Public transportation benefit area

Last updated

A public transportation benefit area, abbreviated as PTBA, is a type of public-benefit corporation for public transit operators in the U.S. state of Washington. It was authorized in 1975 along with a funding mechanism that uses sales taxes levied within a district. As of 2025, there are 21 PTBAs that cover most of Washington's counties and large cities, with the exception of Seattle.

Contents

Public transportation benefit areas are defined by Revised Code of Washington Chapter 36.57A, and are described as special taxing districts created solely for the purpose of funding public transportation. Within Washington state, there are 31 systems that cover all or parts of 23 counties and serve 132 cities. The majority of transit systems in the state are operated by public transportation benefit areas, with the exception of King County Metro (a metropolitan county system) and Sound Transit (a regional transit authority) in the Seattle metropolitan area; as well as county transportation authorities in Columbia County and Grays Harbor County; [1] and city-owned systems in Everett, Pullman, and Yakima. [2] [3] [4] Only two PTBAs serve more than one county: Ben Franklin Transit in Benton and Franklin counties; and Link Transit in Chelan and Douglas counties. These systems are allowed up to 15 members on their board of directors. [1]

PTBAs are granted the authority to impose a voter-authorized sales tax of up to 0.9 percent and motor vehicle excise tax of up to 0.4 percent within its boundaries. Community Transit, the PTBA of Snohomish County, was granted a sales tax limit of 1.2 percent in 2015 after exhausting the existing 0.9 percent. [5] [6] : 1  PTBAs with boundaries on the Puget Sound are also authorized to provide passenger ferry service in addition to traditional bus, paratransit and vanpool services. [3] PTBAs are governed by a board of directors of not more than nine elected officials, supplemented by a union representative. In Thurston County, the board is allowed to have citizen members; in Mason County, elected officials on the board include representatives from school boards, fire districts, and hospital districts. [1]

A special type of PTBA for unincorporated areas within counties, called unincorporated transportation benefit areas. [7] Garfield County had the last active unincorporated transportation benefit area until it was converted into a county authority in 2016. [2]

History

On July 1, 1975, Governor Daniel J. Evans signed Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill No. 2280 into law, creating the PTBA. [8] The bill had been proposed by the Snohomish County Transportation Authority (SNO-TRAN), who would later use the legislation to establish the state's first PTBA, the Snohomish County Public Transportation Benefit Area Corporation, later renamed Community Transit, in November 1975. [9] [10]

List of public transportation benefit areas

As of 2025, Washington has 21 public transportation benefit areas that serve a total population of over 4 million residents. [1] [11]

AgencyEstablished [12] AreaPopulation [11] JurisdictionFixed-route
ridership (2024) [13] 		Sales tax rate [2] Website
Asotin County PTBA May 27, 2003 [14] 636 sq mi (1,647 km2)22,750 Asotin County 47,1470.2% ridethevalley.org
Ben Franklin Transit May 11, 1981 [15] 618 sq mi (1,601 km2) [16] 290,240Central Benton County and Pasco in Franklin County 2,786,9830.6% bft.org
C-Tran November 4, 1980627 sq mi (1,624 km2)461,659 Clark County 4,657,3930.7% c-tran.com
Clallam Transit July 24, 1979 [17] 1,753 sq mi (4,540 km2) [18] 78,650 Clallam County 803,9630.6% clallamtransit.com
Community Transit June 1, 1976 [19] [20] 1,308 sq mi (3,388 km2) [21] 644,949 Snohomish County (excluding Everett)7,825,8961.2% communitytransit.org
Grant Transit Authority November 1996 [22] 2,679 sq mi (6,939 km2)106,250 Grant County 137,7950.2% gta-ride.com
Intercity Transit September 16, 198097 sq mi (251 km2) [23] 321,349 Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater and Yelm in Thurston County 4,242,9111.2% intercitytransit.com
Island Transit November 4, 1980208 sq mi (539 km2)88,700 Island County 261,2890.9% islandtransit.org
Jefferson Transit November 4, 19801,803 sq mi (4,670 km2) [24] 33,825 Jefferson County 242,3420.9% jeffersontransit.com
Kitsap Transit May 16, 1978395 sq mi (1,023 km2)288,900 Kitsap County 1,655,6361.1% [a] kitsaptransit.com
Lewis County Transit [b] November 2, 197613.1 sq mi (34 km2) [26] 26,245 Centralia and Chehalis in Lewis County 219,8790.2% lewiscountytransit.org
Link Transit November 21, 1989 [27] 3,500 sq mi (9,065 km2) [27] 123,176 Chelan and Douglas counties1,233,8370.5% linktransit.com
Mason Transit Authority November 15, 1991 [28] 968 sq mi (2,507 km2) [29] 67,800 Mason County 481,2070.6% masontransit.org
Pacific Transit System November 6, 1979933 sq mi (2,416 km2)23,950 Pacific County 68,1890.3% pacifictransit.org
Pierce Transit November 6, 1979292 sq mi (756 km2) [30] 612,378Central and northern Pierce County 6,769,4930.6% piercetransit.org
RiverCities Transit September 15, 1987 [31] 27 sq mi (70 km2) [32] 51,470 Kelso and Longview in Cowlitz County 271,5000.3% rctransit.org
Skagit Transit November 1992 [33] 750 sq mi (1,942 km2) [34] 118,860Northern and western Skagit County 501,5840.4% skagittransit.org
Spokane Transit Authority March 10, 1981 [35] 248 sq mi (642 km2) [35] 481,616Central Spokane County 7,857,6890.8% [36] spokanetransit.com
TranGO November 5, 2013 [37] 5,034 sq mi (13,038 km2) [38] 40,615 Okanogan County 56,5300.4% [39] okanogantransit.com
Valley Transit March 18, 1980 [40] 25 sq mi (65 km2) [41] 54,252Southeastern Walla Walla County 455,8600.6% valleytransit.com
Whatcom Transportation Authority March 10, 1983 [42] 776 sq mi (2,010 km2) [43] 240,415Western Whatcom County 3,760,0050.6% ridewta.com

