PRESS RELEASE - Port Townsend City Council Votes to Form Transportation Benefit District
PORT TOWNSEND - Transportation Benefit District (TBD) is empowered to raise revenue specifically dedicated to street projects in Port Townsend.
Port Townsend city council voted unanimously this week to form a Transportation Benefit District (TBD) with an aim to generate revenue specifically for use on local street projects.
The City of Port Townsend has struggled to keep up with local street projects and improvement needs, particularly in the past few decades in the face of declining state funding for such needs. Over 110 cities in Washington State have formed TBDs.
Mayor David Faber says: "We have heard consistently from our community that our streets are in terrible shape and getting worse. I agree. I'm grateful for a unanimous Council decision to form a Transportation Benefit District, which can consider taking long-awaited action to not just slow our decline or hold ground, but to make actual, tangible progress to fix our failing street system."
Now formed by City Council, the District (governed by Port Townsend City Council) is expected to meet on August 1 to consider revenue options, including sales tax and vehicle license fees (car tabs). The District can impose up to 0.1% sales tax or up to 0.3% sales tax with a public vote. The District can also consider a $20.00 car tab fee for local vehicles or go to a public vote to consider up to $100.00. A 0.3% increase in sales tax would generate approximately $800,000 annually for local streets; a $20.00 car tab fee generate $186,000 annually for local streets.
A Transportation Benefit District (TBD) has been discussed for many years as a potential funding source, including during the development of the Comprehensive Streets Program that started in 2021. The Comprehensive Streets Program looks holistically at the City's 80+ mile street system, competing priorities and needs, and opportunities and strategies for making progress on a system largely in a state of disrepair. The Comprehensive Streets Program includes four main categories (chapters): street operations, street improvements, street preservation, and street programing. The City Council Infrastructure and Development Committee has been discussing Comprehensive Streets program and funding like the TBD. Those materials can be found here: https://cityofpt.us/engagept/page/comprehensive-streets-program
City Public Works Director Steve King says: "Our public works teams and crews work super hard to repair, build, and improve our local street network. With the formation of a Transportation Benefit District, their talents and hard work will transform any future dedicated streets revenue into visible projects throughout our streets network. For the first time in years, our community has a real chance at seeing a future street system that better serves all modes and rises to our community's expectations."
For more information visit the Comprehensive Streets Program webpage here: https://cityofpt.us/engagept/page/comprehensive-streets-program
Read the Financial Sustainability Task Force report here: https://cityofpt.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=4&clip_id=2708&meta_id=216816
Watch our Streets video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWD8CYJqWcA
