Washington State is improving how you log in and access services by introducing a new unified log in, WA.gov accounts, to replace the state's current tool, SecureAccess Washington (SAW).
The change is expected to make your access to state services more secure and consistent across multiple Washington State services. If you have worked with our agency before, it’s likely you have used a SAW account to access platforms such as GIS-Mo or Pinnacle.
The replacement of SAW started earlier this year and will be implemented at state agencies on a rolling basis through 2027; agencies will switch from requiring a SAW account to requiring a WA.gov account when logging into their websites and services. Not all state agency services are changing to WA.gov at the same time so you may need to keep using SAW for some services. The County Road Administration Board is one of the earliest to make the change for users and we want to help make it a smooth experience for you.
Here are some frequently asked questions, what to expect from us, and where to learn more about the change.
What is a WA.gov account?
WA.gov accounts are a new way to log in to online Washington State government services. Your WA.gov account will get you to the same services you accessed via SAW but will have new features, personalization and enhanced security.
What CRAB platforms will be included in the change?
A WA.gov account will be required to access GIS-Mo, VueWorks, ESRI Event Editor, CARS, RAP Online, Pinnacle, and the Helpdesk; however, the platforms will be transitioning on a rolling basis and will not be changing right away. We will be transitioning Pinnacle first and are aiming for a mid-December launch.
What is changing for me?
As each platform moves over, instead of seeing SAW when you log in, you will see a screen prompting you to either log in or create a new WA.gov account. Because WA.gov accounts have improved security, you may be prompted to set up additional security features, such as two-step verification.
What isn’t changing?
Your GIS-Mo, VueWorks, ESRI Event Editor, CARS, RAP Online, Pinnacle, and the Helpdesk program details, files and account data with CRAB should stay the same.
Do I have to do anything now?
No action is needed at this time. Once users are able to create WA.gov accounts, we will send out additional information as it becomes available. Pinnacle users will need to follow the prompts to set up a WA.gov account after December 15th.
Who do I contact if I have problems logging in?
If you run into trouble with a CRAB platform or creating your account, please reach out to Angela Rice at angela.rice@crab.wa.gov or submit a helpdesk ticket. For more information on the transition from SAW, please check out the resources at WA.gov. We've included their video below as well.