The Washington State Transportation Commission is scheduled to cover several topics at its Dec. 13 and 14 meeting, including statewide traffic safety challenges, a statewide road usage charge program, and approaches to addressing possible shortfalls in fuel funding at Washington State Ferries.
The meeting starts at 9 a.m. both Tuesday, Dec. 13, and Wednesday, Dec. 14. This meeting will be virtual using Zoom. People interested in attending can register on the commission’s website. TVW will broadcast the meeting live.
The commission will hear from the state traffic safety commission on Dec. 13 about alarming increases in fatalities and injuries on state roadways, suggesting the time has come for significant changes in how to address roadway safety. The traffic safety commission will share current safety trends and possible needed policy changes.
Also on Tuesday, the commission will hold a work session on current research, testing and preparations for a road usage charge program in Washington state. This will include reviewing and selecting recommendations on how to advance a pay-per-mile system. The commission’s recommendations will be provided to the state Legislature for consideration in the 2023 legislative session.
Some further highlights of the commission’s two-day meeting include:
- A federal report on the impacts of driver assist vehicle technology: The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety will share findings of a recent study on how people use driver assist technology in their daily driving, and the risks that emerge from over reliance.
- Tolling equity programs across the U.S.: An overview will be provided on the latest approaches to achieving relief for low-income drivers and increasing equity in tolling from across the U.S.
- Funding potential ferry fuel shortfalls and ferry performance: Results from a recent survey of the Ferry Riders Opinion Group panel around general performance of the ferry system during the summer season will be shared. Also, results will be provided from a recent public outreach process that gathered input statewide on how to address shortfalls in the state ferry fuel budget when resources run short.
- Reconnecting communities: An overview of the impacts created when state highways serve as community main streets will be presented. Recent improvement projects done by the city of Bothell to reconnect and revitalize the downtown and increase housing options will be highlighted.
The commission will take public comment at 11:15 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 14. Those wishing to speak can sign up during the meeting by posting their name in the Q&A box on-screen. Written comments can also be submitted via email at: transc@wstc.wa.gov.
For more information about the commission and a complete meeting agenda, visit the commission’s website: www.wstc.wa.gov.
Just when you think the state couldn’t find any new ways to tax us, they come up with yet another way — a road usage charge with a pay-per-mile system!! I can’t imagine how this system could even work or should I say be “charged” to us. Isn’t it enough that we already have one of the highest gasoline taxes that is supposed to be used for roads? Or am I just not understanding this new proposal?
The gas tax has traditionally been the basis of funding roads and highways in our state, but that system breaks down when fewer and fewer vehicles burn gasoline (or diesel). Some form of road usage charge may become inevitable when electric vehicles predominate. It’s smart for public officials to at least be looking into such options now, ahead of time.
And by the way, if the Washington gas tax had kept up with inflation over the last 50+ years, it would now be something in excess of $1 per gallon, basically double what it is today.
Well the state tax is set to double here shortly to nearly a dollar and increase about another 50 cents in the next few years. So although maybe it should have increased in the past a 100% increase in one year is outrageous and a 200% increase over just a few years is equally outrageous. I can agree that we need to figure out a good way for electric vehicles to pay their share.
No, the state gas tax is not “set to double here shortly…” There are taxes on the petroleum industry, some of which may or may not show up at the pump~ but they are not gas taxes.
Forgot the link
https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/washington-gas-taxes-to-nearly-double-next-year-under-carbon-program/article_5c2733f0-020d-11ed-b7b6-7b5de3a3cd2c.html
I don’t know what you want to call it but 46 cents is the predicted cost per gallon increase. And projected to be about 90 cents per gallon by 2030
There has been “single party rule (D) in Washington State for the past 40 years. All the party in power knows how to do is raise taxes and then throw it fecklessly at every problem that arises (most caused by them) and hope for a positive outcome. The voters in this state must like it because the same ideology keeps getting elected, cycle after cycle.
If the average person drives 10 thousand miles per year and gets 30mpg and a state gas tax of about 1.50 per gallon then a electric vehicle should pay some sort of special tax of about 500 per year. I know there is a 120 dollar fee now but that should double next year to keep up with the increase in fuel tax. Maybe a per mile system is the best way to make it fair but how do we enforce it? Do we reopen vehicle testing sights and read odometers once a year and add that amount to renew our tabs?