December 2022 Newsletter

Can you believe 2022 is almost over? What a year it’s been.

Transportation Choices, along with our partners across the state and advocates like you, made a HUGE impact in 2022. We passed the most transformative transportation spending package in Washington’s history, securing $5.2 billion in investments toward the emission-reducing solutions of transit, walking, and biking through Move Ahead Washington. We won free transit for all youth 18 and under with “Youth Ride Free” — changing the relationship millions of Washingtonians will have with transit for generations to come.

We did this and so much more with your help — and we’re just getting started.

As 2023 approaches, we’re gearing up to advocate for a legislative agenda that prioritizes equity and safety. Specifically, we’re fighting to repeal Washington’s jaywalking laws, to protect the investments promised by Move Ahead Washington, and to create a new Road Usage Charge policy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution while building an equitable transportation system.

We can’t wait to fight for more and better transportation options with you in the new year!

Keep moving,
Transportation Choices Coalition

“Free to Walk Washington” campaign launch to repeal WA’s jaywalking laws”

It’s official! Last week, we launched our website and campaign to repeal Washington’s jaywalking laws, “Free to Walk Washington.

Ending the enforcement of our state’s jaywalking laws is a top priority for Transportation Choices.

The reality is, jaywalking laws don’t protect people from getting hit by cars; are disproportionately enforced against low-income people, people of color, and unhoused individuals; and are an inefficient use of public resources. (READ: “3 Reasons to Repeal Washington’s Jaywalking Laws.”)

Learn more about our efforts to repeal Washington’s jaywalking laws and how YOU can get involved at freetowalkwa.org.

Youth Focus Groups: Understanding young people’s views on transit

In January and February, Transportation Choices is hosting a series of focus groups with young people across Washington to gain insight into their experiences and perspectives on public transit. From this research, we will write and publish a report summarizing our findings.

Participants will receive a $50 Amazon gift card for their participation in the focus groups.

2023 Legislative Agenda Launch event hosted by PubliCola’s Erica Barnett — happening today!

Join Transportation Choices and Senators Marko Liias and Javier Valdez today at 1 PM as we discuss our priorities for the 2023 WA State Legislative Session, including road usage charges (RUC), transportation safety, and repealing Washington’s jaywalking laws. Transportation Choices is building power around a legislative agenda that increases EQUITY and SAFETY in transportation. Join us!

Have you been stopped for “jaywalking”? We want to hear from you!

Transportation Choices is looking for Washingtonians who’ve been questioned, warned, cited, or arrested for jaywalking and want to share their stories. Your story may be used as part of our campaign to end jaywalking laws in Washington state, with your permission and participation.

Join our campaign to repeal Washington’s jaywalking laws

Join our efforts to repeal Washington’s jaywalking laws by endorsing the Free to Walk Washington campaign or signing up for action alerts.
See who’s endorsed our campaign.

Washington State Department of Transportation reports

WSDOT recently released a few great reports to check out:

• Public Transportation Mobility Report — WSDOT’s annual overview of public transportation grants and programs.
• Summary of Public Transportation— WSDOT’s annual roll-up of the previous year’s public transportation data.
• Frequent Transit Service Study — developed a definition of frequent fixed route transit and documents how many people in Washington live within a half-mile walk of that service. NOTE: This is great baseline data to help identify areas and ways to improve transit access around the state!

Driver shortage prompts Community Transit’s trip cut proposal

“By dropping a proposed 78 weekday trips, Community Transit hopes to stabilize routes and avoid the problem it has had this year with trips canceled on short notice.”

READ MORE

Spokane Transit Authority board approves funding for double-decker buses for high-use routes

“The seven double-decker buses will replace the articulated vehicles in the fleet that STA officials say have reached the end of their useful life. The double-deckers will provide seating for about 20 more passengers on each trip and free up curb space for loading.”

READ MORE

Matthew Sutherland
Transportation Choices
Advocacy Director

We’re fighting for a multimodal, equitable transportation future:
Will you stand with us?

With support from people like you, Transportation Choices fought hard this year to win massive investments in transit, walking, and biking in the historic Move Ahead Washington legislation. For the first time ever, more money has been committed to multimodal solutions than to new highways. The state’s overall transportation spending for transit, walking, and biking went from 4% of the budget to 20% — a 500% increase!

Still, transportation continues to be the number one source of climate pollution in our state.

One way to meet Washington’s adopted climate goals is to dramatically reduce vehicle miles traveled and to electrify all remaining trips. The only feasible way to accomplish this is through significant, transformative investments in multimodal transportation options that create real alternatives for Washingtonians.

Currently, Washington state is only meeting 17% of the identified need for statewide transit funding. We have a long way to go.

There’s still so much work to be done to shift our transportation spending away from highways and toward multimodal alternatives. Will you stand with us by making an end-of-year gift today?