Legislative Update: Transit Funding on Backburner for Now

Photo: Wikipedia

Last week was the deadline for bills to make it out of their house of origin in the state legislature. Technically, no transit funding bills made it out of the House or Senate. But transit funding is still alive thanks to rules that make these measures budget-eligible.

There were two bills that would benefit Community Transit directly - HB 1953 and SB 5773. The senate bill died, but the house bill was declared required to implement the budget, so it can be brought back later.

Separately, House Transportation Committee Chair Judy Clibborn's comprehensive transportation funding package (HB 1954) is also on hold until budget discussions take place beginning later this month. Legislative leaders have said dealing with the budget deficit and funding K-12 education are their top priorities this session, but the fact that transit funding is still alive means there is hope.

On March 20, the state economic forecast will provide the next big piece to the state funding puzzle as it will advise legislators on how much money is expected to be available this biennium. Then the numbers crunching will begin. It is expected that transportation funding will be a lower priority in these discussions, but still on the table.

Meanwhile, groups like the Washington State Transit Association, Transportation Choices Coalition and even the Association of Washington Business continue to push legislators for some type of transportation funding package. That will help keep the issue at the table.

March 18 is Bus Driver Appreciation Day

Bus drivers have a tough job. They drive around all day picking up strangers and asking them for money. They drive the same route over and over. They have to be on time, but can't leave a stop early. And they certainly hear about it if they're late!

Whether their child is sick, their favorite team lost last night or they are in the midst of a personal crisis, they are expected to smile and be professional to all customers they encounter every day.

It's pretty amazing what they do. Like other customer service jobs where you hear all about the bad stuff but hardly ever the good, it can really make your day to hear a heartfelt "Thank you!"

Let's all say thank you to our drivers on Monday, March 18. It's a small gesture that can mean so much. And if your driver does a good job on Tuesday, say thanks then as well. Why not?

Community Transit Seeks Comment on Non-Discrimination Plan

Federally-required plan outlines ways in which transit agency engages minority populations  

Community Transit invites the public to comment on our Title VI Non-Discrimination Plan that addresses how the agency engages minority populations.

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 states that "No person in the United States shall, on the grounds of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance."

As recipients of Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funds, Community Transit is required to have a Title VI program which is updated and submitted to the FTA every three years. Our proposed Title VI Non-Discrimination Plan is available online at http://www.communitytransit.org/title6 or by calling (425) 353-7433 to request a copy. The Title VI webpage provides Google Translator so it can be read in up to 65 languages.

Public comment on the proposed plan will be accepted through April 8. Comments may be submitted in one of the following ways:

• By email to title6@commtrans.org
• By postal mail to Community Transit, 7100 Hardeson Rd., Everett, WA 98203, Attn: Title VI Officer
• By phone to (425) 353-7433
• In person at one of the following Community Meetings:

Wednesday, March 27
5 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Snohomish PUD, Monroe Office
120 East Fremont Street, Monroe, WA 98272

Thursday, April 2
12 p.m. - 2 p.m.
Edmonds Community College
Brier Hall, Room 231
20000 68th Ave W, Lynnwood, WA 98036

A public hearing on the Title VI Non-Discrimination Plan will take place before the Board of Directors:

Thursday, April 4
3 p.m.
Community Transit Board Room
7100 Hardeson Road, Everett, WA 98203


Please note that public comments to the Title VI Non-Discrimination Plan must be made through the four bulleted methods listed above. Comments on this blog and on our Facebook page in no way constitute a legal or official notice or comment to Community Transit. We appreciate your cooperation!

Transit Funding Bills Pass Out of Committee

Two bills aimed at providing new funding options for Community Transit have passed out of their respective State House and Senate transportation committees. The bills (HB 1953 and SB 5773) would give Community Transit authority to seek new funding from local voters.

One change occurred to help get the senate bill out of committee. Rather than a motor vehicle excise tax, the funding source is now the retail sales tax. Currently, Community Transit gets revenue from a 0.9 percent sales tax within the service district (9 cents on a $10 purchase). Both bills would allow the agency to ask voters to increase that tax by up to an additional 0.3 percent.

