Hon.SallyClark,Chair Hon.BruceHarrell,ViceChair Hon.MikeOBrien,Member SeattleCityCouncil 6004thAve.2nd.

Floor Seattle,WA98104

February19,2014

DearCouncilmembersClark,HarrellandOBrien, Therearemorethan60,000peoplewholiveDowntownandthenumberisgrowingrapidly.The populationofDowntownresidentshasgrown10percentsince2010(comparedto5%citywide).Oneof thechiefbenefitsoflivingDowntownishowseldomoneneedsacar.MorethanonethirdofDowntown residentsalsoworkinDowntownSeattleandmanydonthavecars.Constructionandtrafficmakeit challengingtodriveandparkcrosstown. SafetyisaconcernformanyDowntownResidents,particularlywomen.Onabusylatenight,ifsomeone doesntwanttowalk,optionsforgettingaroundDowntownarelimitedanditcantaketimeforacabto respond.WithdiminishingbusserviceandashortageofCar2Govehiclesinthelateafternoonand evening,nonprivatevehicletransportationoptionsarelimitedforDowntownresidents. SeattlehasfarfewertaxispercapitathansimilarU.S.citiesandthenumberoftaxilicenseshasbeen heldflatforover20years.Ourgrowingneighborhoodneedsmoretransportationoptions. TheDowntownResidentsCouncilSteeringCommitteeiswritingtourgetheCommitteeandtheCouncil torevisitthedraftTransportationNetworkCompany(TNC)legislationinordertoincrease transportationoptionsDowntown. Whilewebelievethatproposedinsurance,inspection,anddrivertrainingregulationsarenecessaryand appropriate,webelievethatthemarketshouldbeallowedtodetermineappropriatelevelsofsupply. WealsobelievethatTNCscomplementratherthanendangertraditionaltaxiservices,whichwill continuetoenjoyexclusiverightstohailedrides. Thankyouforyourconsideration. Sincerely, DowntownResidentsCouncilSteeringCommittee

LindaMitchell Chair WestEdge GinaAlexander Belltown

WeldonIhrig WestEdge

SandraJusten
WestEdge

FerdinandBoyce Belltown

KristenLarson Uptown

LynnClaudon PioneerSquare

MaureenMiller Waterfront

DeannaDawson DennyTriangle

JudyNess Belltown

MirelGutarroUriol WestEdge RichardHuie Chinatown

JohnPehrson SouthLakeUnion AdamSinnett WestEdge