Guest columnist: Ben Franklin Transit responds to opinion column

Ben Franklin Transit (BFT) would like to respond to the Washington Policy Center’s guest editorial article published Aug. 2 in the Tri-City Herald.

BFT is a community partner providing public transportation in the Tri-City area since 1982. The community supports public transportation as it provides mobility for the transit dependent, creates economic opportunities, drives community growth and revitalization, saves money, reduces gas consumption, and reduces carbon footprint. Since its inception, BFT’s fleet has grown in size from 23 to more than 523 bus, Dial-A-Ride, and vanpool vehicles serving a population of approximately 246,000 over an 80-square-mile area for six jurisdictions within the two county areas. Moreover, BFT continues to provide paratransit services beyond the federally mandated “3/4 mile from a fixed route” to ensure transit accessibility to those in our community whose needs are greatest; a majority of these trips are medical related.

The Washington Policy Center’s editorial stated that between 2009 and 2013, operating revenues increased 19 percent as a result of “windfall sales tax collections;” however, BFT’s revenue sources include fares, state and federal funds and local sales tax. In 2009, BFT began using a portion of federal formula funds to balance its operating budget. Approximately 70 percent of sales tax receipts are used for operating expenses. The remainder is used to meet federal and state local funding match requirements for capital projects and, for 2012 and 2013 to increase reserves depleted during the economic downturn. Unlike a city, county or state that bonds to pay for capital assets, BFT pays for all assets on a cash basis. Our current cash reserve includes operating reserves, local match for assets currently in production such as bus, Dial-A-Ride and vanpool vehicles, ongoing capital projects, and future infrastructure replacement.

BFT is not alone when it comes to the rising cost of doing business. As most businesses experience, the costs of goods and services increase annually due to inflationary pressures. In addition to system expansion through the years, rising costs can be attributed to ever increasing federal safety regulations and oversight compliance that must accompany growth. However, BFT works hard to contain its operating costs. In 1996, labor accounted for 68 percent of total operating expenses. In 2013, labor accounted for 64 percent of total operating expenses, or a 4 percent decrease. As a comparison, the Washington State Department of Transportation classifies BFT as a “Transit Serving Urban Areas.” Other Washington transit agencies of this same classification average a cost of $5.46 per unlinked passenger trip whereas BFT’s average cost is $4.93 or $0.53 lower than the average.

The editorial also stated that “In 1996 BFT had a total of 4.4 million annual unlinked passenger trips; in 2013 total annual unlinked passenger trips fell to 4.1 million or an 8 percent loss in trips across all modes.” Over the mentioned 17-year period, ridership grew and declined. Ridership is cyclical and based upon multiple factors such as population density, economy, unemployment rates, gas prices, congestion and parking availability. In the last two years, more dense urban areas within the state have started to see ridership rebound from the economic downturn. BFT has yet to see its ridership stabilize in part to the closing of the Umatilla Munitions Station, the reduction of federal funding levels at Hanford, and stricter adherence to paratransit eligibility. Additional factors attributing to ridership decline are due to the restructuring of fares in 2009, 2010 and 2012, and major service reductions in June 2010. Service reductions included combining five routes into two, capping available taxi and night service and the termination of Sunday service.

Currently, under the direction of its Board of Directors, BFT is positioning the agency towards a major comprehensive system study that will begin in early fall. The study will recommend a financially sustainable service plan which includes how best to meet our growing community’s current and future public transportation needs. The study will provide optimal route frequencies, route coverage and ridership growth strategies while improving operational efficiencies. Throughout this study BFT and its Board of Directors welcomes and encourages public participation. BFT thanks the community for its ongoing trust and support in providing public transportation within our region.

This story was originally published August 18, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Guest columnist: Ben Franklin Transit responds to opinion column."