[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6373383,"mediaKeyId","2145928-570304bf6af8a0e2c837682e4177cd7c","parentId",2145928,"title","Regional planners ask for increased RTPO funding, highlight role in cross‑jurisdiction projects","audioSeconds",830,"startMs",4092000,"endMs",4922000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2145928-570304bf6af8a0e2c837682e4177cd7c&start=4092&end=4922","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2145928-570304bf6af8a0e2c837682e4177cd7c/thumbnail_4092000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6373383/Washington/Regional-planners-ask-for-increased-RTPO-funding-highlight-role-in-crossjurisdiction-projects","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6373383-3aba7ea10418962fb28fdf7f1a8d9d73/orig.mp4?Expires=1771164513&Signature=ETolkEAZDP4rR52hBsXrCJQ6lk9ebwcSaZvJ1Nc9WqrueTz5oMD0KVQkDwVk4bNVYu7tZTB1FoKWmI0~Z~FqKQM2rXJ~PJ412BWhYsu~6Qx69DBH77hBNbXvEoJwaCG2eDtUFm1K9o1OJsH4joOHrLAxVG3XLDKhEI1FBZrPU2l2j9ke1fPm-Sx~4V4GNwGglRaxOew3I0t1m2Jt-O9Sqfr7o9emG8JpYUAue0JYIvHSZOk4sV-2yRh8rW9JeWBsyIpV2IsHvAoSikUnjBWdLCMpMDY-EhTNfe9YMutxpCgLNARZt9j-Ntu0urEGjzxcW89-cY1B4zu0VeiG~O0dTQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Senate Transportation","date","2025-01-23T00:00:00Z","article","Corina Hauser, director of the Multimodal Planning and Data Division at the Washington State Department of Transportation, and Mark Daley, executive director of the Thurston Regional Planning Council and chair of the statewide MPO/RTPO coordinating committee, briefed the Senate Transportation Committee on the role and funding needs of regional planners.

\"How do you chart the best course forward through so much complexity and uncertainty?\" Hauser asked, telling senators that MPOs and RTPOs help build consensus on long‑term regional transportation visions grounded in state and federal policy.

Hauser said WSDOT administers MPO and RTPO programs and passes through about $26 million in federal funds and $5 million in state funds — $31 million total — to support regional planning over a biennium. She noted the statutory framework: the regional transportation planning program was established as part of the Growth Management Act in 1994 and that there are 17 RTPOs and 12 MPOs in Washington.

Daley described how regional organizations coordinate counties, cities, ports, transit agencies, tribes and state agencies to produce 20‑year regional transportation plans and rolling six‑year Transportation Improvement Programs that align projects with funding. He gave a regional example from the Thurston area where RTPO modeling helped identify future I‑5 bottlenecks and flood/estuary risks at the Nisqually River and informed early investments and coordination with Joint Base Lewis‑McChord and tribal partners.

Both speakers said RTPOs have received additional responsibilities over time while funding levels have not kept pace. Daley and Hauser recommended the legislature consider increasing RTPO biennial funding (they cited a requested increase of roughly $6.8 million per biennium) to support planning, public engagement, multimodal level‑of‑service work and compliance tasks that are especially difficult for rural regions working with small staffs.

Ending: Hauser and Daley invited senators to consult with their local MPOs and RTPOs on project ideas and stressed that early regional planning helps identify fatal flaws, coordinate environmental review and prioritize investments that maximize the effectiveness of limited state dollars.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Transportation - 1/23/2025 4:00 PM","oneSentenceSummary","Corina Hauser of WSDOT and Mark Daley of the Thurston Regional Planning Council told the Senate Transportation Committee that MPOs and RTPOs provide essential regional planning functions and need greater biennial funding to meet expanding responsibilities.","taxTitle","Transportation, Senate, Legislative Sessions, Washington","taxId",20512,"location","Washington","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6373388,"Transit leaders urge continued Climate Commitment Act funding, warn of operator shortages and unmet capital demand",547,3121000,3668000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2145928-570304bf6af8a0e2c837682e4177cd7c&start=3121&end=3668","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2145928-570304bf6af8a0e2c837682e4177cd7c/thumbnail_3121000.jpg","/articles/6373388/Washington/Transit-leaders-urge-continued-Climate-Commitment-Act-funding-warn-of-operator-shortages-and-unmet-capital-demand","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6373388-4f5e288f3d16e38d1fd135e2dfd142aa/orig.mp4?Expires=1771164513&Signature=XnDxT5c0D0~sZJ9fWuxzgUU3higZOVHmMOYLPt3CotnTogNV3N3Mz51neN03a0Z3Hy1s1P8vqS6H~tSLx-MBgOh8KOq7EHdByVF7XMlz7xydwh5eVm4-A7i0FfAnI-SIAW41TpttnN5tVniEX5KVAFYm9R0siF5uUvVDDNRECRvOHEe2lc0MtCloPt3wADa4B~U9icGMRuJW48WDWmjeSJr8MgKkVz8UbhjKsMY~Usz51KvI9tv5ZonG1USaBGupHKo0LKRlqTL4kaXTHz4tgXKG3ZSJRfvfwsQi1LzP1QYdRwogjzrDLIBJ1acj2hZE-ppunm28rYalKLogi8KnJg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Justin Layton, executive director of the Washington State Transit Association, told the Senate Transportation Committee that transit agencies across Washington vary widely in size and funding, and remain heavily dependent on local sales tax and recent Climate Commitment Act (CCA) appropriations from Move Ahead Washington.

