By Eric Mathison

The crowd at a King County Council hearing July 21 on a proposed $20 car-tab fee that would prevent large service cuts to Metro bus service didn't match the 700 people that showed up earlier in the month for a downtown Seattle hearing. But about half that many overflowed Burien City Council chambers for the Thursday night hearing.

About 100 speakers testified during the three-hour meeting. Victor Obeso, Metro service-development manager, said if the temporary 2-year $20 car tab fee is not imposed. Metro would need to cut 17 percent of its bus hours. He predicted bus ridership would decline by 9 percent.

The overwhelming majority of speakers supported the car-tab fee and urged county lawmakers to approve the measure without sending it to voters. The council is expected to vote on Monday, July 25, to approve the fee or place it on the November ballot for voters to decide.

A large contingent of University of Washington students, including the student body president, testified that the current level of bus service is vital for students who commute to class. About ten percent of Metro's ridership is UW students or staff, the student leader said.

Representatives from Highline Community College, South Seattle Community College, Bellevue College, Seattle University and Garfield High School also testified on the importance of maintaining the current level of service.

Several disabled people and seniors also related stories about their reliance on buses, particularly Metro's Access service.

Lynn Wallace, executive director of the Southwest King County Chamber of Commerce, and Des Moines Councilman Dave Kaplan also spoke in favor of the car-tab fee. SeaTac City Councilwoman Mia Gregerson urged county council members to "take the leadership role on behalf of the smaller cities" by approving the fee. However, fellow SeaTac Councilwoman Pam Fernald said "Metro should try a little harder" before asking for car-tab fees or cutting service by 17 percent.

"Shouldn't we see more fiscal responsibility from the county," Fernald declared.

There were a few other dissenters. Patrick Robbins, of Burien, said he spotted seven busses, mostly empty, go by within a 15-minute period at S.W. 148th Street and Ambaum Boulevard. S.W. He urged Metro to be more aggressive in collecting fares from riders. Charlie Rangel, also of Burien, acknowledged the students who had testified about their reliance on bus service. He suggested that if education is so important, the students' parents should drive them to school like he had done for his children.

Other representatives from "social justice" groups said Metro should impose a tax on businesses or rich people instead. County Councilman Larry Phillips, who chaired the transportation committee hearing, said the issue had received "an astounding level of citizen interest. "The vast majority want to save Metro service," he declared.

Councilman Joe McDermott, who represents much of the Highline area, noted that about half of the people on the Alaskan Way Viaduct during rush hour are riding Metro buses. He said the proposed cuts would negatively affect 80 percent of Metro riders.