DRAFT

Washington State Public Transportation Plan
Chapter Three: Goals and Action Strategies
ridership demand. Additionally, all transit agencies are limited in the amount of local revenue
they can raise because of the legislatively imposed maximum tax rate of 0.9 percent, and
several are at their maximum. Community Transit, Jefferson Transit, Island Transit, Sound
Transit and King County Metro have all reached their maximum and others, such as Kitsap
Transit and Intercity Transit, are not too far behind in hitting the maximum limit for local
sales tax to go toward public transportation.
Maintenance and preservation of the system requires money. Under the current scenario,
however, funding and revenue projections are not sustainable to meet the needs resulting
from projected growth in population and jobs. For example, the Puget Sound Regional
Council (PSRC) estimates transit ridership will need to double by 2040 to accommodate
population and job growth in the Puget Sound region. There is not funding in place today
to support this increased demand. The same is true in other parts of the state where local
communities want transportation options and have hit the maximum local funding limit,
such as King County Metro and Jefferson Transit. During the 2015 Legislative Session,
Community Transit was able to increase their local option funding limit and has placed a
ballot measure for November 2015 to increase local funding of their transit services. In some
communities, the demand for transportation options has resulted in the creation of new
transit authorities. For example, in November 2013, Okanogan County residents approved
transit options for the Okanogan County Public Transportation Benefit Area.
The state’s interest in delivering a viable public transportation system to its citizens will
be increasingly pivotal to achieving future state goals, providing the capacity, mobility and
access necessary for the effective movement of people and goods essential to a high quality
of life for all Washington state citizens. Washington state’s interest and role as a partner in
the guardianship of the public transportation system can take place in a variety of ways,
from adopting a partner role in coordinating and integrating the planning of transportation
to being an information resource, convener and facilitator, data aggregator, evaluator of
emerging technologies, or as a policy maker, or as a funder.
EVALUATING TRANSPORTATION GUARDIANSHIP
Desired
Outcomes
• Sustainable services and
infrastructure
• Reduce lifecycle cost
• Cost effective
• Improved access
• Public understanding
Measures
Currently Available
• % of highway pavement in
fair or better condition
• % of state bridges rated
structurally deficient
• % of state ferry terminals in
fair or better condition
• Capital project delivery
performance
Measures to
be Developed
• Guardianship Dashboard
»»
Public perception of condition
and needs of local and statewide
transportation systems
»»
Improved system conditions
»»
Funding priorities
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WSDOT | DRAFT October 2015 | WaTransPlan.com