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WSDOT updates transportation in the state due to the pandemic and lockdown Each quarter, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) publishes a Gray Notebook to inform citizens and legislators about the state of transportation in Washington. The March 2021 snapshot revealed some important perspective on the choices of drivers as the state began recovering from the pandemic lockdown. People have resumed using their cars. WSDOT reports “8 percent fewer vehicles traveling on monitored state highways on Monday, May 3, 2021 than on Monday, May 6, 2019 due to Washington’s continued response to the COVID-19 pandemic.” When it comes to mass transit and public transportation, it was a different story. They report a 79 percent decrease in ridership on Amtrak Cascades in 2020 compared to 2019. Washington State Ferries ridership was 35 percent below its pre-pandemic levels as of May 3, 2021, an increase of three percentage points from March 1, 2021. ....
Washington State Pushed to Spend More on Equitable Transit Advocates for disadvantaged communities want lawmakers to increase spending on transit projects in areas where driving alternatives are scarce. Paying for the proposals would require increases in taxes and fees. April 23, 2021 • (TNS) The bus stop near Paul Tabayoyon s home in Yakima, Wash., has no designated sidewalk or bench. So he waits in a neighbor s yard or on the street when catching a ride. That s felt dangerous for Tabayoyon, who became disabled from a back injury and relied on transit to get around between 2015 and 2018. He has slowly recovered and now borrows a family member s car. But during the time of his disability, taking transit was an uphill battle sometimes literally. ....
Advocates push Washington lawmakers to spend more on transit, pedestrian projects By Michelle Baruchman, The Seattle Times Published: April 23, 2021, 10:30am Share: The bus stop near Paul Tabayoyon’s home in Yakima has no designated sidewalk or bench. So he waits in a neighbor’s yard or on the street when catching a ride. That’s felt dangerous for Tabayoyon, who became disabled from a back injury and relied on transit to get around between 2015 and 2018. He has slowly recovered and now borrows a family member’s car. But during the time of his disability, taking transit was an uphill battle sometimes literally. ....
State Senator Rebecca Saldana spoke during a virtual Senate Transportation Committee meeting wearing headphones while driving Tuesday. Author: Steve Soliz Updated: 7:26 PM PDT April 6, 2021 SEATTLE A Washington state lawmaker has apologized for appearing to violate traffic laws. State Sen. Rebecca Saldana, a Democrat who represents Seattle s Central District to Renton, took part in a virtual Senate Transportation Committee meeting on Tuesday. She did so while driving her car on city streets. Saldana joined the meeting via video call while behind the wheel, occasionally glancing at her video screen. The meeting was focused on Forward Washington, which is a multi-billion dollar, long-term transportation plan. The plan includes a focus on green energy, which committee members sought insight from Saldana. She was able to communicate during the call via her headphones. Wearing such a device is also a violation of Washington stat ....