Transportation

Because being there is what's most important, WPC's 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.

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Transportation Blog

10 city studies validate Mariners' transportation concerns in SODO

May 15, 2012 in Blog

Officials with the Port of Seattle, King County Council, and the Seattle Mariners’ front office have raised several transportation-related issues in south downtown Seattle (SODO) as city officials fast track an agreement for a new sports arena.

Their concerns are about traffic congestion, freight mobility and parking. On the other hand, city officials downplay the significance of the transportation issues in SODO and continue to move forward on an agreement that would prematurely bind city taxpayers to the financial arrangements.

Over objections from Port and Mariners, Seattle poised for MOU on new arena

May 9, 2012 in Blog

City officials are moving forward with a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on building the arena at the SODO location, prior to any analysis being completed. By contrast, the Mariners were required to complete a year-long site review to build Safeco Field in SODO.

Seattle Port officials and the Mariners’ front office have raised transportation concerns over locating a new basketball arena in south downtown Seattle (SODO). 

ETA appeals ruling on light rail across I-90

May 8, 2012 in Blog

According to the Eastside Transportation Association:

Former State Senator Jim Horn, Spokesman for the Eastside Transportation Association, (ETA) announced today that they have instructed their attorneys to appeal to the State Supreme Court a recent ruling in March by Kittitas County Superior Court that dismissed ETA’s suit to prohibit the State from transferring the two center lanes of the

"Cities exist because of economic opportunities"

May 8, 2012 in Blog

"Cities exist because of economic opportunities," insisted Wendell Cox, the keynote speaker at our annual Transportation Lunch on May 3. "Cities are justified only by economics. The purpose of urban areas is to improve the affluence of their residents." He went on to explain how 'smart growth' policies, like those used in the Puget Sound region, increase traffic congestion, the cost of living, and poverty.

Transit will collect more than half of all transportation revenue but serve less than 5% of trip demand

May 2, 2012 in Blog

WPC's Annual Transportation lunch is tomorrow at the Bellevue Hyatt at 11:30. Wendell Cox, the keynote speaker, has an oped in today's Seattle Times: Region's transportation and land-use policies have little effect on traffic congestion

The Puget Sound region, already with some of the worst traffic congestion in the country, is making things worse by spending disproportionately on transit, which has minimal effect on getting people out of their cars.

Washington's support of Amtrak is unfair and harms private intercity transit companies

May 1, 2012 in Blog

Yet another reason why high-speed rail and Amtrak should not receive public subsidies...with BoltBus, a private intercity charter bus company, Washington's public subsidies to Amtrak create an unlevel playing field and place private companies that provide the same service at a competitive disadvantage.

According to the Seattle Times,

Vancouver voters deserve the light-rail vote they were promised

April 30, 2012 in Blog

If anyone had any doubt why light rail to Vancouver is so controversial, look no further than what the city of Vancouver tried to do.

In November 2011, voters approved Proposition 1, which raised the sales tax rate in the Clark County region by 0.2 percent. C-Tran officials promised voters then that the new revenue would raise between $8 million and $9 million per year, and they would use this new money to preserve the existing bus system and prevent further service cuts.

State lawmakers raise more fees paid by drivers

April 24, 2012 in Blog

The legislature did not pass a comprehensive transportation funding package this year, but they did approve two bills that raise several transportation-related fees, SB 6150 and HB 2660. The new fees are listed below. Notice the fees are paid by a single user group, drivers. In fact, drivers fund most of Washington's entire transportation budget. 

Metro officials may go back on their promise to eliminate ride-free zone

April 12, 2012 in Blog

Last year, King County Councilmembers raised car tab taxes by $20 per vehicle to further subsidize mass transit. In exchange, officials promised to eliminate the ride-free program in downtown Seattle. This program cost taxpayers about $2 million per year.

WA public transit agencies spent $12.6 billion in last five years

April 12, 2012 in Blog

King County Executive Dow Constantine wants drivers to pay even higher taxes and fees to not only reinvest in the roads they drive on, but to also subsidize mass transit.

In a statement released yesterday, Constantine says the following,

"Despite having the votes and bipartisan support for 'local-option' bills to allow counties to ask voters for desperately-needed transit and road revenues, lawmakers failed to bring those bills to the floor.