Center for Transportation
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Launched in 2006, the Center for Transportation researches and analyzes the best practices for relieving traffic congestion by recapturing a vision of a system based on freedom of movement. Key aspects of this vision include reducing structural barriers that drive up costs, linking congestion relief with spending, improving accountability and transparency with the Department of Transportation and other local, state and federal transportation agencies. |
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Transportation Publications | Transportation Blog
Second northbound Amtrak train is a waste of money
The second Amtrak train that connects Seattle and Vancouver, B.C., carries very few people, costs taxpayers millions of dollars and hurts local Washington companies.
Last August, Amtrak began operating a second train between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C. The second train is a pilot project to connect the two largest regional urban areas as the Winter Olympics start in February. Both Washington state and Canadian officials are waiting to assess passenger demand before deciding whether to make the second train permanent.
Read Michael Ennis's full op-ed in The Bellingham Herald here >>
Would high speed rail work in Seattle?
See Michael Ennis, WPC's Center for Transportation Director interviewed by KIRO TV here
Michael Ennis talks with David Boze on KTTH about plans for the I-90 bridge, January 22, 2010.
Vanpools in the Puget Sound Region
The case for expanding vanpool programs to move the most people for the least cost
As traffic congestion and the financial and environmental costs of commuting continue to rise, a once overlooked transit alternative has quietly become an effective option for many motorists: vanpooling.
Sharing a commute through a vanpool:
• Reduces parking and fuel costs
• Allows access to HOV lanes
• Consumes fewer resources
• Is cheaper, more flexible and faster than other mass transit choices
Regional growth projections and travel patterns show there is a large undeveloped market in vanpool demand. Yet expanding vanpools is typically not a major priority for state and local governments as other, less efficient transit modes are marketed and funded. Vanpools are not for everyone and they cannot effectively serve short, intra-city transit demand. Ridership figures, costs and market potential in the Puget Sound region, however, show that vanpools are a successful and more efficient way to move long-distance, intercity commuters.
Instead of spending more public money to connect cities with high speed rail, commuter rail, light rail and express bus services, policymakers should look to vanpools as the most efficient alternative.
Read the full Policy Brief here >>
The Vanpool Solution (Video Transcript)
A faster, cheaper and easier way to commute
This script is from an in-depth, four-part Policy Brief by the Washington Policy Center called Vanpools in the Puget Sound Region, The case for expanding vanpool programs to move the most people for the least cost. The full report and the video can be found online at washingtonpolicy.org.
Vanpools offer attractive and cost effective option to commuters
Vanpooling is a little known public transit option that turns out to be the most efficient, flexible and effective in reducing traffic congestion. How much do you pay to commute to work? If you drive, as most of us do, then it is probably close to the American Automobile Association’s (AAA) average of .16 cents per mile. If you ride public transit, then you probably pay less.
Why the U.S. and Washington Should Not Build High-Speed Rail
Washington should apply for its share of federal high-speed rail stimulus funds for safety improvements such as grade crossings and signaling systems, but not for new trains that will obligate taxpayers to pay millions of dollars in annual subsidies, says a new report from Washington Policy Center (WPC). Authored by WPC adjunct scholar Randal O’Toole, the report makes the following key findings:
• Initial funding commits the nation to a program whose eventual costs could exceed $1 trillion. This doesn’t count overruns, operating subsidies, and rehabilitation costs.
• Outside of the Boston-to-Washington and Philadelphia-to-Harrisburg routes, Amtrak short distance trains lose an average of $37 per passenger and Amtrak expects the states to cover most of these operating losses.
• A hidden cost of rail is that it must be rebuilt about every 30 years. This means construction could leave states obligated to fund billions of dollars in rehabilitation costs.
• The fact that American freight railroads are profitable while European passenger lines are not suggests that freight, not passenger, is the highest and best use of a modern railroad in most places.
• It is far more cost-effective to save energy by encouraging people to drive more fuel-efficient cars than to build and operate high-speed rail.
• Considering the energy required for rail construction, improvements in auto and airline energy efficiencies, and the high energy cost required to move trains at higher speeds, high speed rail will have little to no environmental benefit.
• Upgrading the 280 rail miles in Washington to 110-mph standards would cost nearly $1 billion.
• The average Washingtonian will take a round trip on high-speed rail once every 8.5 years.
• For every Washingtonian who rides high-speed rail once a month, more than 100 Washington residents will never ride it.
WPC Op Ed in the PSBJ: High-Speed Rail is Wasteful
The complete report can be viewed online here
A Policy Note summarizing the full study is available here
Five Principles of Responsible Transportation Policy
Washington Policy Center encourages five principles of responsible transportation policy to help guide policymakers in returning to a system that provides people’s freedom of movement.
• Tie spending to performance measures, like traffic relief and economic development
• Respect people’s freedom of mobility
• Deploy resources based on market demand
• Improve freight mobility
• Use Public/Private Partnerships
Read the legislative memo here.
You can also view or download the brochure here.
Printer friendly version (PDF)
2009 Annual Center for Transportation Dinner
April 18, 2009
WPC’s Transportation dinner was a huge success. We heard from Dr. Samuel Staley, Urban Policy Director for Reason Foundation. Dr. Staley gave an enlightening presentation on how traffic relief can increase opportunity circles and improve business productivity, 
which is especially important in a globally competitive market. Dr. Staley also provided three broad solutions for Washington policymakers to fix traffic: manage the system more efficiently, build more capacity and redesign the transportation network.
This year we co-hosted the dinner along with the Preserving the American Dream Coalition’s annual conference featuring informative study sessions from nationally recognized experts on land use and transportation policy.
See Dr. Staley's slide presentation here
Introduction by Michael Ennis, Director of the Center for Transportation
Dr. Samuel Staley, Part 1
Dr. Samuel Staley, Part 2
Dr. Samuel Staley, Part 3
Dr. Samuel Staley, Part 4
Q and A, Part 1
Q and A, Part 2
The Center for Transportation
Launched in 2006, the Center for Transportation researches and analyzes the best practices for relieving traffic congestion by recapturing a vision of a system based on freedom of movement. Key aspects of this vision include reducing structural barriers that drive up costs, linking congestion relief with spending, improving accountability and transparency with the Department of Transportation and other local, state and federal transportation agencies. 
Director Michael Ennis
Michael Ennis is the Director of the Center for Transportation. Before joining Washington Policy Center, he worked for the Washington State Senate and House of Representatives and was formerly a staff assistant for U.S. Senator Slade Gorton. Michael served in the U.S. Army with the 2nd Ranger Battalion and is currently in his second term on the Enumclaw City Council. He earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Washington and his Master's of Public Administration degree from the Daniel J. Evans School of Public Affairs also at the University of Washington. Mike is the author of many published transportation studies and articles and has been covered in local, state and national media outlets including the Wall Street Journal, CNN, Bloomberg News and Investor’s Business Daily. He lives in Enumclaw with his wife Heidi and their two children.
Contact Information
For questions or for more information from the Center for Transportation please e-mail mennis@washingtonpolicy.org.
Check back for upcoming events
2009 Annual Center for Transportation Dinner
The 2009 Annual Center for Transportation Dinner took place Saturday, April 18, 2009 at the Hyatt Regency Bellevue. It featured Dr. Samuel Staley, Director of Urban Policy at Reason Foundation and was Co-Sponsored with American Dream Coalition.
