The Bellevue City Council voted 6-0 on May 6 to advocate at the state Legislature for a “local option” to fund transit, but only if the funding alternative is decided on by voters. The action followed input from residents and a presentation by city staff, King County Councilmember Jane Hague and a King County Metro official on possible bus route reductions that would impact Bellevue.

Possible local options to fund transit could include a King County vote on a motor vehicle excise tax, and/or an annual vehicle license fee at the city level.

According to Metro, 23 bus routes serving Bellevue could be affected – deleted, reduced or revised – if state lawmakers allow a temporary, two-year funding source for the agency to expire without authorizing a sustainable source of revenue.

City staff said the cuts would come at a time when demand for transit is strong. Between 2003 and 2012, daily transit usage in Bellevue increased 111 percent, from 22,000 to 46,000 daily boardings-departures.

The presentations were part of a wider discussion by the council on an update of the Bellevue Transit Master Plan, which serves as an reference document to inform transit service providers of Bellevue’s priorities.

At its meeting on May 20, the council is expected to provide further direction on Bellevue’s transit service vision; a final version of the Master Plan will be available for council review by the end of 2013.