State legislators unveil transportation revenue package
Today, Senator Marko Liias, Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, and Representative Jake Fey, Chair of the House Transportation Committee, along with their colleagues, unveiled a new Washington State transportation revenue package called Move Ahead Washington.
This proposal calls for the state to invest more than $16 billion over 16 years in transportation, including just over $3 billion in public transit. This is a bold and innovative proposal that would help transit agencies across the state continue to evolve to meet the transportation needs of our communities.
For the people of Snohomish County, these investments would provide vital funding for projects and services that improve transportation, now and well into the future. For Community Transit specifically, the package contains crucial funding for the continued buildout of our Swift bus rapid transit network. Swift brings fast and frequent service to thousands of people in Snohomish County and has proven to be an essential service during the pandemic. Development is underway on a third Swift line that will provide quick and easy connections to regional light rail when it opens in Lynnwood and Shoreline. Move Ahead Washington dedicates funding to help extend our current Swift Green Line as well as invests in the development of future Swift Gold and Swift Silver lines, which will expand access to bus rapid transit service for more people and communities across the county.
In addition, this proposal includes significant funding increases for Special Needs Transit Grants, continued support for Regional Mobility Grants, and creates a new Bus and Bus Facility Grant Program. All of which are incredibly impactful in our ability to continue to meet our mission in the years ahead. Additionally, the package includes increases to the Green Transportation grant program, which is timely for Community Transit and many of our partner agencies who need support for fleet transition to zero-emission options in the coming years.
As the Puget Sound region continues to grow, investments in transportation infrastructure are critical to support this growth, provide economic opportunities, supportive environmental initiatives, and improve quality of life. I want to thank Senator Liias and Rep. Fey for their leadership in putting forward such an ambitious state investment in transit. We encourage the legislature to move quickly on Move Ahead Washington during the 2022 legislative session to help our state continue to grow and thrive.
