Jeff Benson

The meeting began with a roll call and acknowledgment of attendees, followed by a brief public comment period. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to 'heartening highlights,' featuring presentations from the Bellingham Police Department regarding the value of the partnership with WTA. Deputy Chief Ty Elmondorf shared an anecdote emphasizing the positive community impact of WTA drivers. Investigator Josh Danyke presented an award to Operation Supervisor Rocky Hamilton for invaluable assistance provided during an assault and drug distribution investigation, which led to the arrest of a registered sex offender. Another highlight involved recognizing Transit Safety Officer George Henderson for saving a young man's life through the administration of CPR and Narcan. The board also heard an update on the partnership with Wacom Land Trust and Million Trees Project concerning the preservation of forest land to offset the organization's carbon footprint, detailing the progress on property acquisitions and community engagement benefits associated with these environmental initiatives. Following this, the board entered executive session for a collective bargaining update. Upon reconvening, the board commenced action on revising the WTA reserve policy, specifically reviewing the established operating reserve fund.

The meeting commenced with a roll call for the 2026 board members, followed by public comment where attendees discussed fare increases and advocated for exploring fare-free transit options, suggesting alternative revenue streams such as a car tab fee or parking excise tax. Key board actions included the reorganization of the board for 2026, with nominations and approvals for the Vice Chairperson and representatives to the Watcom Transportation Board. Recognition was given to outgoing board members, including executives Seth Paul and Skip Williams, with associated resolutions of thanks passed by the board. Subsequent board action items involved the approval for the purchase of new fare collection equipment, estimated at $328,000, to implement tap-to-pay and joint fare capping, and authorization to continue the contract for Cobblestone procurement software. Finally, the board addressed revisions to the fixed route service evaluation guideline provisions, which are part of the continuous improvement cycle, originating from the WTA40 long-range transit plan.

The meeting commenced with roll call confirming quorum, followed by a public comment period where no in-person or written comments were received. A significant portion of the meeting involved a closed session concerning collective bargaining updates, which required extensions. Key discussion items in the open session included the authorization and funding recommendations for the 2026 Transit Access Fund, involving six project applications for pedestrian and non-motorized improvements across various jurisdictions. Recommendations included partial or full funding for projects in Bellingham School District, City of Blaine, City of Everson, and City of Bellingham (Barkley/Gracine). Additionally, the board approved the formation of a subcommittee to assist with negotiations regarding the WWU contract, with specific board members volunteered to serve. The agenda concluded with the approval of the consent agenda and preliminary discussion on the annual cybersecurity update.

The meeting included public comment where a student expressed support for WTA going fare-free via a car tab fee and supported the recently updated rapid transit locally preferred alternative. The board entered a closed session for a collective bargaining update. Key agenda items discussed included the annual review and approval of the Delegation of Authority document, which was approved without changes. The board also approved an amendment to the interlocal agreement between WDAG and the organization, which involved housekeeping updates to a contract originally signed in 2015. Approval was sought for a contract award with Specific Facility Solutions for maintenance services, including stormwater and wastewater system maintenance and oil water separator sludge removal. An extensive discussion on WTA's 2026 goals outlined a transition towards execution, focusing on building capacity, leveraging partnerships, and achieving outcomes such as improving access to opportunities, reducing environmental footprint, and supporting economic growth and affordable housing. Specific initiatives mentioned included the Lynden station project, which aims for a ground lease before summer, and the Downtown Station project, focusing on securing a property manager and forming a governance team to define community goals for future public-private partnerships. The board also discussed the FIFA update, contingent on Watchdog finalizing the funding source agreement, and the approval of Transit Access Funds projects.

The meeting commenced with roll call. Public comment periods were held for matters relevant to the WTA, excluding the fair rates, with discussions focusing heavily on the continuation of the Western bus pass negotiations and the financial impact of potential rate increases on students. Board actions included establishing the official place of business and the 2026 regular meeting schedule, approving annual purchase orders over $150,000 for 2026, and considering the approval for the order of 15 fixed route hybrid buses from Gillig. A significant portion of the discussion concerned the proposed fair rates and rules, addressing the growing gap between operating expenses and revenues, the need to maintain service levels despite discretionary spending cuts, and reviewing the impact of free paratransit rides for seniors (Gold Cards) on system sustainability. An amendment was introduced to consider a reduced daily fair cap for less frequent, reduced-fare riders.