Regional Travel: Transit Agencies in Puget Sound - 1

This is the first of a series of articles by Brian Doennebrink on the topic of public transport

Transit Agencies in Puget Sound –  Part I (Governance)

By Brian Doennebrink

Of Washington’s 39 counties, 28 have transit service. There are 31 transit systems, with a handful, most in the Puget Sound corridor, providing service in multiple counties, including Sound Transit (through contracted providers), King County Metro, Community Transit, Island Transit, Skagit Transit, and Whatcom Transit.

Transit agencies have different governances, the most-popular being the Public Transportation Benefit Area, or PTBA.

PTBAs are established within a single county and include both incorporated and unincorporated areas; in the past, citizens vote on whether to be included or not. PTBAs are governed by up to nine elected officials, and the legislative bodies of the county and cities determine who serves. In Thurston County (the area around Olympia), citizens also serve on their governing body, while in Mason County (the area around Shelton) school board members, fire district members, and hospital district members serve on its board! In the Puget Sound, PTBAs (county) exist for: Community Transit (Snohomish), Pierce Transit, Intercity Transit (Thurston), Kitsap Transit, Skagit Transit, Whatcom Transportation Authority, and Island Transit.

County transit systems are permitted if a county has a population of at least 210,000. As of July 2012, the only counties with populations above that threshold were King, Pierce , Snohomish, Spokane, Clark, Thurston, Kitsap, and Yakima. However, only King County Metro (KCM) operates as a county transit system, which it did when it was created in 1991. KCM is governed under the authority of the County Executive as an agency of King County. County Councilmember Bob Ferguson is presently representing the interests of Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Kenmore, etc.

A city transit system is established by elected city officials and may operate up to 15 miles of – as well as in –  city limits. Everett Transit is one of four of these systems in the state and the only one in Puget Sound.

The Puget Sound area is the only place that a Regional Transportation Authority – or RTA – has been authorized in the state. The one agency that’s an RTA is Sound Transit, which is governed by 17 elected officials (mayors, city council members, county executives, council members) appointed by the County Executives of Pierce, King, and Snohomish counties, with the 18th member the State Secretary of Transportation.