(Washington,
D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) applauded a decision issued by
the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals overturning a lower court that effectively
blocked legislation, authored by Murray, restoring the ability for King County
Metro to provide service to a number of major sporting and special events.
After a Bush administration rule resulted in the elimination of Metro service
to these events and imposed more costly service provided by private carriers on
fans, Senator Murray included a provision in the 2010 Senate Transportation
Appropriations bill to exempt King County Metro from these restrictions.
Despite passing both chambers of congress and being signed into law by the
President, the
Murray provision was ruled unconstitutional by the U.S. District Court for
the District of Columbia. Today, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned
this ruling, stating that Senator Murray’s legislation was constitutional
and that efforts to provide efficient and affordable transportation to sporting
events aligned with legitimate governmental goals.
“This
ruling is great news for Seattle sports fans. Providing affordable and
efficient transportation will help support our local sports teams, bolster the
local economy, and decrease traffic congestion in the city and surrounding
areas,” said
Senator Murray. “I introduced this provision because the private
charters just couldn’t get the job done. I went to bat for fans and event-goers
to do what was in the public interest and with today’s ruling, metro bus
service to Mariners games and many other sporting events around Seattle will
finally be restored.”
The
inclusion of the Murray provision in the 2010 Senate Transportation
Appropriations bill was in direct response to complaints from area fans and
event organizers who found that the 2008 Bush Administration rule resulted in
drastically increased prices, inconvenient service and delays, traffic
congestion, and an inability to accommodate handicapped passengers.
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