Bus riders and County roads left in the dust after Legislature’s inaction to support sustainable funding for transportation
Senate Bill 6582 and House Bill 2751 are sitting on the shelf, leaving the future of bus rider commutes and the maintenance of County roads unknown. King County Executive Dow Constantine plans to address the County Council.
“The people of King County needed action by the state Legislature on a sustainable, long-term transportation solution, but for the third year in a row, they have been left standing on the curb,” said Constantine in a press release.
The local transportation revenue options bill, 6582 is still in process. Different from 6582, the House Bill 2751 contains an increase in the Transportation Benefit District vehicle authority from $20 to $40 upon approval of two-third majority of the council. Also in this bill is a countywide local-option motor vehicle tax of one percent.
“Despite having the votes and bipartisan support for ‘local-option’ bills to allow counties to ask voters for desperately-needed transit and road revenues, lawmakers failed to bring those bills to the floor,” he said.