Island Forum | Addressing transportation issues now will pay off later
Published 11:01 am Tuesday, March 30, 2010
As Eastside residents, we know more about mobility challenges than probably any other region in Washington because we witness them daily. Stop-and-go traffic is not an occasional annoyance — it’s a constant headache on nearly everybody’s route, whether you drive, carpool or take the bus.
That’s why I’m passionate about transportation issues in the Legislature. Addressing them is especially critical right now during this recession because a return to economic stability is dependent on a strong infrastructure. The House Transportation Committee that I chair takes this charge very seriously, and we’ve acted on a range of fronts during the 2010 Legislative Session to keep people moving.
Most importantly, the Legislature authorized the SR-520 bridge project to move forward. Although media reports focus on the conflicts, it’s important to realize that most of the unresolved issues relate to the bridge’s west connection, not the entire project itself. We’re already nearing construction on the bridge pontoons to form the floating span, and we also have agreement on a plan for the east connection.
While we await final agreement on the west connection, it’s important that we keep the ready-to-go east connection moving ahead, which is the reason we passed Senate Bill 6392. Timing is especially important right now because the construction-bidding environment is very favorable, as this recession has sparked intense competition among contractors.
SB 6392 also addresses west-side concerns about transit and neighborhood mitigation by creating local workgroups to make recommendations to the 2011 Legislature. The 520 bridge is both a public safety and mobility project that we need to resolve as soon as possible.
No news is good news for I-90 this legislative session. There are no plans to lose the center lanes soon or toll the bridge.
Another outcome of the 2010 session is a historic transportation budget. Last year’s $7.5 billion 2009-11 budget was already the largest on record, but this year’s supplemental adjustment accounts for about $1 billion more. Most of the new money comes from federal grants, including $590 million to bolster high-speed rail along the I-5 corridor, $30 million for Seattle’s Mercer Street project, and more.
I commonly hear the question, “How can the state afford these projects when it’s facing a deficit that threatens education, social services, etc.?” The answer is that transportation is funded through its own budget using revenue that is constitutionally protected. We can’t use this money to ease the shortfall in the state’s general fund, but I’m proud that it’s helping our economy by spurring thousands of construction jobs.
The session didn’t conclude without setbacks. I’m disappointed that my bill to introduce high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes on I-405 died in the Senate. Like the successful HOT lane pilot on SR-167 now, this project would have opened up the carpool lanes to single-occupancy vehicles willing to pay a toll for that benefit. Traffic modeling shows that throughput would increase on both the HOV and general purpose lanes, while at the same time generating much-needed revenue to make roadway improvements.
The failed 2007 vote for the Regional Transportation Improvement District (RTID) left us with a funding hole for I-405. State gas-tax revenues simply won’t be enough. Despite the bill’s defeat, I still believe in the promise of HOT lanes and will work closely with stakeholders to refresh the proposal for the 2011 session.
In that same collaborative spirit, I look forward to returning to the district to meet with residents, community leaders and groups to address the issues you’re facing — transportation or otherwise. The 2010 session is nearly over, but my job as your state representative continues. Please contact my office anytime.
Judy Clibborn represents the 41st Legislative District and chairs the Transportation Committee in the Washington State House of Representatives. Contact her at (360) 786-7926 or toll-free at 1-800-562-6000.
