The following is a release from King County:

A new star shines on Transit Hero Boulevard, as Metropolitan King County Councilmember Claudia Balducci has been inducted to the Transportation Choices Coalition’s Transit Heroes Hall of Fame. Balducci, an advocate for public transportation for more than a decade, has been a leader in the effort to expand, preserve and grow transportation options in the Puget Sound region.

Councilmember Balducci, who received the award at the TCC’s Transit Heroes Celebration September 8, expressed her gratitude for the recognition while acknowledging that there is much more work to be done to make public transportation as effective as it can be for the residents of King County.

“I am deeply honored to be recognized by Transportation Choices, the state’s most passionate and effective transportation advocacy group,” said Balducci. “But I feel a little like I imagine President Obama felt upon receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in his first term. We are just getting started with providing the kind of transit our region needs; I am committed to earn this recognition many times over in the years to come.”

Prior to joining the King County Council, Balducci was a long time member of the Bellevue City Council and most recently served as Bellevue’s Mayor. While serving on the City Council and through her role on the Sound Transit Board, Balducci has been instrumental in bringing light rail to the Eastside.

The Transportation Choices Coalition is a statewide organization that works with government agencies, labor and the private sector to increase transportation options throughout the region. Transportation Choices Coalition’s Hall of Fame recognition is reserved for those individuals who continuously fight for the growth and preservation of transit options and services across Washington State.

Balducci will be adding her Hall of Fame star next to other transportation leaders, including current Sound Transit Board Chair and County Executive Dow Constantine, retired County Council Chair Larry Phillips, past Sound Transit CEO Joni Earl and late State Rep. Ruth Fisher, former Chair of the state’s House Transportation Committee.