When Metro proposed cuts to eliminate a single stop each direction on routes 271 and 245 to the Bellevue College campus, the Associated Student Government and the Office of Student Legislative Affairs helped get the word out to students that their input was needed.
Students rallied, began collecting signatures—both on and off campus–and donned pins to spread awareness of the wide-ranging ramifications the cut would bring.
More than 30 students, staff and faculty, many wearing matching blue BC t-shirts, described the impact the proposed re-route would have on the BC community at a May 15 King County Council meeting and more than 20 came to the May 29 Bellevue City Council meeting.
Alex Clark, ASG Environmental and Social Responsibility Representative, testified that, “Cutting this stop will make the campus much less accessible as well as discourage transit use.” It would impact 55 percent of the college’s transit riders. More than 1,500 students use it daily. One in four of BC’s students has no regular access to a car, making them transit-dependent.
“Metro’s plan puts at risk many vulnerable, disabled and evening students,” said Patrick Green, BC’s Sustainability program manager. If approved, riders to BC will have to walk about half a mile to and from an unsheltered stop on 148th, by the I-90 on-ramp, which makes access to the campus difficult, unsafe, and impossible for some.
Student Steve Ferreira takes the bus to campus every day. He uses a wheelchair and without a large, accommodating and centrally-located stop on campus, he worries about the increased time commitment to get to campus. “I have issues with stops that have limited wheelchair ramps. The other stops are difficult to get to and there’s not much room for a wheelchair.”
“This is an important issue our students have tackled,” said David Rule, BC’s president, “We cannot adequately serve the needs of our students nor meet our region’s workforce needs without transit. We do not want students to have to opt out of attending Bellevue College because the lack of public transportation makes coming to campus logistically impossible, or puts the cost of getting here beyond their reach.”
“The College owes a big thank you to those who demonstrated and wrote to the County Council and City of Bellevue Council,” said Green. “Without their collective voice and attendance at meetings, municipal and county leadership would not understand the burden of this cut.” If the cuts move forward, they will take place in February. Meanwhile, student organizers continue their public awareness campaign.
– by Sharon Berg
Last Updated October 3, 2016