City Transportation Funding Overview

1. City Transportation Funding Overview House Transportation Committee January 13, 2004 Ashley Probart AWC Transportation Coordinator

2. Overview: City Street System 45% Increase • City streets carry approximately 25% of Washington’s daily miles traveled. • Centerline miles of city streets have increased by 5,042 miles (41%) since 1990. • 94% of city centerline miles are paved streets. • 657 bridges (bridge replacement cost at $350 sf, is $1.88 billion). • When a non-intertstate highway runs through a city of 22,500 and over, state mandates require the city to assume costs for maintenance, signalization, ADA and most traffic control. (503 centerline miles).

3. Overview: City Street System: City streets are more than the pavement that facilitates the movement of people and goods. Above ground, the term city “streets” is expected to include sidewalks, street lighting, parking, and other amenities that integrate into a city center or neighborhoods. Below ground, city “streets” provide for water lines, sewer lines, and electric cables.

4. Overview: A Transportation Crisis for Washington Cities • Washington cities spend heavily on transportation; however, we are falling dangerously behind in maintaining city streets and bridges and meeting growing capacity and mobility needs. Significant cuts in state funding, coupled with the loss of revenue sources, have created a crisis for our local transportation systems.

5. City Overview 2003 City Revenues & Expenditures – Revenues= $3.9 Billion* (source = LGFRS**) Debt Pro – 8% Debt Pro – 8% Charges for Services, Impact Fees, Lodging Tax, etc - 25% Parks, Environment, Community Centers, Planning, Comm Dev - 23% $ in Millions State & Federal Shared Rev - 11% Liability Ins, HealthCare, Benefits, Admin, Libraries - 17% Bellevue – 27% Kent – 12% Yakima –9% Business & Utility Tax - 17% Transportation - 16% Sales Tax -17% Public Safety - 36% Property Tax - 22% * Excludes Utilities. **General, Capital, Debt Service & Special Funds

6. City Overview: Local Funds pay for Local Streets City Transportation Revenues – 2003 – $895 MillionLocal Funds Pay for Streets * 13.4% of TIB funds were spent on state highways ** includes Local Revenue Sources and Public Works Trust Fund Loans

7. City Overview: Expenditures City Transportation Expenditures – 2003 – $886 MillionIn 2003, cities invested $886 million on transportation – down from $937 M in 2002. Approximately $200 million for street maintenance alone. Yet this covers only one-third of ongoing needs and does not address a critical maintenance backlog.

8. Typical City Street Investments • Streets in newly incorporated and annexed cities experience major investments to meet urban standards. • Larger economic centers need major improvements for congestion relief, freight mobility, and earthquake protection. • Many intermediate and smaller cities serve as a through corridor for commuting workers, resulting in extraordinary congestion. • Small rural communities typically seek to fund the most basic resurfacing projects and cannot afford even modest improvements to their streets (Grant support is traditional funding method). • Eastern Washington cities face freeze/thaw cycles that accelerate street deterioration.

9. Summary • Cities spend approximately 16% of their total budget on transportation. • All cities invest in street preservation and safety; new construction investments vary by jurisdiction. • Approximately 2/3 of a city transportation budget are local dollars and 1/3 federal and state dollars. • City investments in transportation are trending down: from $936M in 2002 to $886M in 2003.This transportation reduction is due to: • Lost revenues sources (initiatives, economic downturn). • A flat gas tax • General Fund dollars compete for both transportation budgets and other essential city services (such as police, fire, etc.)