Transpo4WA Opportunity for All Action Plan 2012-12-20 Reduced

7/30/2019 Transpo4WA Opportunity for All Action Plan 2012-12-20 Reduced

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A Transportation Action Plan for Washington

Opportunity or All


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Transportation or Washington Staf

Rob Johnson, Co-Chair

Executive Director

Transportation Choices Coalition

[email protected]

206-329-2336

Hilary Franz, Co-Chair

Executive Director

Futurewise

[email protected]

206-343-0681

Carrie Dolwick, Campaign Director

[email protected]

Brock Howell, Field Director

[email protected]

206-343-0681

April Putney, Lobbyist

[email protected]

206-343-0681

Shefali Ranganathan, Equity Caucus

[email protected]

206-329-2336

A project o


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Opportunity for All

A Transportation Action Plan for WashingtonAn action plan providing all Washingtonians with the

opportunity to get to wherever they need to go.

About

Transportation for WashingtonTransportation or Washington is a campaign led by

Transportation Choices Coalition and Futurewise andsupported by a coalition o more than 200 public ocials and

organizations that represent the social justice, housing, aith,health, environment, labor, and business communities.

www.t4washington.org

Table of Contents

2 Letter to Our Leaders

3 Key Findings

3 Solutions

4 Transportation Action Planor Washington

8 Revenue Sources


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Pg 2 | Opportunity for All

The good news is that by shiting long-standing investments toward xing our roads,

bridges and erries, expanding transit service, and making our streets saer or all, we

will not only create the backbone o a strong economy, we will also put more people to

work. National studies nd that road repair crea tes 17% more jobs than new highways,

and, even more impressively, both new bicycle and new transit inrastructure create40% more jobs.

It is not only the right thing to do or our economy; it is the right thing to do or our

environment. Our transportation system continues to be the leading polluter o our

air and water. We can no longer ignore the toxic runo and climate pollution rom

cars and trucks. We have to make sure that our transportation investments provide or

cleaner and healthier transportation choices.

Washingtonians deserve better.

Our leaders need to address the importance o transportati on investments in growing

the economy and improving mobility while being realistic about what the state can

responsibly nance, build, upkeep and operate given the changing demographics and

needs o Washingtonians.

Washington only works when we all have an opportunity to get where we needto go. This action plan will ensure more Washingtonians have the reedom to getaround saely and aordably, while securing a transparent transportation system that

generates equal opportunity or all through the next decade.

Sincerely,

Hilary Franz, Futurewise Rob Johnson, Transportation Choices Coalition

Dear Governor Inslee and Chairs o the Transportation Committees,

Picking up your children rom daycare, delivering goods to the market, getting to

school or workwhatever the destination, we all deserve the opportunity to getwhere we need to go.

Transportation should be a path to prosperity or working amilies and businesses.

When we invest in our transportation inrastructure, we create thousands o jobs

to help grow our economy. Smart investments will also provide Washingtonians

the reedom to get to work and school reliably and aordably, giving all people

opportunities or success.

Unfortunately, our system is broken.

Transportation investments no longer reect what Washingtonians want and need.Our transportation system should provide opportunity not expense, headache, and

danger. We need sae, efcient roads that we can rely on. For too long though, we

have ocused limited transportation dollars on expanding highways, not preserving

our existing system. Now, our roads are in disrepair. The same is true or our erry

system. And because most o our states transportation budget is spent on roads, bus

service has been slashed by as much as 43% in some communities despite record high

ridership.

These are the wrong priorities or today and tomorrowand dont reect our changing

social and economic trends and needs. Washingtonians want to spend less money atthe gas pump and spend more time with their amily. Thats why Washingtonians are

driving less and choosing to live in aordable, walkable communities connected by

transit. Its time to give more Washingtonians this opportunity.


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Opportunity for All | Pg 3

Fix It First Prioritize new highway investments to x bridges and roads, and maintain

and replace our erry system: at least $300 million annually.

Increase direct state investments and authorize new local unding tools

to enable local governments to repair, maintain, and improve local roads,trac signals, and acilities or sae biking and walking.

Adopt a Fix It First policy to guide state investments and ederal unds

allocation.

Invest in strategic road projects that will increase the movement o people

and goods, create jobs, and improve the health, saety and sustainability

o our communities, and have realistic nancing plans that are scally

responsible.

More Transit Increase direct state unding or transit, and intercity rail operations and

maintenance, rom diversied revenue sources, to maintain current service

levels: $400 million annually.

Invest in strategic transit improvements to accommodate anticipated

population growth. Authorize a diverse menu o additional local or regional revenue options o

all transit agencies, including a local option motor vehicle excise tax (MVET)

Build Great, Healthy Communities Provide grants or local governments to implement Complete Streets, Sae

Routes to Schools and bicycle and pedestrian inrastructure: $150 million

annually.

