PPublicublic TTransportationransportation anandd IIntercityntercity RRailail PPassengerassenger PPlanlan fforor WWashingtonashington SStatetate 1997-2016 WashingtonWashington StateState DepartmentDepartment ofof TransportationTransportation Public Transportation and Intercity Rail Passenger Plan for Washington State 1997-2016 Washington State Department of Transportation Persons with disabilities may request this information be prepared and supplied in alternate forms by calling collect 360-664-9009. Deaf and hearing impaired people call 1-800-833-6388 (TTY relay service). Prepared by the Public Transportation Office and Graphic Communications, Washington State Department of Transportation, with support of the Federal Transit Administration. December 1996 Preface Preface WSDOT Plan and Advisory Committee Staff Public Transportation and Intercity Rail Passenger Plan Manager WSDOT Public Transportation and Rail Division Valerie Rodman Public Transportation and Intercity Rail Passenger Plan Management Team WSDOT Public Transportation and Rail Division James Slakey Cathy Silins Gordon Kirkemo Plan Supporting Staff WSDOT Public Transportation and Rail Division Barbara A. Davis Laurens De Vries Paul Gamble Consultants Mark Steranka, Matrix Management Group Tom Krippaehne, Moss-Adams Public Transportation and Intercity Rail Passenger Plan for Washington State Page i Preface Public Transportation Advisory Committee Larry Weldon, Commissioner State of Washington Transportation Commission (1993-1994) Michael Skehan ALT-TRANS Caroline Feiss Snohomish County Transportation Authority (SNO-TRAN) High Capacity Transportation Don Carnahan Washington State Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) Mary Gates, Council Member Federal Way Association of Washington Cities Carol Jolly Washington State Department of Ecology Harold Robertson Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs)/Regional Transportation Planning Organizations (RTPOs) Dave O’Connell Community Transportation Association-Northwest (CTA-NW) Daphne Tackett Washington State Ridesharing Organization (WSRO) Amy Tousley Washington State Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development Hugh Mose Washington State Transit Association (WSTA) Dan Snow Washington State Transit Association (WSTA) Pat Levine Federal Transit Administration (FTA) David Beagle Washington Motorcoach Association Terry McCarthy Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Washington State Ferries Division Jeanne Ward Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) Page ii Public Transportation and Intercity Rail Passenger Plan for Washington State Preface Alan Scott Washington State Utilities and Transportation Commission Grant Fredericks Transportation Services Washington State Department of General Administration Lloyd Flem Washington Association of Railroad Passengers Gene Baxstrom Legislative Transportation Committee (LTC) Dan Linville Amalgamated Transit Union – Local 587 Labor Don Sorenson, Commissioner Kittitas County Washington State Association of Counties Marsha Reid Suquamish Tribe Native Americans Chris Freed Washington State Office of Financial Management Toby Olson Washington State Governor’s Committee on Disability Issues and Employment Ross Wiggins Washington State Employment Security Department Marc Harrison Washington State Department of Health Kristi Growdon Washington State Energy Office (WSEO) Doug Bohlke Evergreen State Taxi Association Liz Healy U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Region X Michael Dornfeld Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Bicycle and Pedestrian Program 1:P:PTIRP Public Transportation and Intercity Rail Passenger Plan for Washington State Page iii Preface Page iv Public Transportation and Intercity Rail Passenger Plan for Washington State Executive Summary Executive Summary What’s in the Plan? The Public Transportation and Intercity Rail Passenger Plan for Washington State is a 20-year plan for preserving our current public transportation systems while improving mobility for a growing population. The plan builds toward a future in which people have more public transportation choices, in which connec- tions between modes are efficient and easy to use, and where state, local, private, and federal public transportation services are coordinated. The plan envisions people able to move through congested intercity corridors using a variety of transportation options, including intercity passenger rail — and proposes a sensible, incremental approach for achieving a service which is efficient, rapid, reliable, and safe. The plan clarifies the state’s role in public transportation, describes the present condition of public transportation in the state, and discusses significant issues. Then future needs are identified, realistic strategies are proposed for addressing those needs, and responsibilities for achieving them identified. What is the State’s Interest in Public Transportation? The state is interested in increasing public transportation choices, in developing efficient and easy to use connections between modes, and in coordinating state, local, private, and federal public transportation. The challenge lies in identifying the mix of services, facilities, and programs needed to develop choices, connections, and coordination — and in determining the costs, future financial resources, and defining the state, regional, and local responsibilities. A Changing Partnership Traditionally, transit has been considered a local responsibility while passenger rail has been managed at a national level. In reality, however, over the last 30 years, a complex partnership has evolved between federal, state, local govern- ments, and the private sector. The nature of that partnership is changing as federal and state governments reevaluate their roles in supporting public transportation. In 1992, at the direction of the Transportation Commission, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) defined public transportation: “. a publicly supported system of services and facilities that provides an alternative to the single-occupant automobile and enhances mobility, environmental quality and appropriate land use patterns. Such systems may include any combination of services, facilities, and the necessary infrastructure related to transit, paratransit, ridesharing, intercity bus, airport shuttles, passenger rail, ferries, pupil transportation, high capacity transit, transportation demand management, people movers, bicycle and pedestrian programs.” Public Transportation and Intercity Rail Passenger Plan for Washington State Page v Executive Summary Of these components, the state of Washington owns the major ferries and now leases (and will eventually own) and operates passenger rail trains under contract with Amtrak. The state has no direct operational or maintenance responsibility for the other modes, but has an interest in preserving their existing services and infrastructure. The State is Already a Partner The partnership that already exists in regard to passenger rail trains is one reason for articulating the state’s interest and responsibilities in public transportation. The state also provides grant programs, training, technical assistance, planning, and demonstration projects for public transportation. Public Investment in Transit Another reason for articulating state interest and responsibility in public trans- portation is the level of public investment in transit. The state has an interest in ensuring that local improvements are responding effectively to growth pressures and legislative mandates and to the need for better intermodal connections. In 1995, the 24 active public transit authorities had revenues of $630 million. Over $167 million — or 27 percent of the total transit revenues for 1995 — came from the share of the Motor Vehicle Excise Tax (MVET) that goes to the Public Transportation Benefit Areas (PTBAs). 1995 Transit Revenues Total: $630 million Operating Grants 2% Capital Fares Grants 12% Vanpools 1% 11% Other 4% MVET 27% Sales Tax 43% What Are the Current Services? The plan stresses the importance of preserving and maintaining investments already made in our public transportation system. This section describes the current public transportation services in Washington State in two stages: first, for public transportation except passenger rail; and second, for the intercity rail passenger system. Page vi Public Transportation and Intercity Rail Passenger Plan for Washington State Executive Summary Public Transportation (Except Passenger Rail) Public Transit Authorities There are 24 public transit authorities in Washington State. In 1995, the transit service area population totaled 4,596,965 people. This means that 85 percent of Washington’s citizens reside within the boundaries of a public transit provider. (See map of Transit Authorities on page viii.) The majority of transit agencies provide fixed-route, demand-response (including Americans with Disabilities Act [ADA] service), vanpool, and ridesharing services and programs, and park and ride facilities. In 1995, approximately 137 million passenger trips and over 89 million passenger vehicle service miles were provided as part of fixed-route and demand-response services in urban and rural areas and through vanpool programs. Paratransit Paratransit service (i.e., specialized services for persons with disabilities, seniors, and the economically disadvantaged) is offered statewide through a variety of state, regional, and local programs. Several transit