The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

DAYTON—Columbia County Public Transportation expects to see much-needed benefits from the Washington Legislature’s new $16 billion transportation funding package, “Move Ahead Washington,” which allocates $3 billion to public transit over 16 years.

“Transit is essential to riders of all ages and needs. This announcement by the legislature will ensure our agency is sustainable and ready to grow with our community’s needs,” said David Ocampo, General Manager of Columbia County Public Transportation. “The project funding for our facility will assist us in growing our system and preparing to transition our fleet to zero emission in the future.”

Beginning in 2023, Washington State will administer the transit funding through new and existing grant programs.

Funding increases for current transit programs includes:

• $600 million in transportation investments for people with disabilities.

• $200 million to the Green Transportation Capital Grant Program.

Funding for new transit programs includes:

• $1.45 billion in Transit Support Grants, formula-based funds that will be distributed to every agency in the state to ensure that those 18 and younger can ride free across the state, not just in Columbia County. Columbia County Public Transportation is expected to receive $132,100 annually, roughly 10% of their budget, in direct operating assistance.

• $400 million in Bus and Bus Facility Grants to support agencies in their capital needs such as bus replacement and expansion, and facility refurbishment, expansion and/or replacement. These grants will provide nearly $50 million per biennium in competitive capital grants.

• $293 million in transit-specific projects to many agencies, including $1,500,000 for Columbia County Public Transportation.

• $80 million to a Tribal Grant Program to support tribal transit service.

Move Ahead Washington allocated $1,500,000 in direct appropriations for the agency to refurbish and expand for future growth of the Columbia County Maintenance and Operations Base in Dayton. Plans for the base include expanding the current facility to accommodate fleet growth over time as well as refurbishing the base to help transition the fleet to zero-emission when the only one is available to do so. The funds are not allocated by biennium; however, Columbia County Transportation does not plan to begin this project for several years and anticipates the legislature will fund the project in the out years of the proposed 16-year plan.

“While there is so much to celebrate in this funding package, perhaps one of the most exciting aspects is that agencies from the state’s largest to smallest, rural to urban, will get much-needed financial assistance,” said Justin Leighton, executive director of the Washington State Transit Association. “We are thrilled about what a difference this money will mean to agencies like Columbia, which is one of the smallest transit agencies in the state.”

Columbia County Transportation provides on-demand and vanpool service to Columbia County and a small portion of Walla Walla County. With an annual operating budget of roughly $1.5 million, Columbia caries about 50,000 annual passenger trips. During the pandemic, Columbia County delivered food to members of the community to ensure the health and safety of everyone.