Establish an Equitable Transit Communities grant program to incentivize

afordable housing near high-capacity transit stations: $50 million annually

or local governments to use on transportation improvements.

Invest in clean water inrastructure to reduce polluted stormwater runof:

$75 million annually. Create a Deputy Secretary or Sustainable Communities within WSDOT to

make sure that policies to improve transportation choices, housing, health

status and environment are coordinated throughout state government.

Adopt a plan to ensure that the transportation system meets the states

greenhouse gas emission limits.

Key Findings

From 2001 to 2009, young people between the ages o 1634

drove less, cutting miles driven by 23%.1

AARP estimates that 1 in 5 people age 65+ do not drive and

more than 50% o these non-drivers stay home due to lack o

transportation options.2

Fixing a road that is already worn out can cost three times

as much as keeping a road in good condition with regular

maintenance.3

Road and bridge repair projects create 17 percent more jobs

per billion dollars than building new highway miles.4

New transit and bicycle inrastructure both generate 40

percent more jobs per dollar invested than similar spending on

new highways.5

Less than 2% o the states $9.8 billion transportation budget is

allocated to keeping buses and trains running.6

Twelve transit agencies have had to reduce service since 2009. 7

13% o all trips and 10% o all miles traveled are made by

bicycle or on oot; yet, bicycle and pedestrian projects get less

than 1% o the states transportation budget.8

In Seattle, a household can save an estimated $11,622 each yearby riding transit instead o driving.9

Transportation accounts or more than hal o our states

greenhouse gas emissions.10

Solutions


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Opportunity for All:A Transportation Action Plan for Washington

Driving Less

Across America people started driving signican

less in 2008. And in the Pacic Northwest, peop

have been steadily driving less every year or mo

than decade.11

Comparison of Job Creation byType of Infrastructure Project

I you want to create jobs through new

inrastructure, road repair and new pedestrian,

bike, and transit projects all create more jobs tha

new roads.4, 5

Washington only works when it creates inrastructure that

gives us all an opportunity to succeed. The key to a sae, reli-

able, and ecient transportation system is to ace economic

reality and the changing preerences o our states residents.

We can provide all Washingtonians with the reedom to get

around saely, eciently, and afordably by ocusing our in-vestments around three key principles: x it rst, more transit,

and build great, healthy communities.

0

3000

6000

9000

12000

15000

80+

80-84

75-79

70-74

65-69

60-64

55-59

50-54

45-49

40-44

35-39

30-34

25-29

18-24

16-17

2009

2001

Changing Demographics

Young adults and retirees are driving much less.

With so many baby boomers leaving the work

orce and no one to replace their previous drivin

behaviors, a permanent change to travel pattern

has set-in. Gas consumption will continue to dromaking the gas tax an unsustainable unding

source while the need or new walking, biking, a

transit inrastructure will grow.AnnualVM

Tpercapitabyyear

R

ollingAnnualTotalVMTinUS

VMT per capita,

Pacifc NW

Percentmorejobsthannewroads


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1. Fix It FirstFix the crumbling bridges, roads and erries rst, and then ensure

that strategic road investments create jobs, improve commerce, and

increase the saety, health and sustainability o our communities.

Washington State has a transportation unding crisis. We need targeted, scallyresponsible investments that achieve maximum benet or the most residents.

The states primary transpor tation revenuethe gas taxis limited and mostlydedicated to pay of debt rom previous transportation packages.

The current condition o our state roads threatens the saety o our amilies.Across Washington State, 200 bridges have low saety ratings, many o whichare in major trac corridors like I-5 and I-90.12 Our local city and county streetsare also in disrepair. And our marine highways are similarly threatened. Withoutnew investment in our erry system, aging vessels and terminals will mean morebreakdowns, and declines in service level.

Maintaining our current roads and bridges is cheaper than xing ailed inra-structure tomorrow. According to the American Association o State Highwayand Transportation Ocials, xing a road that is already worn out can cost threetimes as much as keeping a road in good condition with regular maintenance. 3

Prioritizing maintenance o our current roads will signicantly reduce our costs downthe road. Fixing our current road and erry system will improve saety and save money,and it will also create 17% more jobs than building new highways. 4

156 Structurally decient bridges12

Over $3.1 billion needed or road

maintenance and preservation

Washingtonians overwhelmingly

support unding or road preservation

and maintenance13

Solution Prioritize new highway investments to x bridges and roads, and maintain and

replace our erry system: at least $300 million annually.

Increase direct state investments and authorize new local unding tools to enable

local governments to repair, maintain, and improve local roads, trafc signals, and

acilities or sae biking and walking.

Adopt a Fix It First policy to guide state investments and ederal unds allocation.

