The 2011 legislative session begins on Monday. This year, TCC will work for policies and funding that help reduce congestion, combat climate change, and foster economic recovery. We will be posting regular updates on our efforts in Olympia here at Moving Forward, and will include lists of what is coming up in the week ahead.
For more on our 2011 legislative agenda please visit: http://www.transportationchoices.org/agendachoices.asp.
PREVIEW
As the 2011 legislative session begins on Monday, we are faced with a session dominated by the State’s budget woes. The legislature needs to address the half billion shortfall for the current biennium, while they adopt a 2011-2013 budget, that is down $4.6 billion. The transportation budget faces a $65 million shortfall in the current biennium and a $90 million shortfall for the 2011-2013 biennial budget.
Those who rely on busses and other forms of public transportation are starting to feel the sting on service cuts all around Washington State. Twelve transit agencies from rural and urban areas across the state have reduced service since 2009, making it harder for people without cars to get to work, doctor’s appointments, and around town. Funding for buses and public transit are at crisis levels in Washington State. While Washington State transit ridership has seen tremendous increases over the past five years; insufficient funding mechanisms and the recession have left transit agencies unable to meet current ridership needs. King County Metro alone is looking at cutting as many as 600,000 hours of bus service within the next four years.
On top of these cuts in local transit operations, the Governor and Washington State Department of Transportation have put forward a transportation budget that proposes damaging cuts to transit and multi-modal transportation. It slashes funding for the Regional Mobility Grants in half- the only state funded grant program that supports major transit projects. This cut is disproportionate to the overall cuts in the budget. If this cut is accepted by legislators, it threatens many key projects, including; the Rapid Ride D line that connects Ballard to downtown, service improvements in Burien, development of the Tukwila Transit Center and bus service in Tumwater and Lakewood. TCC will work maintain the current funding levels for this critical program.
NEXT WEEK
The first week of session offers many work sessions of interest. Remember, you can follow many of these session at home via TVW:
Monday, 1/10/11
3:30 pm House Transportation
House Hearing Rm B, John L. O'Brien Building
Work Session:
House Hearing Rm B, John L. O'Brien Building
Work Session:
Tuesday, 1/11/11
3:30 pm Senate Transportation
Senate Hearing Rm 1, J.A. Cherberg Building
Work Session: State agency introductions and session previews:
Senate Hearing Rm 1, J.A. Cherberg Building
Work Session: State agency introductions and session previews:
- Washington State Department of Transportation.
- Washington Transportation Commission.
Wednesday, 1/12/11
1:30 pm Local Government
House Hearing Rm E, John L. O'Brien Building
Work Session: The Growth Management Act: requirements and implementation.
House Hearing Rm E, John L. O'Brien Building
Work Session: The Growth Management Act: requirements and implementation.
3:30 pm Senate Transportation
Senate Hearing Rm 1, J.A. Cherberg Building
Work Session: Local agency introductions and session previews:
Senate Hearing Rm 1, J.A. Cherberg Building
Work Session: Local agency introductions and session previews:
- Transportation Improvement Board.
- County Road Administration Board.
- Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board.
Thursday, 1/13/11
3:30 pm House Transportation
House Hearing Rm B, John L. O'Brien Building
Work Session:
House Hearing Rm B, John L. O'Brien Building
Work Session:
- Washington State Transportation Commission introduction and Washington Transportation plan briefing.
Senate Hearing Rm 1, J.A. Cherberg Building
Work Session:
Work Session:
- "Washington Transportation Plan 2030" - Washington Transportation Commission.
- Transportation Investment - Washington State Department of Transportation.
Look for future updates and opportunities to get involved, and sign up for Transportation Lobby Day, for a chance to make a difference in WA transportation policy.
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