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ 0.3% of the PTBA rate is allocated for Kitsap Fast Ferries service. [2]
  2. ↑ Until 2024, Lewis County Transit was named Twin Transit. [25]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Joint Transportation Committee (July 2025). Washington State Transportation Resource Manual (PDF) (Report). Washington State Legislature. pp. 175–182, 405–409. Retrieved November 23, 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Local Transit Authorities and Funding Sources". Municipal Research and Services Center. January 17, 2025. Retrieved November 23, 2025.
  3. 1 2 Passenger-Only Ferry Business Plan and Long Range Strategy: Summary Report (PDF) (Report). Kitsap Transit. December 2014. p. 4. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
  4. ↑ "Chapter 36.57A RCW: Public Transportation Benefit Areas". Revised Code of Washington . Washington State Legislature . Retrieved July 12, 2016.
  5. ↑ "RCW 82.14.045: Sales and use taxes for public transportation systems". Revised Code of Washington. Washington State Legislature. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
  6. ↑ Public Transportation Division (December 2014). 2013 Summary of Public Transportation (PDF) (Report). Washington State Department of Transportation . Retrieved July 12, 2016.
  7. ↑ "RCW 36.57.110: Boundaries of unincorporated transportation benefit areas". Revised Code of Washington. Washington State Legislature. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
  8. ↑ White, Richard O., ed. (July 1, 1975). "Chapter 270 (Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill No. 2280): Public Transportation" (PDF). 1975 Session Laws of the State of Washington - 1st Extraordinary Session, Forty-Fourth Legislature. Session Laws of the State of Washington (1975 ed.). Olympia, Washington: Washington State Legislature. pp. 979–993. OCLC   42336168.
  9. ↑ Brooks, Diane (December 30, 1994). "Sno-Tran Has Met Goals, Calling It A Day -- Tomorrow Ends Decade Of Success For Transit Agency". The Seattle Times. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
  10. ↑ Public Transportation and Rail Division (September 1997). "Community Transit". Public Transportation Systems in Washington State, 1996 Summary (PDF) (Report). Washington State Department of Transportation. p. 27. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 21, 2016. Retrieved July 12, 2016– via National Transportation Library.
  11. 1 2 Kemp, Rob (September 26, 2025). "2025 Public Transportation Benefit Area Population Estimates" (PDF). Washington State Office of Financial Management. Retrieved November 23, 2025.
  12. ↑ Planning, Research and Public Transportation Division (October 1984). "Local Transit". Public Transportation in Washington State, 1984 (PDF) (Report). Washington State Department of Transportation. pp. 19–20. OCLC   13007541. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 28, 2016. Retrieved July 12, 2016– via National Transportation Library.
  13. ↑ Public Transportation Division (December 2025). Summary of Public Transportation, Calendar year 2024 (PDF) (Report). Washington State Department of Transportation. pp. 26–27. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  14. ↑ "Accountability Audit Report: Asotin County Public Transportation Benefit Area". Washington State Auditor's Office. November 30, 2015. p. 5. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
  15. ↑ Woebler, Bob (May 20, 1980). "Tri-City voters approve mass transit system 2-1". Tri-City Herald . Kennewick, Washington: The McClatchy Company.
  16. ↑ "BFT History". Ben Franklin Transit . Retrieved July 12, 2016.
  17. ↑ "History". Clallam Transit. Archived from the original on September 29, 2015. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
  18. ↑ "Facts/Ridership & Budget". Clallam Transit. Archived from the original on September 29, 2015. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
  19. ↑ Lane, Bob (June 2, 1976). "Snohomish County bus system OK'd". The Seattle Times . p. A10.
  20. ↑ "Community Transit Marks 35th Anniversary" (Press release). Everett, Washington: Community Transit. October 3, 2011. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
