The Vancouver Freight Alliance on Monday joined a growing list of local organizations to endorse Proposition 1.
In coming out in favor of the proposed sales tax increase to boost funding for C-Tran, the freight alliance cited the “critical role transit plays in Clark County’s economic health,” among other factors. Proposition 1, on the Nov. 8 ballot, would increase C-Tran’s local sales tax rate by 0.2 percentage point, raising the agency’s annual revenue by an estimated $8 million to $9 million. The measure would pay for the preservation of existing bus service.
C-Tran leaders have said they’ll need to cut bus service by 35 percent to balance the budget should the measure fail. That could mean eliminating more than a dozen weekday routes, plus all Sunday and special event service by 2013. C-Tran is currently drawing down its reserve funds, and has struggled financially since losing much of its state funding in 2000.
The Vancouver Freight Alliance represents more than 80 freight-related businesses in the Portland-Vancouver area.
