Transportation Listening sessions: First pass preparation

During the 2013 Legislative Session, the Legislature failed to enact a transportation bill. That is completely inadequate to address completion of many new road segments or to address the backlog of needed road and bridge maintenance in WA. Many also hoped for a bill that would give local jurisdictions authority to tax themselves above the level of state funding for public transportation. King County for example needs authorization to renew or replace a $20 / year congestion relief charge. If those funds are not renewed, King County Metro will face a 17% cut in bus service hours. 80% of routes will be affected and the burden of these cuts will fall especially on seniors, people with disabilities, and low income riders who disproportionately are extremely reliant on public transportation.

We are all one WA, Democrats, Republicans, people east and west of the mountains. Transportation is vital to the state of WA. It is critical to maintain the roads we have and to address needs for additional roads. Road conditions in the Puget Sound are so clogged that large employers have trouble recruiting desired employees. Jurisdictions in the Puget Sound cannot possibly build enough roads to meet all their transportation needs, particularly if one takes into account pollution and climate change issues; even when there is good bus service, the transportation network also relies on enhancements to meet the needs of pedestrians and bicyclists. WA citizens, especially people underserved in rural areas need an additional $100 million in the Special Needs Transportation Fund for customized flexible programs to support badly overstressed programs that meet particular needs for people in rural areas and for seniors, people with disabilities, and communities of people with limited English.

Both roads and public transportation are vital parts of the transportation infrastructure. The current transportation crisis is also an opportunity, perhaps a once-a-decade opportunity to take bold action. RantWoman joins many others in WA in advocating:

--A balanced package addressing roads, transit, walkability and bicycle amenities and the Special Needs Transportation Fund

--Stable state level funding sources

--Options for local jurisdictions to raise revenues to meet local needs

After the impasse during this year’s legislative session, many people from different networks and communities in WA have started speaking up about urgent need to address transportation problems in WA and Gov. Inslee has expressed willingness to call a special session in November. In response to this outcry and in preparation for a possible special session, Sens. King (Repub) and Eide (Dem) are convening a series of listening sessions throughout WA

 Oct. 2 – Spokane (Eastern Region) 6-9 p.m.
Greater Spokane Inc., 801 W. Riverside, Spokane, WA 99201

 Oct. 7 – Vancouver (Southwest Region) 6-9 p.m.
Vancouver Community Library, Columbia Room, 901 C St., Vancouver, WA 98660

 Oct. 9 – Tacoma (Olympic Region) 6-9 p.m.
Evergreen Tacoma Campus, Lyceum Hall, 1210 6th Ave., Tacoma, WA 98405

 Oct. 14 – Seattle 6-9 p.m.
King County Courthouse, Room 1001, 516 3rd Avenue, 10th Floor , Seattle, WA 98104

 Oct. 15 – Bellingham 6-9 p.m.
Port of Bellingham Cruise Terminal, 355 Harris Ave., Bellingham, WA 98225

RantWoman) strongly urges anyone concerned about transportation, climate change, livable communities to attend these sessions and to submit comments, either in person during the listening sessions or online at.

http://www.senatetranspofeedbackforum.org/  

Please also share this alert with others who share concerns for access to work, shopping, medical services, other critical parts of daily and community life, for the environment, for our transit and transportation needs. As a blind activist in the Seattle area puts it, for many of us, the bus is our car. In some cases, the bus is not only our car, it’s the car for our entire family.



Hashtags for readers who traffic in such things #WATranspo #waLeg #keepusmoving #SaveMetroNow