Tuesday news conference planned for release of Washington Policy Center study on transit agency

For Immediate Release:
September 24, 2018

Media Contact:
Chris Cargill  (509) 570-2384

KENNEWICK – New research into Ben Franklin Transit (BFT) – the agency that serves the Tri-Cities regional area - shows problems still plague the agency and declining ridership has not stabilized or improved, despite significant growth in sales tax revenue.
 
On Tuesday, Washington Policy Center will publish its latest findings on the struggling BFT which show total ridership down a remarkable 40% since 2009, despite a rapid growth in the Tri-Cities regional population. Furthermore, data shows BFT has increased its sales tax collections by more than 43% during that same time period.
 
Instead of downsizing because of a declining customer base, BFT embarked on a failed attempt to attract ridership spent taxpayer money on items such as free Wi-Fi, extended hours, and new routes in 2017 to attract ridership.
 
Though these services likely improve the experience of those on the BFT system – which is important – agency leaders should ask whether increasing spending while ridership continues to freefall is the best way to invest public dollars.
 
“Rather than continuing to use public money to expand a failing system with the hope that it will “work” once it reaches a certain size or aesthetic, BFT should instead consider cutting the existing 0.6 percent sales tax and reducing operating costs,” said Mariya Frost, author of the study and director of Washington Policy Center’s Coles Center for Transportation. “It needs to become a leaner, more cost-effective public agency for those who depend on and use transit for mobility."
 
A news conference will be held Tuesday in Kennewick to discuss the findings of the research and officially release the study, Ben Franklin officials increase spending as ridership declines.


            NEWS CONFERENCE DETAILS
 

• LOCATION:
  •  Home Builders Association of Tri-Cities – 10001 W. Clearwater Ave.
• TIME:
  • 12:00pm
• SPEAKERS:                 
  • Mariya Frost, director, WPC Coles Center for Transportation
  • Chris Cargill, WPC Eastern Washington Director      
• ALSO IN ATTENDANCE:  Brad Peck, Franklin County Commissioner