Public Transportation Unmet Needs Study

July 2021-June 2023

The study was funded under the Federal Transit Administration Statewide Planning Program.

The Unmet Needs Study uncovered that more than 270,000 households in Washington are likely to have unmet transportation needs due to a lack of, or inadequate access to, public transportation. These households are often in rural areas, earning lower incomes, and consisting of members living with a disability, or of members that are seniors. Households with unmet needs miss 28,732,000 trips annually. Inadequate funding, staffing, and resources for transportation providers, especially those in rural areas cause unmet transportation needs. Unmet transportation needs result in fewer opportunities for households to connect to jobs, community resources, and enriching activities.

The Unmet Needs Study will inform WSDOT’s public transportation planning work, development of budgets, and cost estimates when evaluating gaps in public transportation. The study will also provide vital information to decision-makers when developing policy or making funding decisions about the scope of unmet needs.

Coby Zeifman
Public transportation planner
Coby.Zeifman@wsdot.wa.gov
206-716-1103