After establishing the goal of listening to the public’s input on transportation issues at venues across Washington, state transportation leaders are now halfway through their ten-city tour and are calling the feedback forums a great success.
“At the forum in Pasco last week, the governor made an appearance and was impressed by the level of engagement from citizens across Washington,” said Sen. Curtis King, R-Yakima, and co-chair of the Senate Transportation Committee. “We’ve heard the calls for more revenue and we’ve heard the calls for no gas tax increases, but perhaps the clearest message we’ve heard is that the state’s transportation system needs help, and that some of our reforms would do a lot to restore the public’s confidence in that agency.
“One speaker last Thursday said the only way people are going to be comfortable with an additional gas tax is if they’re sure the state has sewn shut the hole in DOT’s pocket,” King continued. “Regardless of the reasons, when taxpayers see their money being wasted through poor management, labor disputes, engineering errors, and frivolous project-stalling tactics, they’ll refuse to hand over another dime until they know we’re doing everything we can to stretch it as far as it will go.”
Around 400 people attended the first transportation feedback forum in Bellevue last week, followed by over 200 more in Everett. In Wenatchee and Yakima earlier last week, it was standing room only, and well over 100 citizens turned out to share their thoughts in Pasco. Sen. Tracey Eide, D-Federal Way, and co-chair of the transportation committee, has attended every event with her colleagues and is impressed with the sheer number of people who have testified.
“More than 70 people got to share their thoughts with us at the first two forums, and better than 50 have testified at the three held last week,” Eide said. “We rarely get that many testifying on a single issue in committee in Olympia, and many of these folks are pleased to see us come to their area to listen. Too often, working Washingtonians can’t find the time to drive to Olympia during session to testify, so they’re thankful for finally having that opportunity. It’s been incredibly valuable to hear those most affected by our decisions in Olympia get to express their priorities on everything from congestion relief, to expanded transit options, to the need for additional revenue.”
The additional Senate transportation feedback forum locations are:
- Oct. 2 – Spokane (Eastern Region) 6-9 p.m.
Central Valley High School theater, 821 South Sullivan Road, Spokane Valley - Oct. 7 – Vancouver (Southwest Region) 6-9 p.m.
Department of Transportation Southwest Region Office, 11018 Northeast 51st Circle, Vancouver 98682 - Oct. 9 – Tacoma (Olympic Region) 6-9 p.m.
Evergreen Tacoma Campus, Lyceum Hall, 1210 6th Avenue, Tacoma - Oct. 14 – Seattle 6-9 p.m.
First Presbyterian Church, 1013 8th Ave., Seattle - Oct. 15 – Bellingham 6-9 p.m.
Port of Bellingham Cruise Terminal, 355 Harris Avenue, Bellingham
Those unable to attend a feedback forum in person can submit their comments online at www.senatetranspofeedbackforum.org.