Burien and SeaTac lawmakers have given official support to Transit Now, a ballot initiative to expand public transportation in King County.

Formally known as King County Proposition 2, the measure will go before voters in the Nov. 7 general election.

Burien Mayor Joan McGilton said she supports the measure and asked that Metro increase express bus service in Burien during non-peak hours.

Councilwoman Rose Clark also supports the need for more express buses between Burien and downtown Seattle.

Some SeaTac council members don't think Transit Now would do enough for their city.

But Councilman Don DeHan said because other South King County cities have supported light rail to the airport and help to get funding for State Route 509 is still needed, "It would behoove us to help out the other cities (on bus service)."

If approved, Proposition 2 would increase the sales tax by one-tenth of 1 percent to fund expansion of Metro service, operations, maintenance and capital needs.

It would target service increases on Metro's 36 most congested routes, including Route 120 between Burien and downtown Seattle via White Center and West Seattle, and Route 140 between Burien and Renton via SeaTac and Southcenter.

Burien council members voted 5-1 to endorse Transit Now. The SeaTac council backed it on a 5-2 vote.

"The voters of King County will have the opportunity to change the face of public transportation in this region," said King County Councilwoman Julia Patterson, D-SeaTac.

Patterson chairs the county council's Transportation Committee.

"Transit Now is the centerpiece of a coordinated regional transit strategy that will immediately create more suburban service, increase the frequency of buses on the most popular routes and eventually connect suburban and urban riders with the light rail system," Patterson said."

"As a Sound Transit board member, I believe it's vitally important to complete our light rail network throughout the region. But those projects will take time to design and construct," said Councilman Dow Constantine, D-West Seattle.

"Transit Now will immediately add bus hours to existing high-demand routes, while creating several 'Rapid Ride' corridors."

A "Rapid Ride" high-frequency bus route on Pacific Highway South eventually would connect Sound Transit's Federal Way Transit Center with Sound Transit's SeaTac Airport Light Rail station.

If voters approve Proposition 2, the measure would cost the average family about $25 a year.