The Seattle Times describes its Traffic Lab as a “Project that digs into region’s thorny transportation issues, spotlights promising approaches, helps readers find the best ways to get around.”
The November 27th edition headline “Sound Transit fare ambassadors checking if you paid, but nicely” typifies their approach. Quotes the board’s dubious expectation that a “friendlier, non-threatening collections system” will increase the number of those willing to pay.
The article reports “fare revenue accounts for roughly 7% of total budget”. Yet, Sound Transit’s 2024 Financial Plan and Proposed Budget pie charts “Revenues and Other Financing Sources” anticipates Passenger Fare Revenue will make up only 2% of total revenue in 2024 and 4% from 2017 to 2046. However, the 2019 budget, prior to the falloff in those willing to pay, anticipated fare revenue would make up only 4% of budget revenue in 2019 and 7% through 2041.
Thus, the Traffic Lab apparently considers the loss in fare revenue due to the 2-3% of budget lost from those unwilling to pay fares worthy of “digging into” and a front- page headline. Yet they fail to mention that Sound Transit has decided their version of “equitable fares” requires riders from Capitol Hill to Westlake pay the same fare as someone riding from Lynnwood to SeaTac.
That Sound Transit is willing to pay more than $13B and 6-10 years disrupting downtown Seattle boring a second tunnel and implementing 5 new stations for access. All to allow East Link and West Seattle commuters ride to Lynnwood and beyond and those from Ballard ride to Federal Way and beyond without changing trains.
That Sound Transit’s 2024 budget’s Long Range financial plan will result in a $27.5 in Principal Balance on Tax Based Debt in 2046 while ST3 taxes voters approved voters in 2016 to pay the debt will end in 2041.
The bottom line is the Seattle Times Traffic Lab “digging into” Sound Transit’s financial concerns needs to go way beyond detailing attempts to increase those paying the fares.
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