Haugen lists priorities for 2008

OLYMPIA — As lawmakers begin returning to their offices in the state capitol for the 2008 Legislature, Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island, appeared at a Legislative Preview hosted by the Associated Press to cover transportation issues that the Legislature will be focusing on this year.

“My number one priority is to restore regular car-carrying ferry service back on the Keystone – Port Townsend run,” said Haugen, who chairs the Senate Transportation Committee. “Statewide, we need to maintain safety as our top priority.”

Haugen also wants to improve capacity on Washington highways, but notes that the Legislature needs to be responsible about how it allocates limited resources.

“I get as frustrated by traffic as anyone else,” she said. “But when it comes to funding transportation, I’m not about to sacrifice lives to save a few minutes on commuting.”

Haugen will also be helping to craft a toll policy to help pay for some highway projects. Users of the new Tacoma Narrows Bridge have been paying tolls since last July, and Route 167 in south King County will soon have its HOV lanes converted to variable-rate toll lanes. With future projects such as a replacement for the 520 bridge anticipated to include tolling as well, the Legislature needs to establish a comprehensive policy.

Among the non-transportation items on Haugen’s ‘to-do’ list are participating in deciding on a site location for UW North that best serves the people of the North Snohomish, Skagit, and Island County area, addressing the issue of corporate ID theft, a “Pennies for Parks” proposal that will include a public vote, and legislation to clarify the state’s definition of a “rural county” to ensure that Island County has access to more economic development resources from the state.

“We have a lot of work to do, and not a lot of time to do it,” Haugen said, noting that the Legislature is going into a 60-day session to focus primarily on necessary budget changes and unresolved legislation from the previous session.

The 2008 legislative session begins on Monday, Jan. 14 and is scheduled to conclude on Thursday, March 13.

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