Transportation Benefit District

TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT DISTRICT (TBD) FAQs

How are projects picked?
Projects included on the city's adopted transportation improvement plan are eligible for funding.  For some time, we have been seeking public input on what projects are important to our citizens.

How are projects funded?
The City of Airway Heights voters passed a $.2 sales tax under Chapter 36.73 RCW in November of 2013.  On April 1, 2014 the City began collecting the sales tax. 

With the $.2 sales tax, the City can begin to replace the transportation funding that has been lost over the years, and be better able to preserve, maintain or expand the City's transportation infrastructure into the future.  The City's sales tax rate goes from 8.7% to 8.9%.

Why should I support the Transportation Benefit District?
Street maintenance is second only to public safety on the list of vital services the city provides to Airway Heights residents, business owners and visitors.

Street maintenance is also an important part of the city's economic development efforts. The city's streets are often the first impression visitors, potential business owners and customers have when they enter Airway Heights.

Other economic incentives may not matter if Airway Heights' streets are not well maintained and inviting.  In this case "curb appeal" is not just a figure of speech.

A transportation benefit district provides funding to ensure Airway Heights' streets, sidewalks and trails do not deteriorate and require a more expensive fix in the future.

When was the TBD Formed?
In April 2013, after conducting a public hearing, the Airway Heights City Council approved Resolution 2013-001 that formed the Airway Heights Transportation Benefit District and adopted a new chapter to the Airway Heights Municipal Code, entitled "Transportation Benefit District".

The ordinance specifies that the boundaries for the TBD be coextensive with the City limits. Funds used to operate the District must make transportation improvements that are consistent with existing regional, state, and local transportation plans and necessitated by existing and reasonably foreseeable congestion levels as provided in Chapter 36.73 RCW.

The council further determined that it is in the public interest to provide for transportation improvements that specifically focus on reducing the risk of transportation facility failure and improving safety, decreasing travel time, increasing daily and peak period trip capacity, improving modal connectivity and preserving and maintaining optimal performance of transportation infrastructure.

The governing board of the TBD shall be the Airway Heights City Council serving in an ex-officio and independent capacity as per RCW 36.73.020.