Transportation Bills Moving in Olympia

Today, the Washington State Senate took action on a transportation funding bill that would raise the gas tax to pay for roads, bridges and transit improvements over the next 16 years. The bill passed 27-22 amid objections from both Democrats and Republicans about various parts of the package.

The Senate bill contains a local option provision that would allow Community Transit to ask voters in its service area to raise the local sales tax to support increased transit service.

HB 1393 also accomplishes the same "local option" for Community Transit. That bill passed out of the House Committee on Finance last week and is awaiting a floor vote.

These items are important to the future of transit service in Snohomish County. While Community Transit is set to bring back Sunday and holiday bus service this June, current projections would see only 45 percent of the service that was cut during the recession return by 2018.

New revenue generated by a local option could help fund a second line of Swift bus rapid transit, increased commuter service to downtown Seattle and UW, more frequent bus trips throughout Snohomish County all week and late-night bus service.

Increasing demand for transit service far beyond what is now provided is a main reason why various supporters have spoekn in favor of Community Transit's local option, including Workforce Snohomish, Associated Students of the University of Washington, the Puget Sound Regional Council, Economic Alliance Snohomish County, United Way and the Transportation Choices Coalition.

Stay tuned for further legislative updates as these bills advance.

Feb. 4 Hearing for House Bill 1393, 'Local Option' for Community Transit

HB 1393 is Community Transit’s top legislative priority during this 2015 legislative session (see the original blog post here). Passage of HB 1393 (or its Senate companion bill SB 5326) would give the transit agency authorization to increase its sales tax up to 0.3 percent upon voter approval.

A hearing in the House Transportation Committee for HB 1393 is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 4 at the John L. O’Brien Building, House Hearing Rm B. Community Transit Board of Directors Chair, Mike Todd, will travel to Olympia to testify in favor of the bill, along with supporters from throughout Snohomish County.

If the bill is passed by the full Legislature, Community Transit’s board would be authorized to send a ballot measure to voters in the service district asking their support for increased transit funding.

This Thursday, Feb. 5, the board will take action on a June 2015 service expansion plan that could bring back Sunday and holiday bus service. However, current forecasts indicate that any new service hours added in the next few years are likely to be taken up by schedule maintenance—adding time to current trips because their actual travel time is getting longer.

New transit funding could be used for:

• a second Swift bus rapid transit line
• increased commuter service to Seattle and UW
• extended bus hours each day
• more trips throughout the county

If you are interested in learning more about HB 1393 and the public hearing process in general, you might find these links of interest:

All about Committee Hearings (along with some great tips on how the public can participate:http://leg.wa.gov/legislature/Pages/Testify.aspx

About House Bill 1393:http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=1393&year=2015

Can’t attend the hearing in person? You Can Watch Live:http://www.tvw.org/index.php?option=com_tvwliveplayer&eventID=2015020084

For Fun: the Lyrics to Schoolhouse Rock’s, “I’m Just A Bill”
http://www.schoolhouserock.tv/Bill.html