  21. ↑ Heath, Emmett (May 27, 2014). 2013 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, Years Ending December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 (PDF) (Report). Community Transit. p. 109. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 5, 2014. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
  22. ↑ "History". Grant Transit Authority . Retrieved July 12, 2016.
  23. ↑ "30th Anniversary Survey Feedback Positive". Intercity Transit. 2011. Archived from the original on August 7, 2016. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
  24. ↑ "Statistical Information". Jefferson Transit. February 2011. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
  25. ↑ "Twin Transit to rebrand to 'Lewis County Transit' in new year". The Chronicle. Centralia, Washington. December 29, 2023. Retrieved November 23, 2025.
  26. ↑ "Section 3: Service Characteristics" (PDF). 2013 Annual Report & Transit Development Plan 2014–2019 (Report). Twin Transit. August 15, 2014. p. 6. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
  27. 1 2 "About Link Transit". Link Transit. Archived from the original on April 20, 2016. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
  28. ↑ "History of MTA". Mason Transit Authority. Archived from the original on March 6, 2015. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
  29. ↑ LePage, Caroyln (December 31, 2008). Annual Report: Mason County Public Transportation Benefit Area Authority (MTA) (PDF) (Report). Mason County Transportation Authority. p. 3. Retrieved July 12, 2016.[ permanent dead link ]
  30. ↑ "About Us". Pierce Transit . Retrieved July 12, 2016.
  31. ↑ Brunner, Dell. "Buses keep rolling as transit tax coasts to easy win". The Daily News. Longview, Washington. p. A1. Retrieved November 8, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  32. ↑ "Section 3: Service Characteristics". 2013 Annual Report and 2014-2019 Transit Development Plan (PDF) (Report). RiverCities Transit. August 13, 2014. p. 5. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
  33. ↑ Public Transportation and Rail Division (September 1997). Public Transportation Systems in Washington State, 1996 Summary (PDF) (Report). Washington State Department of Transportation. p. 99. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
  34. ↑ "Fact Sheet: Skagit Transit History and Demographics". Skagit Transit. 2011. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
  35. 1 2 "Spokane Transit Celebrates 35th Anniversary" (Press release). Spokane Transit Authority. March 10, 2016. Archived from the original on April 5, 2022. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
  36. ↑ "Spokane Transit 2025–2030 Transit Development Plan, Final Draft" (PDF). Spokane Transit Authority. June 21, 2024. p. 21. Retrieved November 23, 2025.
  37. ↑ "Okanogan County — Election results 2013". The Wenatchee World . November 5, 2013. Archived from the original on November 26, 2013. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
  38. ↑ "Chapter 1: Introduction" (PDF). Okanogan County Transit Authority 2013 Transit Service Plan (Report). Okanogan County Transit Authority. March 11, 2013. p. 1. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
  39. ↑ Taxpayer Account Administration (January 29, 2014). "Okanogan County Transportation Tax, Effective April 1, 2014" (PDF). Washington State Department of Revenue. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
  40. ↑ "History of Valley Transit". Valley Transit . Retrieved July 12, 2016.
  41. ↑ "Annual Agency Profile – Valley Transit" (PDF). National Transit Database. Federal Transit Administration. October 9, 2025. Retrieved November 23, 2025.
  42. ↑ Whatcom County Council (March 10, 1983). "Whatcom County Council Minutes: Public Transportation Benefit Area (PTBA)" (PDF). Whatcom County. p. 2. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
  43. ↑ "Whatcom Transportation Authority 2025–2030 Transit Development Plan". Whatcom Transportation Authority. July 17, 2025. p. 8. Retrieved November 23, 2025.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.