HomeMy WebLinkAbout071023 FW_ Monthly Newsletter and Meeting Announcement
________________________________
From: Transportation Lab
Sent: Monday, July 10, 2023 1:04:55 PM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada)
To: David Thielk
Subject: Monthly Newsletter and Meeting Announcement
________________________________
ALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them.
________________________________
Moving in the Right Direction News
Greetings from Transportation Lab,
I have been thinking a lot about an organization known as Right Livelihoods the past couple of weeks. Every year, Right Livelihood demonstrates their commitment to peace, justice and
sustainability by selecting and honoring courageous and innovative local change makers from around the globe. Following the award, Right Livelihood provides them with exposure and resources
so that they can expand the work they are doing.
When it comes to transportation, Jefferson County needs change makers today, in 2023. Transportation is the glue that connects personal and environmental health, affordable housing,
equity and social justice. We at Transportation Lab believe that Port Townsend and Jefferson County are at a crossroads. Our community needs to carefully analyze how we think about
transportation. We need new transportation paradigms that address climate breakdown, our housing challenges, and the increasing wealth gap. We need community leaders who have desire,
are innovative, and have the courage to recognize that we can’t continue to do business as usual.
Who would you nominate today for the Transportation Right Livelihood Award in Jefferson County?
For more information on Right Livelihood Awards, follow this link. <https://rightlivelihood.org/>
Dave Thielk
Announcement and Dates
Regular July Meeting - The July Transportation Lab meeting is Monday, July 24th, at 4:30. We have not formalized the agenda as of this newsletter, but we will be planning for the late
September Mini Conference on parking policy. In addition, we will likely be establishing a short list of shorter term “asks” from the city, county or transit. This agenda item came
up after Scott, Becci and I had a discussion on our current role as an advocacy group for transportation change in our community.
If you are interested in attending our July meeting, please reply to this email, and we will get you all of the details.
Transportation on Tap - If you would enjoy discussing transportation issues with us in a less formal setting, Transportation Lab will be gathering at the PT Brewery on Monday, July 17th,
at 4:30. Just for fun! Please join us, bring questions, ideas, or just have a beer. Please RSVP if you wish to join us via reply to this email.
Mini Conference on Parking - We are planning a Mini Conference on Parking. This will most likely occur on September 29. However, we are still working on finding a venue and establishing
connections with a parking expert. Stay tuned.
Dave Thielk
So, what the heck is a Transportation Benefit District?
A Transportation Benefit District (TBD) is an independent taxing district authorized by the state for the sole purpose of funding transportation improvements within the district. A TBD
is usually formed after a public vote. The most prevalent funding sources are either sales tax, usually 0.02 %, or a car tab fee. Many communities started a TBD when they lost funding
after Initiative 976, the $60 vehicle license fee, was passed.
The definition of transportation improvements is broad, and can include improvements to city streets, transit, sidewalks, bike lanes, and matching funds for grants. TBDs are also flexible;
they allow cities and counties to work cooperatively to address both local and regional transportation challenges.
Communities with less sales tax revenue have opted for the vehicle tab option but in Port Townsend we have plenty of visitors that purchase goods. Using a sales tax, our visitors, tourists,
and those who live outside of the city, will help maintain the streets, sidewalks and bike lanes they use. Because visitors, not just folks who live in PT, benefit from the use of local
roadways, a sales tax is more equitable than a vehicle tab choice.
Over 110 cities and counties in Washington state now have TBDs. And Port Townsend needs one too.
TLab supports the formation of a TBD to support pedestrian, cyclist and transit user needs, and to reduce the number of vehicle miles traveled on our streets. A TBD will keep us moving
in the right direction.
For all the details click here: https://mrsc.org/explore-topics/finance/special-topics/transportation-benefit-districts <https://mrsc.org/explore-topics/finance/special-topics/transportation-benefit-
districts>
And here to see some of the progress that can be made with TBD funds
https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/61b9d1efccc34f18b453a5269c5069d9 <https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/61b9d1efccc34f18b453a5269c5069d9>
Rebecca Kimball
Transportation Lab is an Action Group of Local 20/20. Our mission is to create a comfortable, convenient, and safe multi-modal transportation system in our community. We envision transportation
that prioritizes walking for health, bicycling for efficient daily trips, and transit to move us together.
If you no longer wish to receive emails from Transportation Lab, please reply and let us know!
Transportation Lab
␠䰁邆萎耤臞Ґᤰቂ㯀鈐☀䡃砂䈇쀒ࡤI䃯Ɉಘडᷠ䤈錀␡밁℃怉萲耤⁷Ĥ虌Ґ⒄즀鈐�邁〄䈙쀒ျ䌦Ɉݸቂ擀䤈䡀頂ℌࠝI↓Ĥμड㉠⒄瞀␠䰁邆萎耤凞嚫萭耤႙凞䚣萍耤႙凞窽彵홈妬ℓ倉ࡑI꣯굖鲚ᾉ⑿䚾Ɉၔቂ㯀嚪読囦㌀␡밁굃≉Ĥ艌Ґ㯭虉Ґ₨⒄瞀杰㔝ꭖ邊ꠄ萨耤꡷ⓣጹ咫芩Ґ⢨⒄瞀㎨裮ﲐℐ倉ࡡI탯䭎V–Ĥ䎼鈛ℌ倉ࡁI탯⒆肆頀℀ࠝI↓Ĥμड㉠⒄瞀␠䰁邆萎耤臞Ґᤰቂ㯀鈐☀䡃砂䈇쀒ࡤI䃯
Ɉಘडᷠ䤈錀␡밁℃怉萲耤⁷Ĥ虌Ґ⒄즀鈐�邁〄䈙쀒ျ䌦Ɉݸቂ擀䤈䡀頂ℌࠝI↓Ĥμड㉠⒄瞀␠䰁邆萎耤臞Ґᤰቂ㯀鈐☀䡃砂䈇쀒ࡤI䃯Ɉಘडᷠ䤈錀␡밁℃怉萲耤ᡷ뉂쵦咚䚣䄍쯿ࡶI僯郳醳⚡倉ࡁIワⓔ鈑ᔀ邃萎耤臞Ґᤰቂ㯀鈐☀䡃砂䈇쀒ࡤI䃯Ɉಘडᷠ䤈錀␡밁℃怉萲耤⁷Ĥᙌ㗋膌զ⒄앀␠䰁ࡦ㋉ᐩ쫋꒨䍔建栟䁖Ɉቂ擀郆藔쪣᪆䈥ꀒၢ錦牃⾠㤤咐녃쪜鍐蠄ࠈIᦓ鉪㑌䪹壡佮鈍钕↫္ड☐⒄즀⇴剙듆皝৬虉⒚
앀␠䰁ࡦ爿쩈㮵㺕곐邀ꠄ萘耤ꤡ딶ퟲᶵ鈐ᔀ邃〄↙夤휙귞捗馨ℍ倉࠱I֓䤋䥋❽坩ቭ眝⨀℆怉တᐵ৭ⵆⓔ⨁℆怉ꢲ퇺㻔茣踦䌝嚫꒮⭕ﰔ춵䠦탛ꌮ�ﴦɶ�␡䰁姶㫭⃔ƺ㟅䱮ऩ踉鎊↶㨺汚纓Ļ鈐ᘀ僠嶪⺧꧕콛뱑ࠍ聈⇰Ĥ