HomeMy WebLinkAboutTrans 2012-02-06 Item 3B - SCATBd - Discussion - Governor Gregoire's 2012 Policy BriefGOVERNOR CHRIS GREGOIRE www.governor.wa.gov
2012 Policy Brief January 2012
ADDRESSING CRITICAL NEEDS:
PRESERVING THE INTEGRITY OF WASHINGTON'S
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM
Last year, Governor Gregoire convened the Connecting Washington Task Force. Its charge was to
create a 10 -year plan to maintain and improve the state's transportation system for consideration
during the 2012 legislative session. Among its findings were that our transportation system faces
enormous challenges in such measures as an increase in number of vehicle miles traveled and in
public transit and ferry ridership. Connecting Washington recommended a $21 billion investment.
Washington's transportation system is the lifeblood of our economy. Its scope is as wide as it is vital:
Freight
Freight- dependent businesses represent 44 percent of the state's jobs
Companies move $37 million worth of freight on Washington roadways hourly
Highways
18,500 state highway lane miles
87 million vehicle -miles per day driven
More than 3,600 bridges and structures
Ferries
22.3 million passengers per year
22 vessels, 19 terminals
900 total sailings per day
Passenger rail
More than 750,000 passengers per year
Freight rail
3,600 rails of operated public and private freight railroads move 103 million tons of freight
Transit
Commute programs support more than 810,000 workers statewide, which cuts 170 million
vehicle miles traveled per year
2,400 vans form the largest public fleet in the nation
Without funding for maintenance, we face such consequences as elimination of five ferry routes
and reductions on two others. We risk further deterioration of state highways, leading to hazardous
conditions. And we risk compromising bridge safety and triggering freight restricting weight limits.
At the same time that population pressures and
economic growth are placing greater demands
on our transportation system, our purchasing
power to maintain and improve the system is
diminishing. This was caused by Initiative 695,
which reduced the revenue collected through the
Motor Vehicle Excise Tax by more than $750
million annually. Passage of I -695 also cut state
support for the ferries. Today, the ferry system is
more dependent on passenger fares and transfers
from other state transportation funds for its
operating costs. With the loss of the Motor
Vehicle Excise Tax, nearly 75 percent of the
funding for local transit agencies now comes from
the sales tax, which is especially volatile during
periods of economic uncertainty.
Although voters have passed two fuel tax
increases, these funds have been exhausted:
The 2003 Nickel Package passed by the voters
is committed for paying off the bonds sold to
fund 160 completed transportation projects.
The 2005 Transportation Partnership Package
is also fully committed for paying off the
bonds sold to fund 261 additional projects
with a 9' /a cent increase.
Neither initiative provided funds for
maintenance.
Confounding this situation are these factors:
The Department of Transportation does not
have a source of funds that can be used to
preserve the state's highways and bridges, and
maintain ferry service at current levels.
Counties lack the resources to maintain
county roads, fix unsound bridges and address
stormwater problems.
Cities cannot keep up with street, pavement
and bridge repairs.
Public transit systems are being forced to cut
service just as demand is rising.
WE MUST ADDRESS TRANSPORTATION
MAINTENANCE
Tough times notwithstanding, Governor
Gregoire believes we must at least maintain
our transportation system. The health of
our economy depends upon the ability of
businesses to move freight and the ability of
their employees to get to and from work. The
Governor recommends that the Legislature make
at minimum the following base investments so
we continue to move passengers safely and goods
efficiently to market:
State operations and maintenance to
maintain 90 percent of state highway
pavement in fair or good condition, operate
ferry service and preserve bridges to avoid
weight or traffic limitations $2.67 billion
Grant funding for cities and counties to
address critical pavement and bridge structure
needs $310 million
Grant funding for transit to mitigate
potential service cuts to passengers that would
affect their ability to get to work, school and
other destinations $150 million
Stormwater retrofit projects to prevent
polluted stormwater from reaching Puget
Sound $250 million
Washington State Patrol to prevent the
elimination of up to 12 percent of the trooper
workforce that keeps our highways safe
$200 million
Passenger rail to help operate service on
Amtrak trains $100 million
H
To fund these investments, Governor
Gregoire recommends the Legislature take the
following actions:
Impose an oil barrel fee of $1.50. The
$2.75 billion raised would be dedicated
to operations, maintenance of the state
transportation system and stormwater
retrofits.
Impose a fee of $100 on each electric
vehicle. Because electric vehicles owners
do not pay gas tax, they contribute little
to the maintenance of our roads. The
$10 million raised would be spent on
operations and maintenance; $1.5 million
would be invested in a pilot project to
identify an equitable way to raise revenue
from electric vehicle operators.
Impose an additional 15 percent increase
on the heavy commercial vehicle
combined license fee. This increase
mitigates the erosion of the existing fee
caused by inflation. The $177 million
raised would be invested in pavement
preservation.
Impose an additional $15 base passenger
vehicle weight fee. The $760 million raised
would be directed to the Washington State
Patrol, public transit, passenger rail service
and local governments.
Either allow local governments the
option, through councilmatic approval,
to impose a 1 percent increase in the
Motor Vehicle Excise Tax, with proceeds
to be dedicated to local road and transit
needs, or allow transportation benefit
districts the option, through councilmatic
approval, to adopt up to a $40 vehicle
license fee for local road and transit needs.
If passed by the Legislature, the Governor's
proposal is estimated to create an average
of 5,500 direct, indirect and induced jobs
annually over a 10 -year period. The larger
effect of this investment, however, would be
to keep today's transportation system intact,
which benefits our communities and our
economy.
communities will face these and other vital
transportation needs. We must continue to
work together to find ways to fund these
important improvement projects. Investing in
our transportation infrastructure will create
jobs and build the future prosperity
of Washington.
In the future, our children and our