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.
Publications
HB 1877 Would Make Sound Transit Accountable to Voters
Introduction
Legislation introduced by Rep. Mark Hargrove (R-Covington) would give Sound Transit an elected governing board. The bill is good public policy because it would, for the first time, make Sound Transit directly accountable to voters. Making Sound Transit’s board directly elected is a longstanding policy recommendation of Washington Policy Center. HB 1877 could be passed on its own, or included as part of a larger state transportation package.
Don't Pour State Taxes into Local Transit
Puget Sound Business Journal published this column on March 8, 2013.
Citizens' Guide to Clark County Proposition 1 (Vancouver Light Rail)
Key Findings
Citizens' Guide to Clark County Proposition 1 (Vancouver Light Rail)
Key Findings
Public Needs to Ask Tough Questions before Giving C-TRAN More Money
Vancouver Business Journal published this column on August 30, 2012.
Public transit is an important service in Clark County, and in November C-TRAN officials will ask voters to dig a little deeper to expand it. But with recent service reductions, poor ridership, high unemployment and a painful recession, do C-TRAN officials have the performance record to deserve a second tax increase in as many years?
The Cost of Smart Growth in Transportation Planning
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.
A Roadmap for Mobility: Recommendations On a Responsible Transportation Funding Plan for Washington State
- Taxes and fees paid by drivers should not subsidize other modes of transportation
- Do not create a state-level tax or fee to fund local transit agencies
- Stop diverting existing transportation taxes and fees for non-highway purposes
- Expand capacity, fix chokepoints and do not restrict new resources to just maintaining the existing system
- Reduce unnatural cost drivers that make transportation projects more expensive
Region's Transportation and Land-Use Policies Have Little Effect On Traffic Congestion
The Seattle Times published this column on May, 2012.
