Yesterday, Gov. Chris Gregoire released the list of elected officials, business leaders, advocates, tribal representatives and others who'll be responsible for recommending a 10-year state transportation funding package during the 2012 legislative session.  (The long-term transportation funding plan nearly led state legislators to reject legislation allowing King County to pass a temporary $20 vehicle license fee for transit, on the grounds that the county would be more likely to support a large transportation measure in the future if it didn't get what it wanted this past session).

The group includes the chairs and ranking minority members of the house and senate transportation committees; state transportation secretary Paula Hammond; and leaders of business groups and environmental advocacy organizations.

Notably, the group includes just one representative from Seattle---city council transportation chair Tom Rasmussen. No one from Mayor Mike McGinn's office is represented. In contrast, the Puget Sound Regional Council's executive board---a similarly-sized body that helps shape regional transportation and planning policy---includes three Seattle City Council members as well as McGinn himself.

That could spell trouble for transit, a big priority for the city and King County. However, the group also includes Sound Transit board member Paul Roberts (an Everett City Council member); deputy King County Executive Fred Jarrett, a transit proponent; Transportation Choices Coalition board member Barbara Wright; and Spokane Transit CEO Susan Mayer. Additionally, in her statement announcing the task force yesterday, Gregoire mentioned transit as a priority no fewer than three times, noting that "as city and county populations continue to increase, more mass transit will be necessary to accommodate additional riders and to expand routes."

We have calls out to the Transportation Choices Coalition and city officials for their reaction to the makeup of the task force.