on this day in 1972 (September 19)
I just read last week that a study concluded that Seattle has the best public transportation in the US. Awesome. And its origins begin, officially, 47 years ago when King County voters approved creating King County Transit, passing for the first time after four failed votes. Fifth time’s the charm!
Per HistoryLink’s Walt Crowley:
On September 19, 1972, King County voters approve a 0.3 percent sales tax to fund a county-wide bus system operated by Metro (the Municipality of Metropolitan Seattle). Seattle voters simultaneously reject the second COMET (Committee for Modernization of Electric Transit) initiative to convert all city buses to electric trolleys operated by City Light.
King County voters had rejected Metro transit plans in 1958, 1962, 1968, and 1970. The new all-bus plan was precipitated by the impending bankruptcy of the Seattle Transit System and several private suburban bus systems. The new Metro Transit system entered operation on January 1, 1973.
In 1993, the Metro system was absorbed by King County.
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