Invest in strategic road projects that will increase the movement o people and

goods, create jobs, and improve the health, saety and sustainability o our

communities, and have realistic nancing plans that are scally responsible.


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2. More TransitIncreasing transportation choices will reduce congestion, improve

freight mobility, decrease pollution, connect people to jobs,

connect our rural communities, and ensure that everyone has the

opportunity to get where we need to go.

Transit ser vice is critical to our states economy. Transit supports tens o thou-

sands o jobs in Washington State, and provides a necessary means or people toaccess their jobs, homes, and other destinations.

Major demographic changes are having huge impacts on our transportationsystem. Transit ridership and gas prices are reaching all-time highs while transitchoices are being slashed across the state. Drastic cuts in revenue and the reces-sion have orced service cuts, are increases, and deerred capital investments.

Investments in buses and trains are critical or making sure that Washington ami-lies can travel saely and afordably, without being stuck in trac. Right behindowning or renting a home, transportation is the second highest household costor the average Washington amily; its more than they spend on ood and more

than twice what they spend on out-o-pocket health care costs.14

Current local transit unding sources are too limited to meet ridership needs andtoo volatile to withstand economic and demographic changes. Washingtoniansneed more diverse, progressive and robust local transit investment options topreserve and enhance transit service across the state.

Declining sales tax revenues have orced

transit agencies to increase ares and

cut service. Community Transit in SnohomishCounty eliminated all Sunday bus service, Pierce

Transit will soon have 80% less bus service than

in 1980, and King County Metro aces drastic cutswhen temporary unding runs out in early 2014.7

Households can save $11,662 each year

when they switch rom car dependency

to transit.9

Voters will reject an unbalanced

transportation package without transit.13

Solution Increase direct state unding or transit, and intercity rail

operations and maintenance, rom diversied revenue sources,

to maintain current service levels: $400 million annually.

Invest in strategic transit improvements to accommodate

anticipated population growth.

Authorize a diverse menu o additional local or regional

revenue options or all transit agencies, including a local optionmotor vehicle excise tax (MVET).

Numbe

rofactons

takenb

ytransitagencies

Fare increases

since 2008

Service cuts

since 2009

63%


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Americans are 65% more likely to walk in a

neighborhood with sidewalks. Studies have shownthat 43% o people with sae places to walk within

10 minutes o their home met the Surgeon Generals

recommended activity levels compared to only 27%

o those without sae walking conditions.16

Solution Provide grants or local governments to implement

Complete Streets, Sae Routes to Schools and bicycle and

pedestrian inrastructure: $150 million annually.

Establish an Equitable Transit Communities grant program

to incentivize afordable housing near high-capacity transit

stations: $50 million annually or local governments to use on

transportation improvements.

Invest in clean water inrastructure to reduce polluted

stormwater runof: $75 million annually.

Create a Deputy Secretary or Sustainable Communities within

WSDOT to make sure that policies to improve transportation

choices, housing, health and environment are consistent and

coordinated throughout state government.

Adopt a plan to ensure that the transportation system meets

the states greenhouse gas emission limits.

In addition to these negative health impacts, our current transportation system is alsoharming our environment. Transportation accounts or more than hal o our statesclimate pollution and it creates our top water pollutant: polluted stormwater runof.10

Toxic oil runs of our streets and parking lots into lakes, s treams, rivers, and ultimatelythe Columbia River or Puget Sound. Our transportation investments should reduceuture toxic pollutants and lessen our existing impact.

3. Build Great, Healthy CommunitiesInvesting in more afordable and healthy neighborhoods will create

equal opportunity or more Washingtonians.

Our transportation systemwhat, where, and how we build itwill have an enor-mous impact on our shared prosperity, our health, and our environment as our

population grows by 1.7 million people in the next 30 years.

Our poorest communities are most challenged by limited transportation choic-es. Thousands in marginalized population groups across Washington State haveinadequate access to afordable, reliable, and quality transportation options.By building more afordable housing and jobs along transit corridorsand bybetter serving our existing job and housing centers with transitwe can reducetransportation costs and make our communities healthier.

Todays transportation net work not only shapes our communities , it also afectsthe health o the people who live, work and play in them. Physical activity hasbeen engineered out o our system, leading to the steady rise in rates o obesity,diabetes, heart disease, stroke and other chronic health conditions. Transporta-tions impact on health has become unnecessarily harmul; pedestrian deaths arethe third leading cause o death or Washington children.15 Improving our streetsto extend sidewalks and bicycle lanes will make it saer and healthier or peopleo all ages.


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Revenue SourcesIt is critical that our next Governor and legislature employ multiple

revenue streams dedicated to the three-tier action plan to x our

crumbling system, invest in more transit, and build great, healthy

communities. Transportation or Washington supports the ollowing

guidelines when choosing revenue sources:

Every option should be on the table but the legislature should

prioritize sources that are stable and air.