\"We're a chamber of commerce for public transit,\" Layton said, describing the association’s membership of 30 of the state's 32 transit agencies and WSDOT’s public transportation division.

Layton explained the system: 32 public transit agencies include metropolitan authorities, public transportation benefit areas (PTBAs), city transit departments and a small number of countywide authorities. He said most transit operating revenue is local — particularly sales tax, which provides roughly 70–80% of local transit revenue — with fares and federal grants making up the balance depending on agency size.

Layton summarized Move Ahead Washington transit investments, which rely heavily on Climate Commitment Act revenues. He said the legislature committed roughly $3 billion to public transit from CCA proceeds; of that total, about $1.27 billion is expected to be available after the current biennium. Layton said the Transit Support Grants program (often described in practice as the \"kids ride free\" support) and bus and bus facility grants are among the largest components. In the first year of the transit support grants, agencies reported about 16 million rides taken by riders 18 and under through the program.

Layton said capital grant programs are heavily oversubscribed: he described the Green Transportation Grant requests at roughly $67 million against an expected $37 million in funding and the bus and bus facility grant demand at roughly $100 million against about $38 million in available funding. He said some projects included in supplemental 2025 allocations were effectively on pause pending legislative action.

On operations, Layton said hiring — for operators, maintenance technicians and technical staff — remains a constraint for service restoration and growth. He said agencies have experimented with incentives, shift adjustments and other ideas to recruit and retain staff.

Ending: Layton asked the committee to protect and sustain the CCA‑funded transit investments, to consider funding for safety and operator protections, and to support capital grant programs that replace aging fleets and support zero‑emission transitions.","The Washington State Transit Association briefed senators on agency types, funding composition and the scale of Move Ahead Washington investments from the Climate Commitment Act, and warned that operator shortages and oversubscribed capital grant programs constrain service and fleet replacement.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6373393,"Ports highlight freight, rail and airport projects and ask for continued state support",1143,1825000,2968000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2145928-570304bf6af8a0e2c837682e4177cd7c&start=1825&end=2968","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2145928-570304bf6af8a0e2c837682e4177cd7c/thumbnail_1825000.jpg","/articles/6373393/Washington/Ports-highlight-freight-rail-and-airport-projects-and-ask-for-continued-state-support","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6373393-af880d5a597f95b26c1bd792f5ce33ba/orig.mp4?Expires=1771164513&Signature=IGIkCS2sPuOSm9RJohH5gu6xBWje2Hjnm63yhbYBe4twwA4zYifWpT~BZwbWkGZNRnAWSJNCc8W2LJUc40VOu1tFEqLhwlEM1lgP8Vb~rMXadhWqvpbocgwWYpXumSGNtonrrmoZP~JA~Yu6mYF3xKNJ9HDNqiwFgLPEYTF3tssBcGAhd2QCEAbFhtV8RSK5x3OlX9bXSInNwq~vLkWqxltgiD1~rCh8k~5MU5jSLVna7~lP0FWii5FQw7~HUG3KYkf5R4e3ZTIYz~eYb3DIFiOSKP9qF1E-Wo~iFZyiXXbVqczdDmveT52HXYtdACjetpExjvo1SCthJ3Mgjbcnfw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chris Herman, deputy director of the Washington Public Ports Association, told the Senate Transportation Committee that port districts are central to the state's economy and require reliable transportation investments to remain competitive.

\"Our primary mission is economic development and job creation,\" Herman said, describing ports as the nexus connecting local producers with global markets.

Herman noted Washington has 75 port districts — roughly half of all U.S. port districts — and that ports operate a broad array of facilities including marine terminals, inland ports and 37 airports (including all 12 commercial service airports in the state). He said ports range from small general‑aviation fields to major hubs such as Seattle‑Tacoma International Airport (SEA).

