Welcome to the Save My Bus Service Action Center!
If you are worried about bus service cuts in your neighborhoods and want to do something about it, you're not alone. Across the state, transit agencies are considering painful service cuts to make up for large budget shortfalls. Governor Gregoire and State legislators need to hear from you about why bus service is important to you and why they need to support transit.

Email Governor Gregore and your state legislators today and urge them to support transit and state funding for transit. Taking Action is easy! Get started.

• Make your story personal. Tell Governor Gregoire and your legislators why transit is important to you.  They need to hear that thousands of residents will be left stranded with no options if transit agencies have to cut service. 
• State funding for transit is less than 5 percent.  That's compared to a national average for 20 percent.  The State needs to step up to save existing transit service and support more transit service.
• For many, transit is the only mode of transportation - the poor, the elderly, the disabled - our most vulnerable residents.  Others have chosen transit because it saves them money, they don't have to be stuck in traffic or it keeps them healthy.  We must provide transportation options for all residents, not just those who drive cars.
• Bus service cuts could mean loss of Sunday service.  Some agencies are proposing or have already cut Sunday service and it has been devastating in their communities.

Need more information? We've got answers for you.

Frequently Asked Questions
Why are they cutting my service?
Is cutting service the only option? What about other cuts?
When will these service cuts happen?
What is the state doing to help transit agencies?
What can I do?

WHY ARE THEY CUTTING MY SERVICE?
Transit agencies are very reliant on the sales tax to keep buses on the road. With the downturn in the economy, Washingtonians have been spending less. This means that sales tax revenues are down significantly, causing most transit agencies statewide to experience budget shortfalls.

IS CUTTING SERVICE THE ONLY OPTION? WHAT ABOUT OTHER CUTS?
Transit agencies are doing everything they can to avoid cutting services. Cutting service is often a last resort for transit agengies. Consider this bleak picture:

• King County Metro anticipating a $213 million budget gap in 2010 and 2011, plugged the gap by utilizing reserves, cancelling all capital projects for the next four years and streamlining scheduling and routing to prevent cutting service. They've also raised fares to close the gap. The agency is facing an additional budget gap in 2012 and 2013 and will have no choice but to cut service if new revenue isn't found.
• Community Transit in Snohomish County is anticipating a $180 million loss of sales tax revenue through 2013.  To balance its budget the agency has deferred vanpool and bus purchases and made multi-million dollar cuts in agency spending. The agency is now forced to cut service a total of 15%, which will include the elimination of all Sunday service, and other changes in service across the county.
• Whatcom Transit will be forced to cut another $4 million over the next year in order to remain above water despite nearly $2 million in cuts. They have also deferred replacing buses that are more than 15 years old.
• Ben Franklin Transit in the Tri Cities area has also deferred purchases of replacement buses and has depleted cash reserves.
• Kitsap Transit has already eliminated Sunday service and raised its fares to keep existing routes operating.
• Pierce Transit in Pierce County has eliminated $5.7 million in expenditures in 2008 and $14.5 million in 2009 to fill a $17.5 million hole. They were also forced to cut service by 5%.  If no new revenue is raised, they will be forced to cut service by 57%.
  

This is just a snapshot of the financial hardships facing transit agencies statewide.

WHEN WILL THESE CUTS HAPPEN?
The timing of the cuts will vary. Transit agencies are opting for cuts as a last resort. For example, Community Transit is seeking to eliminate Sunday service because it has no ability to raise revenue to stave off cuts (it has utilized all its taxing capacity to provide service). Pierce Transit is contemplating cuts upto 60 percent unless it is able to convince voters to raise existing sales tax or find alternate revenues. If your agency doesn't cut service this year, it's likely looking at cuts the next year and beyond. For most agencies, cutting service is unavoidable unless the economy improves dramatically in the next few years and sales tax revenues climb back up.

WHAT IS THE STATE DOING TO HELP TRANSIT AGENCIES?
Unfortunately, the state contribution to transit is minimal - a paltry one percent of overall transportation spending. This is because the State Constitution limits gas tax revenues (tax you pay at the gas pump) to expeditures on highways and roads, not transit. Unless the Legislature with support from Governor Gregoire provides transit agencies with state support or more local funding options, transit agencies will have no choice but to cut service.

WHAT CAN I DO?
Email the Governor and your state legislators TODAY. Letting them know how critical transit is for you to is the most important thing that you can do to help save bus service.

One click can make a difference! Save Your Bus Service NOW.