Motion 2019-11 – Opposing Initiative 976 Page 1 of 3
MOTION 2019-11:
1
A MOTION OF THE PORT OF SEATTLE COMMISSION
2
3
opposing Initiative 976, a ballot proposition that would
4
significantly hamper the ability of the State of Washington
5
and local government entities from adequately funding
6
transportation infrastructure.
7
8
The title of Initiative 976: Initiative Measure No. 976
9
concerns motor vehicle taxes and fees. This measure would
10
repeal, reduce, or remove authority to impose certain
11
vehicle taxes and fees; limit annual motor-vehicle-license
12
fees to $30, except voter-approved charges; and base
13
vehicle taxes on Kelley Blue Book value.
14
15
PROPOSED
16
OCTOBER 22, 2019
17
18
INTRODUCTION
19
20
Initiative 976 would jeopardize billions in critical transportation funding ($4.2 billion over six
21
years, according to the state’s Office of Financial Management, including funds for critical
22
regional corridors like the Puget Sound Gateway program, voter-approved Sound Transit system
23
expansion projects, municipal road maintenance, and more.
24
25
TEXT OF THE MOTION
26
27
The Port of Seattle Commission hereby expresses its opposition to Initiative 976, a proposal that
28
would drastically reduce the amount of funding available for critical statewide transportation
29
projects. As a public government entity charged with operating transportation facilities in service
30
of regional economic growth and passenger mobility, this initiative poses a direct threat to the
31
Port’s ability to carry out its mission. We partner with the State of Washington and municipal
32
partners on infrastructure development and must oppose any effort to hinder the ability of those
33
partners to collect revenue to fund transportation infrastructure.
34
35
STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF THE MOTION
36
37
Under RCW Title 53, the statute that enumerates the powers granted to port districts, ports are
38
charged with the development of transportation facilities. This is the essential function of ports,
39
and an acknowledgment that transportation infrastructure—be it port terminals, an airport
40
Item Number: 8b_motion
Meeting Date: October 22, 2019
Motion 2019-11 – Opposing Initiative 976 Page 2 of 3
runway, or a state highway – are shared resources that are developed by government entities for
41
use by the public. Ports were specifically created by voters in Washington state to combat the
42
potential dominance of private industry along the waterfront, and represent the core
43
Washington state value that the public owns the waterfront. At the Port of Seattle, we use public
44
resources collected through our taxing authority to leverage private sector investment and
45
partnerships with other public entities to maximize regional economic development.
46
47
The Port’s partnership with the State of Washington on the replacement of the Alaskan Way
48
Viaduct is a recent and illustrative example of the regional, and indeed statewide, gains that
49
can be made through such partnership. The Port of Seattle contributed $275 million to that
50
project, out of a total cost estimated at $4.1 billion. Other partners included Washington State,
51
City of Seattle and King County. Additional projects where the Port and the State of Washington
52
have partnered include 1) the Puget Sound Gateway Program, connecting growers and shippers
53
in Central and Eastern Washington with seaport and airport facilities needed to get their goods
54
to market, and 2) the FAST Corridor, a critical project to reduce the impact of freight congestion
55
on communities, Sound Transit Link Light Rail to Sea-Tac Airport, and the South Park Bridge, to
56
support failing infrastructure in a near-by Port community.
57
58
In addition, Initiative 976 would greatly reduce funding options for cities, who provide vital
59
services such as preservation and construction of roads, and provision of transit services. For
60
cities that use Transportation Benefit Districts, the initiative would eliminate $60 million in
61
transportation revenue every year. The City of Seattle is one such municipality, and it also
62
partnered with the Port on efforts to ensure that our industrial operations on the waterfront can
63
coexist with non-freight users in the city, and promote public safety and efficient movement for
64
all modes. The Safe and Swift Corridor and the Heavy Haul Corridor are both examples of key
65
partnerships with the City that would be jeopardized by the passage of Initiative 976.
66
67
The impact of Initiative 976 on transit has troubling implications on transportation equity, and
68
the Port of Seattle Commission has made the promotion of diversity, equity, and inclusion a core
69
consideration as we carry out our state-authorized mission to support economic development.
70
Passage of the initiative would not only harm the ability of cities to build infrastructure and
71
partner with entities such as the state and port districts to reduce congestion, it would also
72
diminish the availability of transit services. Transit keeps single-occupancy vehicles off roads,
73
promoting mobility for all modes. But it also is key to providing economic opportunity to
74
historically underserved groups, who may live far from urban centers and need transportation
75
options to support fair employment. Therefore, from a social justice and economic equity
76
perspective, the implications of Initiative 976 are concerning.
77
78
In addition to the deleterious impacts Initiative 976 would have on city road and transit funding
79
and state transportation funding across the board, it would also harm Sound Transit 3, approved
80
by voters in 2016. Because of how the initiative is written, it is not clear yet what the exact impact
81
to Sound Transit would be. However, estimates have pointed to a potential $20 billion hit to
82
Sound Transit 3, which was a $54 billion package overall. The success of Sound Transit 3 has broad
83
implications for the Port, including in our efforts to promote light rail access to the airport.
84
Motion 2019-11 – Opposing Initiative 976 Page 3 of 3
Meanwhile, the West Seattle and Ballard Link Extensions, and the Sounder South Expansion, are
85
key to reducing congestion and speeding the movement of freight, and serve as additional
86
examples of negative outcomes that could result from passage of I-976.
87
88
For the reasons outlined in the above statement, the Port of Seattle views potential adoption of
89
Initiative 976 as a direct threat to its core mission of promoting economic development and
90
developing industrial facilities to serve regional trade activity.
91
92
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ATTACHED
93
Full text of Initiative 976, as submitted to the Washington Secretary of State
94