Herman highlighted several projects and programs: the Northwest Seaport Alliance's roughly $500 million investment to reactivate and modernize Terminal 5; the Port of Seattle’s ongoing $5 billion capital program (Upgrade SEA) and a parallel draft Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) that Herman said may add another $5 billion in capital investments and is completing federal environmental review this year. He said SAMP includes a proposed new Terminal 2 with 19 gates and related roadway access improvements.

On decarbonization, Herman thanked the legislature for funding port electrification projects and said Climate Commitment Act funds and other grants are supporting shore power, 0‑emission equipment and remote vessel charging projects, including a $2 million Port of Anacortes electrification project that pairs state funding with EPA Clean Ports grant efforts and local marine‑manufacturing conversion projects.

Herman described several freight and rail projects that ports are advancing: a T4 rail expansion at the Port of Grays Harbor tied to a private $170 million investment; a TEMCO rail expansion to add about 25,000 feet of track and speed trains on and off the BNSF mainline (about a $37 million project); and a Port of Longview rail expansion of roughly $80 million.

Herman also previewed the Supply Chain Competitiveness Improvement program, a bill the ports association supports; he said the program aims to address projects that enable movements of oversized or specialized cargo (for example, high‑and‑wide aerospace components) where multiple public owners or jurisdictions must coordinate improvements to create a viable corridor.

Ending: Herman asked the committee to continue funding freight, port electrification and rail projects and to engage with ports during environmental review processes such as NEPA and SEPA for major projects.","The Washington Public Ports Association told the Senate committee ports are central to state trade and economic development and described major projects — from Port of Seattle airport investments to terminal and rail expansions — that depend on coordinated state funding and permitting.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6373398,"County engineers warn of large maintenance shortfall, urge lifting property tax cap",600,764000,1364000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2145928-570304bf6af8a0e2c837682e4177cd7c&start=764&end=1364","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2145928-570304bf6af8a0e2c837682e4177cd7c/thumbnail_764000.jpg","/articles/6373398/Washington/County-engineers-warn-of-large-maintenance-shortfall-urge-lifting-property-tax-cap","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6373398-1da5966ac54cb1660ca5095bbbf644dd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771164513&Signature=Fk8SpMLCFGL-yMxpEcrvMkLAG1mbAaus0Y0jKH-fpqXUPPV5xAQU~ULq7AKWR8d-VADWjgn6AO5nUFhVBGx1T1mV412rCrAaCGwM0y7TdxK89seuTL3A45SyCWUTVT-18Bt-VDRuBjmpFltFRWGy0PBJU6Tw0ZiJb5oJ1MYYch14ctJTnVqeRHsxBVgguQ9r3Q4~wbhA2ZniHaAQ65njbjUYgpJlqlWBIpcNqWai65agK2guo9aeI1Yhe2IB7d8IylTNaTydRQZ6NFaWKNf9aRV0~iClnd0tyKpdXEqdzAbNLBPDpRRKvNamBRMlFlnf-dQIPAhqBKZZS-rd0EO2Mw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Axel Swanson, managing director for the Washington State Association of County Engineers and a former county commissioner, told senators that counties own the majority of Washington’s roads and carry a growing maintenance gap.

\"We are only allowed to do what you tell us we can do,\" Swanson said, describing counties as agencies of the state that rely on legislative authority for revenue and responsibilities.

Swanson said counties own roughly 59% of the state’s roadways — about 78,000 lane miles (39,000 centerline miles) — and nearly half of the state’s bridges (44%). He added that four county‑operated ferry systems also exist, underscoring counties’ varied transportation responsibilities.

On funding, Swanson said roughly 55% of county road funding comes from local taxes (primarily property tax), with motor‑vehicle fuel tax as a second major source. He told the committee the property tax cap of 1% growth and the decline or flatlining of fuel‑tax revenue have combined to create a structural funding problem.

Swanson cited an updated county revenue study that shows an annual gap in preservation funding of approximately $800 million to $1.5 billion and an overall deferred maintenance shortfall on the order of $3 billion to $4 billion.

His recommendations to the legislature included increased state support for preservation and maintenance, flexible state match for counties pursuing federal grants, attention to how alternatives to the gas tax (such as a road usage charge) would share revenue with local governments, and legislative consideration to ease the property tax growth limit (the association’s priority is raising the cap toward 3%).

Swanson also referenced the County Road Administration Board and proposed a local access roads grant idea; he urged the committee to consider projects to reduce rural lane‑departure crashes and to expand local revenue tools where appropriate.

