Senate Democrats
Transportation
Moving Washington Forward:
2009-11 Transportation Budget
Gov. Chris Gregoire signed the $7.5 billion transportation budget approved by lawmakers for 2009-2011, the largest two-year construction budget ever for Washington state. Senate Democrats estimate the projects approved in the bill will support or create 49,000 jobs.
Highlights:
• Funding for three 64-car ferries and a fourth, which will either be a 64-car or 144-car ferry
• Funding for critical safety, freight, and mobility projects – including I-90/Snoqualmie Pass, I-405 and the North Spokane corridor
• Consolidation of drivers' licensing offices: creating cost savings and better customer service
• Increased highway patrols to catch drunk drivers
Megaprojects:
In addition to the transportation budget bill, the Legislature also approved separate legislation to fund the replacement of the Alaskan Way Viaduct with a deep bored tunnel. The viaduct legislation includes provisions that state funding will be limited to $2.4 billion, and that the City of Seattle is responsible for utility repositioning costs associated with the project. Also included was legislation for the 520 floating bridge replacement in King County and funding for the North Spokane corridor.
Jobs Now:
Even though the bridge will be 100 miles away, economically hard-hit Aberdeen and Hoquiam stand to gain possibly hundreds of jobs from the 520 floating bridge project. Gov. Gregoire signed a plan approved by lawmakers to build pontoon sections for the new bridge in Grays Harbor, steering $700 million to the area to build a construction dock, train workers and build the pontoons. This is just one example of Jobs Now.
Sen. Jim Hargrove, D-Hoquiam, talks about the importance of the project for Grays Harbor
Washington’s transportation revenue is kept separate from its Operating and Capital (non-transportation related construction) budgets. Funded primarily with our state’s gas taxes, these funds are constitutionally dedicated to building, maintaining and operating our state highway system — including the marine highways serviced by Washington State Ferries.
Transportation revenue and investment packages authorized by the Legislature in 2003 and 2005 — and endorsed by citizens via the initiative process — are peaking at the very time when public investment in infrastructure is needed to bolster the sagging economy, and our proposed transportation budget takes advantage of this unique opportunity to help jump start the economy and create jobs all around the state.
Read more about these key areas with the menu below:
Click here for the Transportation Budget bill information.