Transportation Choices Coalition

What Transportation Choices Coalition does

Transportation Choices Coalition (TCC) is a Seattle-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit policy and advocacy organization founded in 1993 to expand transit, walking, and biking options across Washington State. With a staff of 8–9 led by Executive Director Kirk Hovenkotter, TCC operates a community-led go-to-market model that builds and coordinates broad coalitions spanning transit agencies (Sound Transit, King County Metro, Pierce Transit), labor unions (MLK Labor, LiUNA Local 242), environmental and disability rights groups, and community organizations. The organization delivers its impact through four integrated program pillars: policy research and development, legislative and ballot advocacy, education and engagement, and coalition mobilization. Since inception, TCC has been credited with helping secure over $65 billion in state and local transportation investments, including Sound Transit 3 ($54B), Move Ahead Washington ($5.2B in 2022), the Seattle Transportation Levy ($1.55B in 2024), and Youth Ride Free (serving 1.6 million Washingtonians 18 and under).

TCC's core offerings are not commercial products but advocacy programs, campaigns, and educational tools. Key programmatic outputs include the Build the Damn Trains campaign (preserving Sound Transit 3 projects), the annual Tuxes & Trains gala, Ride Transit Month (June), Transit Talks webinars, Rural Transportation Advocacy workshops, and digital tools such as the Commute Calculator, an Action Alerts platform, and a county-level transit resource directory. The organization also publishes policy research, including the Youth Perspectives on Transit report. TCC's technology footprint is intentionally minimal — its value proposition is rooted in human policy expertise, coalition management, and grassroots organizing rather than software or AI.

The business model is member-supported nonprofit fundraising. 2025 total income of $1,605,947 was generated across six streams: foundation and government grants ($712,000, ~44%), the annual Tuxes & Trains gala ($361,491), memberships ($259,382), other revenue ($132,353), individual donations including a monthly giving program ($95,042), and corporate contributions ($45,679). The organization is governed by a Board of Directors and operates from a single office in downtown Seattle. Its served geography is Washington State exclusively, with a population reach of approximately 8 million residents.

Name

Transportation Choices Coalition

Legal name

Transportation Choices Coalition

Website

https://www.transportationchoices.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Transportation Choices Coalition is a Seattle-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1993 that builds coalitions across Washington State to advocate for transit, walking, and biking policies and funding, serving transit riders, active transportation users, transit agencies, and historically marginalized communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Transportation Policy Advocacy

NAICS

Regulation and Administration of Transportation Programs (926120)

SIC

Transportation Services (4700)

akta.pro primary industry

Active Transportation & Micromobility Infrastructure (Bike/Ped Networks, Shared Mobility Programs) (BPAIALAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Transportation & Infrastructure Planning (BPAHAKAF), Cyclist/Micromobility Safety Infrastructure (Protected Lanes, Bollards, Bike Signals, Conflict Mitigation) (TLAJAGAF)

Keywords

• Transportation advocacy
• Transit policy
• Public transportation
• Community organizing
• Active transportation

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Grants: Foundation and government grants constitute the largest single revenue source, providing $712,000 in 2025. Grants represent major programmatic funding for policy research, advocacy campaigns, and coalition building activities.
2. Memberships: Annual membership fees from individuals and transit agencies, generating $259,382 in 2025. Membership provides recurring revenue and member engagement.
3. Annual Event (Tuxes & Trains Gala): Annual fundraising gala featuring awards, entertainment, and paddle raise donations. Raised $361,491 in 2025 and $389,000 in 2025 (exceeding $275,000 goal). One-time major donor event revenue.
4. Individual Donations: Direct contributions from individual supporters, generating $95,042 in 2025. Includes monthly giving program with exclusive donor perks.
5. Corporate Contributions: Corporate sponsorships and business contributions, totaling $45,679 in 2025. Includes event sponsorships and workplace giving programs.
6. Other Revenue: Miscellaneous revenue including merchandise sales, workplace giving matches, and EarthShare Washington contributions, totaling $132,353 in 2025.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Transportation Choices Coalition is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit policy and advocacy organization that advocates for policies, funding, and rider tools to expand transit, walking, and biking options across Washington State. The organization builds coalitions among transit agencies, community groups, businesses, labor unions, and individuals to pass transportation legislation, win ballot measures, and secure funding for sustainable transportation infrastructure.