Ending: Swanson asked the committee to weigh policy changes that would stabilize local preservation funding and to consider matching and program refinements that help counties use federal opportunities without sacrificing preservation budgets.","The Washington State Association of County Engineers told the Senate panel counties own most of the state’s road network, face an expanding deferred‑maintenance backlog and want legislative action on preservation funding, flexible federal match and easing the 1% property tax cap.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6373403,"Cities urge state to protect local transportation funding, spotlight small-city needs",610,74000,684000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2145928-570304bf6af8a0e2c837682e4177cd7c&start=74&end=684","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2145928-570304bf6af8a0e2c837682e4177cd7c/thumbnail_74000.jpg","/articles/6373403/Washington/Cities-urge-state-to-protect-local-transportation-funding-spotlight-small-city-needs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6373403-11afdfedcd911e6edf08ceea6c70b3ce/orig.mp4?Expires=1771164513&Signature=DLcps4TehutX4ve8Ggj5Er8IRTeZkm1cqVu-oGEewxqncor2AqlbR7GJWJGUfRoK7eCu3M2NiR0BSPPSo-ohHxsVsQjhvH8plvSbQyDORp6Gr9VFTNUOFl~--6XCPvafWtfntRYu1Z5w7dBj6LveqX2gmLqmxfw21-JuDPBLhsdltjOWDSl56-YMV6wCUD9Q0k9IxOY7fJOGxma8mIZu~OJj-JKG0Mk1J5304D6hVEXSHjCehN2nFep5zys~epPFoob3hq2pjDXrVY2sot4SqBbvNA4WQ4Rw7~-BdvBG0MP0kQGXMvpADnLoNce7ryziPIUItAVU0l~6Zz6Cuhivcg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Carl Schroeder, government relations deputy director at the Association of Washington Cities, told the Senate Transportation Committee on Jan. 23 that cities maintain a large share of the state’s streets and face chronic funding limits.

\"We view it as a holistic and connected system,\" Schroeder said, adding that cities manage not only pavement but the utilities, lighting and sidewalks that must be planned and paid for alongside streets.

Schroeder said Washington’s 281 cities house roughly 65% of the state’s population and together maintain about 25,000 lane miles of local streets — roughly 26% of statewide lane miles. He emphasized the uneven fiscal capacity across cities: more than half of Washington’s cities have fewer than 5,000 residents and roughly half of cities have annual transportation budgets under $500,000, with 40% under $250,000.

Those limits matter because most city transportation spending is local. Schroeder told the committee that about 70% of a typical city project is funded locally, 21% by the state and 9.5% by the federal government. He said the property tax — capped at 1% growth for 25 years — has constrained cities’ ability to maintain basic infrastructure.

Schroeder urged the legislature to sustain programs that target small and mid‑sized cities, highlighting the Transportation Improvement Board (TIB) as a major state partner. He also told senators the Association supports exploring alternatives to the gas tax — including road usage charging and targeted sales‑tax transfers — while ensuring any new revenue mechanism preserves current city and county shares.

Schroeder named several statewide programs and priorities he expects the association to watch this year: continued funding for TIB, safe routes to school and pedestrian/bicycle safety programs; more support for preservation and maintenance; and funding to address culverts and fish barriers. He thanked the committee for recent investments, including Move Ahead Washington, while urging dedicated funds for long‑term preservation planning.

The presentation included a cost example Schroeder said cities face: he said a typical urban lane mile carries roughly a $16,000,000 cost when utilities and other systems under the street are included. Schroeder also flagged the Transportation Benefit District authority as an increasingly common local tool to supplement traditional local revenues.

Schroeder said the association will follow committee questions on electric‑vehicle charging and other operational matters and supply follow‑up data to senators on specific inquiries.

Ending: The Association of Washington Cities concluded by asking the committee to weigh the balance of state and local responsibilities as the gas tax base declines and to consider targeted, sustained funding for local preservation and maintenance.","Association of Washington Cities told the Senate Transportation Committee that cities carry the majority of day‑to‑day street responsibilities and face long‑running revenue constraints, urging state partners to prioritize preservation and maintenance funding and to consider revenue changes as gas tax revenue erodes.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Regional planners ask for increased RTPO funding, highlight role in cross‑jurisdiction projects

Transit leaders urge continued Climate Commitment Act funding, warn of operator shortages and unmet capital demand

Ports highlight freight, rail and airport projects and ask for continued state support

County engineers warn of large maintenance shortfall, urge lifting property tax cap

Cities urge state to protect local transportation funding, spotlight small-city needs