A new online survey launched this week, invites Washington citizens to share their ideas about the state’s transportation priorities and how to pay for them.

This January, the Legislature and governor will be faced with tough choices on how our state’s growing transportation needs will be met. A combination of changing driving habits, increased vehicle fuel-efficiency and increasing numbers of electric vehicles makes the gas tax an unsustainable transportation revenue source for the long-term.

To help decision makers, the Washington State Transportation Commission launched a statewide survey seeking public opinion about transportation funding and investment priorities. Washington residents who have joined the Voice of Washington State (VOWS) survey panel will receive an email inviting them to take an online survey. The results will be reported to the governor and Legislature at the start of the 2013 session.

VOWS is an online public input program utilizing short surveys that give people an opportunity to share their thoughts on transportation. The survey panel is open to all Washington state residents and people can sign up at any time. The VOWS survey panel currently has more than 18,000 members and continues to grow.

To participate in the current survey, sign up at www.voiceofwashingtonsurvey.org by Dec. 17. Throughout the coming year, members of the VOWS survey panel will be invited to participate in online surveys on a variety of transportation topics.

For more information on the VOWS program or WSTC, call 360-705-7070, email transc@wsdot.wa.gov or visitwww.wstc.wa.gov .