Rep. John Ley, R-Vancouver, has introduced legislation aimed at resolving an ongoing dispute between the City of Vancouver and smaller Clark County cities over proportional representation on the C-TRAN Board of Directors.
House Bill 2143 would repeal a state provision allowing the Washington State Department of Transportation to withhold funding if transit board membership is not allocated strictly by population. The bill would also cap representation for Clark County and the City of Vancouver at three seats each, preserving board seats for smaller cities, a Washington State House Republicans news release stated.
State law currently requires transit board representation to be proportional by population, while also prohibiting any single city from holding more than half of a board’s seats. Ley said recent changes to C-TRAN’s board structure have shifted influence away from smaller cities.
“My bill would protect their voice, ensuring those small communities are heard and their influence remains at a level that has served the community well for nearly 40 years,” Ley said in the release.
House Bill 2143 is scheduled for consideration during the 2026 legislative session, which begins Monday, Jan. 12.