Product overview

Transportation Choices Coalition (TCC) is a policy and advocacy nonprofit, not a technology product company. TCC's offerings consist of advocacy campaigns (Build the Damn Trains, legislative campaigns), educational programs (Ride Transit Month, Transit Talks, Tuxes & Trains gala), research publications (Youth Perspectives on Transit report), and practical tools (Commute Calculator, Action Alerts platform, Transportation Resources by County directory). Their policy programs span Access + Affordability, New Technology + Innovation, Health + Sustainability, and Plans + Projects. These programs work together as an integrated advocacy approach to advance safe, sustainable, and equitable transportation across Washington State.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Won $54 billion for Sound Transit 3 - largest transit expansion in Washington history
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Transit Agencies (Sound Transit, King County Metro, Pierce Transit, etc.)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTCC works in sustained partnership with transit agencies across Washington to develop policy priorities, support ballot measures, and advocate for funding. As a regional leader for transit advocacy and key contributor to Sound Transit 3, TCC brings coalition support and policy expertise to agency initiatives.
• Seattle Neighborhood GreenwayscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in coalition advocacy for safe streets. Worked together on Seattle transportation levy campaign, with Seattle Neighborhood Greenways advocating for pedestrian safety investments including historic sidewalk expansions and safety improvements on dangerous corridors.
• Cascade Bicycle ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in coalition for bicycling infrastructure advocacy. Partnered on Seattle transportation levy campaign where Cascade advocated for bicycling investments, resulting in the largest bicycling investment in Seattle history.
• Disability Rights WashingtoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in mobility justice and accessibility advocacy. Worked together on Seattle transportation levy campaign, with Disability Rights Washington advocating for historic sidewalk investments and pedestrian safety improvements.
• MLK LaborcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLabor partner in coalition for transit and working families. Endorsed and supported Seattle transportation levy campaign, contributing to its historic passage with 67%+ voter approval.
• Spokane ReimaginedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Spokane for people-centered transportation advocacy. TCC organized Walk & Talk event on Division Street and provides ongoing advocacy support for safer streets in Spokane.
• LiUNA Local 242coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLabor partner supporting Build the Damn Trains campaign to preserve Sound Transit 3 projects. Light rail projects put over 1,000 tradespeople to work daily.
• HopelinkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in organizing Rural Transportation Advocacy 101 workshop in Duvall, Washington, bringing together local residents, elected leaders, and transit users to strengthen rural transportation advocacy.
• Snoqualmie Valley Mobility CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host of Rural Transportation Advocacy 101 Workshop in Duvall, united by common goal of strengthening rural transportation advocacy and mobility options.
• Downtown on the GominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Pierce/Tacoma region for transportation advocacy and Ride Transit Month proclamations and events.
• FuturewiseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in coalition for transportation and housing Seattle candidate forum with over 150 attendees during Ride Transit Month.
• Youth for Equitable StreetsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosted Youth Advocacy Workshop on mobility justice and transit justice, featuring panel discussions and legislative hearing practice for young advocates.
• The Nature ConservancyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Transit Talk panel on Move Ahead Washington and Climate Commitment Act impacts on transportation.
• American Public Transportation Association (APTA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTCC staff presented on Seattle Transportation Levy campaign and Initiative 2117 defeat at Transit Ballot Initiatives Workshop hosted by APTA's Center for Transportation Excellence.
• EarthShare WashingtonminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProud member of EarthShare Washington, which simplifies workplace giving and champions Washington's environmental future.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Sierra Club: National environmental advocacy organization that, like TCC, campaigns for transit and sustainable transportation policies. Comparable because both organize grassroots coalitions to shift transportation funding away from highways and toward transit, walking, and biking.
• PeopleForBikes: National bicycling advocacy organization with both industry and grassroots advocacy arms. Comparable to TCC because it advocates for federal and state funding for active transportation infrastructure, similar to TCC's state-level role in Washington.
• Smart Growth America: National coalition advocating for walkable, transit-oriented communities. Comparable to TCC because it works on transportation funding, complete streets policies, and equity-focused urban planning at federal and state levels.
• League of American Bicyclists: National advocacy organization promoting bicycling for transportation and recreation. Comparable to TCC because it advocates for federal bike infrastructure funding and supports state-level advocacy campaigns similar to TCC's work.
• American Public Transportation Association (APTA): National industry association for public transit agencies. TCC has even presented at APTA's Center for Transportation Excellence. Comparable because both engage in transit ballot measure advocacy and policy advocacy, though APTA is industry-facing while TCC is grassroots.
• Rails-to-Trails Conservancy: National nonprofit that converts rail corridors into multi-use trails and advocates for active transportation infrastructure. Comparable to TCC because both advocate for federal and state funding for non-motorized transportation infrastructure.

Direct peers

• TransitCenter: National foundation focused on urban transit policy and advocacy. Directly comparable to TCC because both are policy-focused nonprofit organizations dedicated to expanding and improving public transit, with overlapping donor and funder networks.
• Cascade Bicycle Club: Washington State bicycling advocacy organization and TCC coalition partner. Directly comparable because both lobby for bike infrastructure funding, run voter education campaigns, and operate rider-education programs in the same Washington geography.
• Seattle Neighborhood Greenways: Seattle-based nonprofit advocating for safe streets, sidewalks, and pedestrian infrastructure. Directly comparable because it's a TCC coalition partner that also campaigns for active transportation funding at municipal and state levels.
• Futurewise: Washington State nonprofit advocating for sustainable land use and transportation. Comparable to TCC because both are Washington-based advocacy organizations that lobby the state legislature for transit-oriented development and sustainable transportation funding.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TranspoChoices
• Facebookfacebook.com/TranspoChoices
• Instagraminstagram.com/transpochoices/?hl=en

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Transportation Choices Coalition