When and how underserved areas can get more mass-transit will be among the topics when the Metropolitan King County Council hosts a town hall meeting in Covington next Monday on Metro Transit’s efforts to expand suburban bus routes.

The meeting at Kentwood High School’s Performing Arts Center will focus on what officials said is the major challenge of paying for bus service to keep up with an increased demand.

Rising fuel prices have caused a record number of suburban residents to use Metro buses. Metro expanded suburban routes in 2007 and 2008. But more expansion is hindered because Metro will receive about $40 million less in sales tax revenue in 2008-09 than originally projected and will also pay an extra $36 million for fuel because of regional economic struggles, officials said.

“As fuel prices have increased, so has Metro ridership,” said Councilman Dow Constantine, chairman of the council’s Transportation Committee. “Despite the financial challenges our transit system faces, we must find ways to continue to deliver as much service as possible to King County residents.”

Councilman Reagan Dunn, whose district includes Covington, Maple Valley and Black Diamond, said Metro bus service hasn’t kept pace with growing “communities across King County. Areas such as Covington and Kent’s East Hill have exploded from rural villages to full-blown urban centers, and people need more transportation options.”

During the meeting next Monday, the public and council members be briefed by Metro officials, including general manager Kevin Desmond, on how the agency is using the voter-approved one-tenth of 1 percent sales and use tax to expand public transit service. The officials will also discuss possibilities for addressing the projected budget shortfall.

There will also be a panel discussion with members from the King County Transit Advisory Committee, which advises Metro and county officials on transit issues.

Citizens will be able to ask questions and discuss transit matters. They’ll also be allowed to comment on any other issues.

Metro is rated as one of the fastest-growing transit agencies in the U.S. In May, it set a record by averaging 400,000 riders per day, according to Metro.

New projections released this month by county budget officials show Metro will lose $45 million in sales tax revenues in 2008-09 and $43.5 million annually beginning in 2010, which is about 8.3 percent less revenue than officials originally anticipated. County Executive Ron Sims attributed the difference to less spending by the public “on items that are subject to the sales tax, which is the primary source of funding for Metro.” The shortfall, combined with a projected $22 million in unanticipated costs due to rising fuel prices and other cost increases, means Metro is facing an average annual budget shortfall of more than $70 million, officials said.

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