Time flies when you’re having fun! We’re already in the third week of this 105 day session. This week was highlighted by the first hearing for our centerpiece legislation, HB 1180 in the House Transportation Committee. Thanks for all of your stories and comments made to your legislators, and great testimony by our partners and advocates.
If you missed it, here’s part of what or policy director said in his testimony on Wednesday:
“It is easy to get lost in the modal debates and transportation funding discussions, but this bill is about more than that. It is about our collective future. The build out of Sound Transit will make individual lives better today, and for generations to come. Today’s decisions are not 10 or 20 year decisions, they are 100 year decisions that our children and grandchildren will benefit from.
We have heard from many people today who support Sound Transit continued expansion. Businesses, construction workers, and transit riders have felt the direct impact of Sound Transit’s regional bus and rail network through their increased daily sales, faster commutes to work, and the amount of money they’ve saved on gas and put in their pocket.
Through polling and past election results, we have resoundingly seen that voters want more transit. They want more affordable and efficient ways to get from point A to B. Local elected officials, know the voters want more transit options, and we are proud to have strong political support from across the Puget Sound and the political spectrum.
Because this bill is purely locally authority, this measure will cost the State $0 and will radically benefit the state’s transportation system. Some of us use transit, but all of us need it. From the apple farmer in Yakima trying to get his goods to market to the tourist on a road trip to the thousands of commuters who get on board (or wish they could) every single day. Sound Transit is crucial to keeping our region, and our economy, moving.”
Now we have to keep up the momentum, make the case for the need for Sound Transit, and convince legislators from both parties that they need to let the Puget Sound decide their own transportation future.
In the senate, the transportation committee took up SB 5323, which would extend the Commute Trip Tax Credit program from June 30, 2015, to June 30, 2024. This is an important priority legislation for us this session. Washington State’s CTR program is nationally recognized for working with businesses to shift commute trips to walking, biking, carpooling, and transit. With the tax credit set to expire it is crucial to extend the incentive to keep this program going and while we are doing that, make some important administrative changes and updates. The House companion bill is HB 1822 and we anticipate this being heard in House Transportation soon.
Looking forward to next week, the House Transportation Committee will be taking up HB 1393, a bill to allow local authority for Community Transit to expand service. We’re busy recruiting testimony for the hearing at 3:30 on February 4th. In the meantime, keep your stories rolling in. Your testimonials are critical to our work and enable us create a narrative both in committee hearings and in one-on-one meetings with legislators. Thanks for everything you do and have done. Stay tuned!