State Senate Considers Transit Bill

The Washington Senate Transportation Committee yesterday heard testimony on SB 5773 which would authorize a local motor vehicle excise tax (MVET) to support Community Transit service, if approved by voters. The bill was introduced by Sen. Nick Harper of Everett.

Those testifying in favor of the bill included Joe Marine, Mayor of Mukilteo and chair of the Community Transit Board of Directors, Community Transit CEO Joyce Eleanor, and representatives from United Way, Economic Alliance Snohomish County, Workforce Development Council, Boeing Machinists Union (IAM), UW and Transportation Choices Coalition.

The bill allows Community Transit to seek up to one percent MVET on car registrations within the service district, which is most of Snohomish County excluding Everett. CEO Joyce Eleanor says such funding could be used to bring back Sunday and late-night bus service, and that any specific service plan would go through a public process with input from riders.

In opposition to the bill, Michael Ennis of the Association of Washington Businesses said the AWB wanted the MVET funding source to remain part of a statewide transportation package, and not “peeled off” to benefit one agency.

SB 5773 is the first of several proposals that could fund Community Transit service. A companion “local option” bill has been introduced in the House, while a separate statewide “roads and transit” transportation funding package was announced yesterday by House Transportation Committee Chair Judy Clibborn.

State Transportation News

There is a lot going on in state transportation news this week.

Yesterday, Gov. Jay Inslee named a new Transportation Secretary. Lynn Peterson serves as an advisor to Oregon Gov. John Kithzhaber and is a former planner with Tri-Met, the Portland-area transit agency. Among other things, Inslee said Peterson shared his vision for improving transit in the state.

Today, State Rep. Judy Clibborn will unveil a transportation funding package that includes earmarked funding for transit. Details on that plan will emerge throughout the day.

Also today, at 3:30 p.m. the Senate Transportation Committee will hear testimony on SB 5773 which would allow certain transit agencies to seek local taxing authority to fund operations. That bill could allow a vote in Snohomish County to help raise funding for Community Transit bus service.

Community Transit is at its state-authorized maximum tax authority, 0.9 percent sales tax. That is one of the reasons the agency relied on fare increases, cost-cutting and service cuts as the primary ways to balance its budget during the recession. As a result, 37 percent of bus service was cut, including Sunday and holiday service. The state provides about 2 percent of Community Transit's funding, although that share was as high as 30 percent before the passage of I-695 in 1999.

Stay tuned for more details on efforts to get new transit funding in Olympia.

Service Changes - on Presidents Day, Feb. 18

On Monday, Feb. 18, Community Transit service will be operating on new schedules. That's not unusual, the agency changes its schedules twice a year. Typically, routing changes and other more substantial changes occur at those times.

Last year, the February service change was significant, we eliminated eight routes, created two new routes, restructured our local service network and cut service hours by 20 percent. And, that happened on Presidents Day.

That presented a bit of a problem. Community Transit no longer operates on Sundays, so our schedule changes take place on Mondays. On minor holidays, like Presidents Day, we typically run a reduced commuter schedule to Seattle as ridership is about 40 percent what it is on a non-holiday. But how do you communicate the many changes that start that day, then say that some of them won't actually happen until the next day?

Well, the Puget Sound transit agencies have agreed to have their service changes on the same day, and those dates are set by Metro. As it happens, Metro has selected Presidents Day as the February service change date through 2015.

For Community Transit riders, this means that the 30 additional commuter trips being added this month will not all be added on Feb. 18. Some will, but only on Routes 402, 413 and 855, which, along with Route 421, are the only commuter routes we operate that day. The other extra trips will start the next day.

Our other significant changes - to Routes 112 and 417, will take place on Feb. 18 because we operate regular local service on Presidents Day. We also encourage all riders to check the new Bus Plus books or the new schedules online to see what time their bus will come that day. Trip times are sometimes tweaked to make better connections, because "real-world" traffic conditions have changed, or to add or take away downtime for our drivers (they need breaks too!).

By the way, Sound Transit buses in Snohomish County will see their service changes beginning Feb. 17.