On May 1, 2023, Governor Jay Inslee announced that he would not run for a fourth term. Since then, more than two dozen hopefuls have thrown their hats into the ring to be Washington’s next Governor. The top-two primary will be held on August 6, 2024, and the general election will be held on November 5, 2024.
In his recent tenure, Governor Jay Inlsee most notably signed into law a transformational transportation package, Move Ahead Washington, which established a brand new grant for transit agencies and allowed more than 1.5 million youth across Washington to ride for free.
This will be the first new Governor the state has had in twelve years, and the Governor’s race is a huge opportunity to ensure candidates understand the importance of transportation and its key role in creating a safer, more equitable, and more sustainable Washington. Transportation Choices Coalition is a c(3) organization — that means we can’t and don’t weigh in on electoral campaigns. But we can and do help educate candidates and help the public stay informed as well.
What’s at stake
We probably don’t have to tell you why transportation is such an important issue for the state, but it boils down to three major issues: safety, equity, and sustainability. Any candidate for Governor should be aware of the following:
There’s a huge traffic safety crisis.- Last year Washington saw the highest number of traffic deaths in Washington since 1990, and more pedestrians were killed in Washington last year than in any other year on record. 47% of these occurred on roadways the state is responsible for.
- Across the nation, the most dangerous streets and roads for pedestrians are owned and managed by state DOTs. So, while solving this crisis requires coordination between all levels of government, states have a critical role to play.
- One in five people in Washington doesn’t or can’t drive. Across the United States, one in four adults experience transportation insecurity (difficulty moving from place to place in a safe or timely manner). This number is 1 in 3 for Black people.
- Only 20% of Washingtonians live near frequent transit service, and infrastructure for walking and bicycling is disproportionately absent, lower quality, and has more obstructions and accessibility issues in Black and Latinx neighborhoods.
- Transportation remains the largest contributor of greenhouse gas emissions in Washington, and emissions from personal cars and trucks make up over half of total emissions in this category.
- These emissions are not distributed equally: Communities of color and lower-income people are exposed to more fossil fuel-related air pollutants than other populations, which also leads to disproportionate health impacts.
- Tire wear and tear on U.S. roads sends 1.5 million tons of microplastics into the environment each year. Tire runoff is the main source of toxic pollution in Puget Sound, killing up to 90% of returning coho salmon before they can spawn.
What does the Governor do?
Having a Governor who not only understands the seriousness of these issues, but recognizes the critical role transportation policy and funding can play in addressing them is critical to building a safer, more just, and more sustainable Washington.
There are four main ways that the Governor can effect change in transportation:
- Selecting the next Secretary of Transportation. We’ve loved working with Roger Millar, who has been a tremendous advocate for safety, equity, and the environment at WSDOT. We also know that newly elected leaders often make changes to appointed department heads, so it is not a guarantee that Secretary Millar will continue in this role. There are dozens of talented leaders in state transportation across the country. If you know someone who might be a stellar candidate for Secretary, let us know!
- Requesting legislation and issuing Executive Orders. A governor who is a strong leader on transportation can move forward policy ideas by proactively requesting legislation that they would like the legislature to consider, or they can issue Executive Orders to cabinet agencies requiring that certain actions be taken. Executive Orders may have the force and effect of a law.
- Developing a state budget proposal. Each year, the governor works with the executive cabinet (agencies such as WSDOT) to develop a proposed budget that funds services, studies, and infrastructure according to their policy priorities. That budget serves as a foundation for the budget passed by the legislature at the end of session.
- Appointing members to Boards and Commissions. The Washington State Transportation Commission, for example, is made up of gubernatorial appointees. This Commission not only sets toll rates and ferry fares, but has a key role in developing a statewide transportation plan that highlights key issue areas and policy priorities.
What we’re doing
Over the next few months, we’ll be working to ensure that this election is an opportunity to advance important transportation issues. This includes both educating candidates and the voting public.
- Educating candidates: We’ll be working with key partners to develop educational materials for all registered candidates so that they not only know what is important to transportation advocates and stakeholders, but are also well prepared to act on issues of transportation safety, equity, and sustainability.
- Educating the public: After the primary election, Transportation Choices will explore opportunities to learn about and share candidate perspectives so that voters across Washington can understand each candidate’s positions and promises.
What we want to see
Understanding the importance of safety, equity, and sustainability is half the job. The rest involves delivering on policies and investments that help us achieve our goals, reduce disparities, and build a system that works for everyone. We’ll be looking for candidates who can commit to:
- Making investments to meet equity, sustainability, and safety goals.
- Making investments to redesign Washington’s main street highways, our most dangerous stretches of roadway.
- Improving transit, intercity transit connections, and the transit experience.
- Promoting mobility justice.
- Following through on existing transportation recommendations, studies, and plans.
- Passing policies that help pave the way toward healthy and walkable communities.
- Securing progressive funding for transportation.
One of the first ways that the new Governor can demonstrate their commitment to these issues is through legislative session. Stay in touch to learn more about what we’re planning for next session! Sign up for our newsletter here.
