This morning, we had a meeting of the Executive Board to disburse $538m in funding for transit under the CARES Act. 1/4 psrc.org/sites/default/
Conversation
This will go a long way to supporting transit agencies hit hard by the COVID19 pandemic, but it also illustrates the inequity in our state's transit funding model. 2/4
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We distribute FTA dollars based on current service levels. Because Washington localizes nearly all transit funding, that means the areas generating the least amount of revenue and providing the fewest service hours will receive disproportionately few dollars. 3/4
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The disparities this creates between communities like Pierce County versus our peers are shocking and unjust.
Today's measure was a symptom of that problem and one we must fix. 4/4
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Have there been any layoffs without the mass transit system? Is it being right-sized to the current and likely future reality of a shrunken economy and work force?
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Service has dramatically shrunk. It varies how much between the agencies. It's a tricky balance because the buses can't run at normal capacity because of distancing needs.
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