Puget Sound municipal officials concerned about the negative impact of SB 5803
Elected leaders throughout the state's most densely populated metropolitan area are concerned about the potential harm that SSB 5803 would create by shaking up the region's transportation governance structure.
Several weeks ago, King County Councilman Larry Phillips summed up many of the major consequences of undermining current efforts to send a roads and transit package to voters this fall in a letter to legislators.
His March 9th correspondence is as follows:
The House Transportation Committee is holding a public hearing on SB 5803 this afternoon. I'm representing NPI at the hearing and will testify against the bill if I have the opportunity. You can urge your representatives to oppose SB 5803 by leaving a message with his or her office via Legislative Hotline at the in-state toll-free phone number: 1-800-562-6000.
Several weeks ago, King County Councilman Larry Phillips summed up many of the major consequences of undermining current efforts to send a roads and transit package to voters this fall in a letter to legislators.
His March 9th correspondence is as follows:
I urge you to vote against SSB 5803, legislation relating to regional transportation governance.In a lengthy post earlier this month, I outlined many of the same problems that Larry wrote about in his letter.
I offer the following concerns about this legislation:Governance changes of this nature should be considered carefully. SSB 5803 would introduce radical changes that haven’t been thoroughly vetted and have received almost no public input.
- Jeopardizes the upcoming Roads and Transit ballot measure. The primary problem plaguing regional mobility in the Central Puget Sound region is the lack of investment in transportation infrastructure to keep pace with our rapid population and employment growth. The $16.5 billion Roads and Transit ballot measure is our opportunity to reverse that trend. Attempting sweeping changes in transportation governance prior to the election seriously undermines that effort and will introduce uncertainty, chaos, and, potentially, many more years of indecision and inaction.
- Causes costly delay. The cost of inaction in 2007 is extremely high. One year of delay on the Sound Transit 2 package raises costs $800 million. With construction inflation increasing more rapidly than sales tax growth, every year of delay puts more projects out of reach. Beyond the dollar cost is the toll on citizens, who are frustrated with wasting their time stuck in traffic and sick of waiting for their representatives to act. Sound Transit is ready to act. Construction of many of the Roads and Transit projects will take ten to twenty years to come on-line after voter approval. Many of these same projects were needed ten or twenty years ago. Delay leaves our citizens and businesses waiting for relief.
- Doesn’t safeguard voter-approved projects or transit funds. If SSB 5803 were enacted and the Roads and Transit ballot passed, the new governance board would have the authority to override the voters and spend their money on other projects, which undermines voter input and breeds a lack of trust in elected officials. SSB 5803 would also allow taxes currently authorized for transit projects to be diverted for road projects, yet the State Constitution does not allow road revenue to be spent on transit. This creates inequity and further jeopardizes the region’s ability to provide an intermodal transportation system that finally includes a comprehensive grade-separated mass transit system.
- Fractures planning from implementation. Coordination between planning and project implementation is key for success, yet SSB 5803 would move planning into an agency entirely separate from the agencies delivering the projects.
- Creates another layer of governance. Rather than simplifying the transportation governance structure, SSB 5803 would add another layer of governance, another layer of complication, and another layer of confusion for citizens.
- Increases potential for conflict with local jurisdictions. An aspect of Sound Transit’s success working with local jurisdictions is its federated board which incorporates local and regional officials into the planning and decision-making process. SSB 5803 would divorce local officials from regional transportation planning, creating the potential for greater and more frequent conflicts over the scope, siting, and design of projects.
- Messes with success. Sound Transit enjoys a 65% favorability rating and has regained citizen confidence after its rocky years as a start-up agency. It seems counter-intuitive to introduce radical changes to the agency at such an important time and put control in the unknown hands of a new start-up agency.
The Central Puget Sound region needs to get moving on transportation projects. The legislature can best aid this effort by voting against SSB 5803 and supporting our efforts to put a successful Roads and Transit ballot measure before voters in November.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Larry Phillips, Councilmember
The House Transportation Committee is holding a public hearing on SB 5803 this afternoon. I'm representing NPI at the hearing and will testify against the bill if I have the opportunity. You can urge your representatives to oppose SB 5803 by leaving a message with his or her office via Legislative Hotline at the in-state toll-free phone number: 1-800-562-6000.
