HomeMy WebLinkAbout052322ra02 Regular Agenda
JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA REQUEST
TO: Board of County Commissioners
FROM: Adiel McKnight, Executive Assistant
DATE: May 23, 2022
SUBJECT: PROCLAMATION re: Proclaiming June 2022 as Ride Transit Month
STATEMENT OF ISSUE:
On average public transit provides almost 250 million passenger trips in Washington each year.
Transit agencies in Washington State invest almost $5 billion in transit capital and operations each
year. Using the transit system in Washington today reduces 371,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions per
year. During COVID,transit agencies continued to provide more than 100 million annual passenger
trips for essential workers or essential rides, as well as pivoting to bring other services to their
communities including delivering meals, groceries and prescriptions to people with disabilities,
seniors, people with low incomes and people with special transportation needs in their community.
Prior to 2020, Jefferson Transit Authority's (JTA) annual passenger trips on fixed route services were
258,956. This includes services on the west and east sides of Jefferson County. In 2021, JTA (like all
transit agencies around the country) was focused on safely rebuilding its ridership numbers. The total
annual passenger trips on fixed route services was 137,579. Jefferson Transit continued to operate
during the COVID pandemic while also evaluating how to best utilize its resources to support the
community. JTA worked closely with the local food bank to deliver food boxes to riders who were
utilizing JTA's Dial-a-Ride services. JTA provided 244,409 rides in 2020 and 2021. JTA operated on
a reduced schedule from March 2020—November 3, 2020.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact to Jefferson County.
RECOMMENDATION:
To honor Transit Operators and approve Proclamation re: Proclaiming June 2022 as Ride Transit Month
REVIEWED BY:
% 1 y`' l ' _-
Mark McCaul:', County Administrator D e
PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS, on average public transit provides almost 250 million passenger trips in
Washington each year. Transit agencies in Washington State invest almost $5 billion in transit
capital and operations each year. Prior to 2020, Jefferson Transit Authority's (JTA) annual passenger
trips on fixed route services were 258,956. This includes services on the west and east sides of
Jefferson County. In 2021, JTA (like all transit agencies around the country) was focused on safely
rebuilding its ridership numbers. The total annual passenger trips on fixed route services was
137,579. This includes services on the west and east sides of Jefferson County; and,
WHEREAS, Washington's transit provider landscape is vast and varied, including 32 transit
agencies (eight serving urban areas, 11 small urban, and 13 rural); 17 tribal transportation providers;
more than 20 community transportation providers; six Medicaid transportation brokers; four Travel
Washington intercity bus program lines; eight ferry systems; and one Monorail; almost 25 percent of
Washingtonians cannot or do not drive and may rely on public transit; and,
WHEREAS, during COVID, transit agencies continued to provide more than 100 million
annual passenger trips for essential workers or essential rides, as well as pivoting to bring other
services to their communities including delivering meals, groceries and prescriptions to people with
disabilities, seniors, people with low incomes and people with special transportation needs in their
community. JTA worked closely with the local food bank to deliver food boxes to riders and
provided 244,409 rides in 2020 and 2021; and
WHEREAS, using the transit system in Washington today reduces 371,000 metric tons of
CO2 emissions per year. If all people driving alone were to shift to transit, we could save 130,000
metric tons of CO2 emissions per year—about equal to 28,272 passenger vehicles driven for one year.
For every $1 million invested in Washington State Transit, it equates to 102,000 metric tons of CO2
reduction, which is equal to the carbon sequestered by 125 thousand acres of U.S. Forests in one
year; and,
WHEREAS, June is a great time to promote using transit to get to work and the best time to
get beginners using transit; whether you're new to transit or a regular rider, Ride Transit Month is a
time to celebrate YOU, our community of riders who are helping Washington State lead the nation
in ridership and,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT, the Jefferson County Commissioners do
hereby proclaim June, 2022 as:
RIDE TRANSIT MONTH
in Jefferson County and ask all residents of this community join us in honoring our TRANSIT
OPERATORS, who care for the public, and show our appreciation not just during this month, but at
every opportunity throughout the year.
APPROVED this 23rd day of May, 2022.
SEAL: JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Heidi Eisenhour, Chair
ATTEST:
Kate Dean, Member
Carolyn Gallaway, CMC
Clerk of the Board Greg Brotherton, Member