A consortium of organizations and agencies which collaborate to support regional transportation and mobility investments urges Washington State voters to oppose Initiative 976 on the November ballot.
While gathered to review forward-looking transportation priorities, the Clark County Transportation Alliance took pause to express concern at the potential loss of dedicated funding for transportation projects statewide and in southwest Washington.
“With a growing population and our transportation infrastructure already suffering from limited maintenance and improvements, now is not the time to shift funding into reverse. We all depend upon a well-maintained transportation system to support safe movement of pedestrians, public transit, vehicles, freight and commerce.
“We oppose slashing dedicated transportation funding and cutting local funding tools for local projects which is what I-976 would do. Among our highest concerns are our most vulnerable neighbors who rely upon services such as paratransit to receive critical medical care.”
If passed, I-976 would cut billions in already-assigned transportation funding, forcing state and local elected officials to identify other sources of funding and possibly cancel long-planned improvements. It also would choke local transportation benefit districts’ use of local vehicle license fees for local projects, which are utilized by Vancouver, Battle Ground, Ridgefield and Washougal for critical maintenance and improvement projects.
Clark County Transportation Alliance
The Clark County Transportation Alliance is a coalition of organizations, agencies and communities that develops an annual policy statement utilized to advocate for regional transportation and mobility funding. It began more than 20 years ago by the City of Vancouver and the business leaders nonprofit Identity Clark County.