From the rolling wheat fields of the Palouse to the fire scorched earth of the Okanagan and from crisscrossing the Columbia and Snake Rivers to the roaring Spokane Falls; I have traveled 1,200 miles over the last 5 days visiting with 10 transit agencies in eastern Washington.
I want to extend my deepest appreciation to the host agencies and their leaders:
Grant Transit Authority and General Manager Michael Wagner
Spokane Transit Authority and CEO Susan Meyer
Pullman Transit (Go Cougs) and Transit Manager Wayne Thompson
Asotin County PTBA and Acting Transit Manager Jenny George
Garfield County Public Transportation and Transportation Coordinator Kristen Bartels
Columbia County Public Transportation and General Manager Stephanie Guettinger
Valley Transit and General Manager Dick Fondahn
Ben Franklin Transit and Acting General Manager Gloria Boyce
Yakima Transit and Transit Manager Alvie Maxey & Project Planner Kevin Futrell
TranGo and General Manager Kelly Scalf
My journey this week not only leaves me impressed but also inspired by the work our transit agencies continue to do day in and day out. The value they provide to their communities is more often than not un-quantifiable. From Kelly Scalf building a brand new agency from the ground up in Okanagan County to Susan Meyer delivering high quality service to Washington’s second largest city in Spokane; to Kristen Bartels in Garfield providing a twice weekly shopper shuttle that takes residents of Garfield County’s only city 40 miles to get daily necessities – which includes their 101 year old rider who relies on the service for independence and allows her to age in place. These are the untold stories of transit and their riders and the Faces of Transit. It is my hope that WSTA captures these stories and delivers them to our communities and leaders to underscore the value public transportation has in Washington State no matter how big the region or how small the city. I look forward to my continued travels throughout the state to visit every WSTA Transit Agency Member and share with you the highlights of my journeys. Until then - enjoy the pictures below of this weeks journey.
Justin D. Leighton
Executive Director
Gloria Boyce - General Manger of Ben Franklin Transit & myself during my visit Dry Falls near Coulee City in route to TranGo
News from the Hill
Special Note Regarding MRSC Funding from Justin Leighton - WSTA Executive Director.
The Washington State Transit Association is a member of MRSC. The Senate Ways and Means Chair proposed a budget this week that would gut the funding for this valued resource to our membership. Our team in Olympia is working vigorously with stakeholders to find a solution to save the funding. I hope that I can deliver more positive news on this topic in the coming days.
From Micheal Shaw - WSTA Lobbyist This is the final week of committee hearings, except for the fiscal committees which have until February 29th to meet. The various budgets have been unveiled, argued over and passed from committee.
The House and Senate supplemental transportation budgets are similar – only seven million dollars apart, and the public transportation sections are now identical. Both House and Senate versions (HB 2524 and SB 6307 respectively) have passed out of committee – HB 2524 has passed out of the House.
The supplemental operating budgets, however, are dissimilar: the House proposals spends about $400 million more than the Senate. The Senate proposal, SB 6246, makes about $237 million in policy level increases, but off sets those increases with $356 million in policy level cuts – several of those to local government programs including the Municipal Research Service Center, stormwater capacity grants, and grants to local government for shoreline management plan updates. Given the budget differences, one must wonder whether the Legislature can adjourn by the March 10th deadline.
From Jennifer Ziegler - SMTA Lobbyist
As you know, the WSTA legislative agenda includes an item focused on state funding for transit agencies that provide regional services. SMTA made the decision to start that conversation with legislators by requesting a budget proviso to gather data regarding regional transit services. The House passed a transportation budget this week that includes a proviso directing WSDOT’s public transportation division to review and report on regional services. The report must include information on the costs to provide those services, ridership, trips taken off of the state highway system and potential funding sources at the state level to help support those services. WSDOT must provide the report to the Legislature by November 15, 2016.