Because all transportation improvements provide widely

dispersed benets to all transportation users, no one mode o

transportation should be solely unded by any one tax or ee.

The legislature must consider public suppor t to guide decisions on

revenue because the voters will likely have the nal say.

The Connecting Washington Taskorce identied a range o

unding options. Here is a list o those and others:

State level increase user ees such as thepassenger and commercial weight ees; gas tax or

movement o people and goods; tolling; barrel tax;

hazardous substance tax; road user charge; and

emissions tax.

Local options Motor vehicle excise tax (MVET),

uel tax, property tax; tolling; parking ee or levy; car

insurance surcharge; congestion reduction charge;

and street utilities.

Additional options carbon tax; tire and

battery ees; rental car tax; hotel/motel tax; and

transportation utility ees; and elimination o the

sales and use tax exemption on gas tax.


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End Notes1 2001 American Community Survey; 2009 American Consumer Survey; and Davis, Dutzik & Baxandall, Transportation and the New

Generation, The Frontier Group & US PIRG (2012).

2 Bailey, Stranded without Options, Surace Transportation Policy Project (2004).

3 Rough Roads Ahead, American Association o State Highway & Transportation Ocials (2009).

4 Heintz, Pollin & GarrettPeltier, How Inrastructure Investments Support the U.S. Economy: Employment, Productivity and

Growth, Political Economy Research Institute, Univ. o Mass. at Amherst (Jan. 2009),

http://www.peri.umass.edu/leadmin/pd/other_publication_types/green_economics/PERI_Inrastructure_Investments.

5 Garrett-Peltier, Pedestrian and Bic ycle Inrastructure: A National Study o Employment Impacts, Political Economy Research Institute,

Univ. o Mass. at Amherst (June 2011), http://www.peri.umass.edu/leadmin/pd/published_study/PERI_ABikes_October2011.pd.

6 Washingtons Transportation Budget or 2011-13 Biennium Based on the 2011 Legislative Budget, 2011 March Forecast

7 Washington State Department o Transportation, Summary o Public Transportation,

http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/SustainableTransportation/.

8 2009 National Household Travel Survey; and 2009 American Community Survey.

9 Transit Savings Report, American Public Transportation Association (Nov. 2012).

10 Washington State Department o Transportation, Sustainable Transportation, http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/SustainableTransportation/.

11Federal Highway Administration, Historical Monthly VMT Report, http://www.hwa.dot.gov/policyinormation/travel/tvt/history/;

and Williams-Derry, Shiting Into Reverse: Northwest gasoline consumption makes a modest decline, Sightline Institute (Aug. 2012),

http://www.sightline.org/wp-content/uploads/downloads/2012/08/gas-report_2012.pd.

12 Washington State Department o Transportation, Structurally Decient Bridges Report (Sept. 2011),

http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/NR/rdonlyres/6A570363-EC34-4010-986E-591A89CEA6FB/0/SD_AUG2010v2.pd.

13 Washington State Transportat ion Commission & EMC, 2011 Statewid e Transpor tation Survey Repor t and Findings (Feb. 2012),http://www.wstc.wa.gov/StudiesSurveys/StatewideTransportationSurvey/documents/2012_0209_WSTCToplineResults.pd.

14 A New Economic Analysis o Inrastructure Investment, Department o Treasury and the Council o Economic Advisers (March 23, 2012).

15 Washington Trac Saety Commission, http://www.wtsc.wa.gov/programs-priorities/pedestrians-bicycles/.

16 Powell, Martin & Chowdhury, Places to walk: convenience and regular physical activity, American Journal o Public Health (2003), vol.

93, pp. 1519-1521; Giles-Corti & Donovan, The relative infuence o individual, social, and physical environment determinants o physical

activity, Social Science & Medicine (2002), vol. 54, pp. 1793-1812; and Complete Streets Promote Good Health, National Complete Streets

Coalition, http://www.smartgrowthamerica.org/documents/cs/actsheets/cs-health.pd.

Photo CreditsFront Cover Sound Transit train, Seattle, Oran Viriyincy; bridge, Spokane, Roger Lynn;

bicycling, Bellingham, Buf BlackPage 1 C-Tran bus, Vancouver, C-Tran

Page 3Ferry, Elliott Bay, Futurewise

Page 4 Two children at Columbia City Link Light Rail Station, Seattle, Transportation Choices CoalitionPage 5 Construction workers, Seattle, Seattle DOT

Page 6 Community Transit bus, Everett, Oran Viriyincy

Page 7 Park, Tacoma, Pierce Transit

Page 8 Family holding T4W sign, Seattle, Transportation For Washington


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