Statewide Infrastructure and Safety Needs
Investments in infrastructure and safety are a critical need in Washington across all types of jurisdictions and modes of transportation. Even before the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, communities across the state were managing a significant gap between needs and resources. Without additional funding, deferred maintenance will continue to grow, leading to deteriorating infrastructure conditions, which increases catch-up costs and threatens economic competitiveness.
Washington State’s transportation system is an interconnected network of roadway, rail, air, port, and transit infrastructure. This network relies on a blend of federal, state, regional, and local funding sources and different jurisdictions share responsibilities for transportation facilities and systems.
In June 2020, BERK completed Phase 1 of a Statewide Transportation Needs Assessment for the Joint Transportation Committee. The study included:
A comprehensive statewide needs assessment across all jurisdiction types and modes.
A revenue model that estimates potential revenue generated by new revenue sources and adjustments to existing revenue sources.
Case studies that describe how different types of transportation investments impact communities.
Our study found that current funding sources for each jurisdiction type contribute less than half of what is needed, without considering costs of catching up on deferred maintenance and preservation.
This gap will only increase with recent impacts on revenues.
Initiative 976, if implemented, will result in revenue impacts of $3.5 billion to the State and at least $581 million to local governments over 10 years, according to legislative estimates. The injunction is currently stayed, pending State Supreme Court decision.
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic impacts all public sector revenue streams, including statewide transportation funding. The June 2020 forecasts from the Transportation Revenue Forecast Council suggest estimated revenue loss in the 2019-21 biennium of $469 million, down 9.2% in FY 2020 and down 6.8% in FY 2021.
In Phase 2 of this study, an Advisory Panel appointed by the JTC Executive Committee met from August to October 2020 to review these findings and to provide directional guidance to the Legislature for consideration during the 2021 legislative session.
Source: BERK, 2020.
