King County Executive Dow Constantine and County Councilmember Kathy Lambert have named several regional leaders and community members to a panel charged with recommending sustainable solutions for funding bridges and roads in unincorporated King County. Among the appointments to the task force were Snoqualmie Mayor Matt Larson and Fall City Community Association President Ashley Glennon.

“Providing safe and reliable roads is a top priority, but the system for funding them hasn’t been revisited in nearly 30 years, and it no longer works,” said Constantine. “We must create a sustainable and regional solution to get our roads back on track.”

“The Bridges and Roads Task Force is an opportunity for all the people of King County – the people who use these roads – to be part of the solution,” said Councilmember Lambert. “Through the work of this task force, we’ll look for new ways to solve our serious road funding problems so we can keep our communities moving and connected.”

The task force will meet monthly through January at the Mercer Island Community Center. Its mission is to develop recommendations for funding repair and maintenance of deteriorating bridges and roads in unincorporated King County. Members include residents of the unincorporated areas, elected officials, representatives from agriculture and recreation organizations, road experts, and public policy leaders.

In addition to Larson and Glennon, the task force members include:

Michael Gonzales, a senior business agent and political director for the local Teamsters 174, and executive board member of the Martin Luther King County Labor Council;

Bryce Yadon, a state policy director with Futurewise;

Representative Luis Moscoso, representing Washington’s first district in the State Legislature;

Josh Brown, executive director of the Puget Sound Regional Council;

Van Anderson, serving on the Boundary Review Board;

Louise Miller, a former King County Councilmember and State Representative;

Blake Trask, a policy director for Washington Bikes;

Ron Paananen, general manager of Parsons Brinckerhoff, Seattle office;

Senator Joe Fain, representing south King County in the State Legislature;

George Irwin, on the county Agriculture Commission;

Janet Keller, owner of Keller Dairy;

Hank Lipe, emergency management expert;

Bob Harrison, city manager of Issaquah;

Andrea Kranzler, a community economic development manager with Skyway Solutions;

Cecilia Mena, a union representative with Professional & Technical Employees Local 17;

John Bloomer, a firefighter/EMT with King County Fire District 28/Enumclaw Fire.

King County maintains about 1,500 miles of roads and 181 bridges. Over the next 25 years, without funding for repair or maintenance, 35 bridges and 72 miles of roadway may need to be restricted or closed.

Learn more at www.kingcounty.gov/depts/transportation/roads/roads-task-force.aspx.