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.

Research Centers / Transportation / Research Centers / Transportation / What's New

What's New

Several suburban cities leave Pierce Transit district while agency heads to ballot for a sales tax increase

June 26, 2012 in Blog

Pierce Transit is heading to the ballot for another attempt at a sales tax increase this November. From the Tacoma News Tribune:

A sales tax increase to help Pierce Transit restore services and avoid further cuts will head to voters this fall.

The agency’s board on Monday agreed to place a three-tenths of 1 percent sales tax increase on the Nov. 6 ballot.

The Cost of Smart Growth in Transportation Planning

June 14, 2012 in Publications
By

Kathlyn Ehl, Research Assistant

, June, 2012

In May, Washington Policy Center welcomed over 200 transportation experts, business leaders, community members, news reporters, and dozens of state and elected officials to its 2012 Annual Transportation Lunch event in Bellevue.

Attendees first heard from Craig Stone, director of Washington State Department of Transportation’s Toll Division, on the State Route 520 tolling project and its performance and effect on driver behavior since tolling began last year.

Seattle's Bicycle Plan

June 5, 2012 in In the News
94.9 KUOW (NPR)
Source: 
94.9 KUOW (NPR)
Date: 
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Link: 
http://kuow.org/program.php?id=26953

Seattle wants to attract willing but wary bikers

June 4, 2012 in In the News
U.S. News & World Report
Source: 
U.S. News & World Report
Date: 
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Link: 
http://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2012/06/03/seattle-wants-to-attract-willing-but-wary-bikers

$20 car tab tax (to prevent bus cuts that Metro is making anyway) rises today

June 1, 2012 in Blog

Renewing your car tabs in King County will be $20 more beginning today. The new tax was approved by the King County Council to further subsidize Metro buses.

In this KOMO article, the author summarizes Metro officials’ reasoning behind the new tax:

Overdramatizing public transit as a right diminishes credibility

May 31, 2012 in Blog

The emotional rhetoric around public transit can sometimes border on the absurd.

In this recent Seattle Times article on eliminating the ride free area in downtown Seattle, Whitney Knox, a caseworker for Catholic Housing Services testified that "the free-ride zone is not a privilege but a right, and it should be something Seattle people should be proud of having."

Transportation Issues Key to Success in Proposed Seattle Basketball Arena