This Washington
Transit Bill Looks Dead in Final Days of Special Session
Legislation that would have expanded cities' and counties' authority to pass new taxes to pay for transit appears dead, the Everett Herald
reports, as the special legislative session draws to a close.
The bill would have allowed counties to impose a local-option gas tax of one, two, or three cents per gallon; allowed transportation benefit districts (Seattle is one) to impose a vehicle license fee of up to $40 (currently, Seattle charges a VLF of $20); and allowed counties to charge a motor-vehicle excise tax of up to 1 percent.
Transit agencies across the state have been cutting back service. Community Transit, which serves the area north of Seattle, has cut service by 37 percent; Pierce Transit, which serves the area south of Seattle, has cut service 35 percent; and King County Metro has only been spared major cuts because of its $20 vehicle license fee, which runs out next year.
The bill would have allowed counties to impose a local-option gas tax of one, two, or three cents per gallon; allowed transportation benefit districts (Seattle is one) to impose a vehicle license fee of up to $40 (currently, Seattle charges a VLF of $20); and allowed counties to charge a motor-vehicle excise tax of up to 1 percent.
Transit agencies across the state have been cutting back service. Community Transit, which serves the area north of Seattle, has cut service by 37 percent; Pierce Transit, which serves the area south of Seattle, has cut service 35 percent; and King County Metro has only been spared major cuts because of its $20 vehicle license fee, which runs out next year.
