Every transportation budget is about more than numbers. It’s about whether people can get home safely. Whether our communities stay connected. Whether we actually follow through on our climate commitments. Whether transit systems can grow, or just try to survive. As we prepare to review legislators’ new transportation budgets, we’re watching closely for investments that move us toward a system that’s safer, cleaner, and works for everyone.
These are the top five priorities we hope to see reflected in the budgets:
1. Momentum for a Megaproject for Safety
Improving safety on state highways that double as community Mainstreets is one of Washington’s biggest opportunities to address the ongoing traffic safety crisis. For too long, safety investments have been reactive: fixing problems after crashes happen. We’ll be watching for real movement toward a comprehensive Megaproject for Safety on these Mainstreets, which outlines a strategic statewide safety plan that treats safety outcomes as a top system priority and centers diverse users, including pedestrians, transit riders, and people biking.
2. Funding for Our Intercity Bus Network
The future of intercity bus service is at a turning point. As federal funding becomes less reliable and some private operators pull out, state investment should become the backbone of regional connectivity. Building on last year’s World Cup-related investments creates an opportunity to strengthen a system that connects communities across the state. We will be excited to see continued investment in the Intercity Bus Program.
3. A Fix-It-First Approach to Spending
Instead of constantly building and expanding highways, we have to take care of what we’ve already built. Preservation and maintenance funding keeps bridges safe, roads usable, and transit infrastructure reliable. We are watching closely how preservation funding is structured in light of the Governor’s proposed bonding approach, and are cautious about overreliance on borrowing. We also want to ensure preservation investments reflect multimodal needs, including transit infrastructure, ADA accessibility, and safety improvements, not just pavement.
4. Maintaining Our Climate Commitments
We’ll be paying close attention to climate accountability which is another defining test for this budget. Climate Commitment Act funding was designed to reduce pollution and expand clean transportation choices. We’ll be working to ensure it stays focused on climate and clean transportation, and that promised projects move forward and watch closely for any budget sweeps or shifts that could undermine promised climate and multimodal transportation investments.
5. Ongoing Funding for Transit Agencies
Regional Mobility funding is one of the most powerful tools Washington has to support multimodal projects that connect people to jobs, schools, and services. But with funding not guaranteed beyond 2027, this is a pivotal moment. Long-term, reliable funding would give transit agencies the stability they need to plan services that communities can count on.
Taken together, these aren’t separate line items. They’re the foundation of a transportation system that works in the real world, where safety, climate, and access aren’t competing priorities, but shared outcomes. This budget is a chance to move Washington closer to that future.
Stay tuned for our full analysis when budgets are release on February 23rd.
