Sine Die 2009

Transportation

Like most states, Washington is facing a serious revenue shortfall — but the Legislature committed to improving transportation using dedicated revenue sources like gas taxes and federal funds that are constitutionally restricted from being used to balance the general budget.

This year, we have continued our commitment to invest the state’s limited transportation funds in projects that will improve safety, maintain infrastructure, relieve congestion and increase accountability in our state highway and ferry system.

2009-11 State Transportation Budget

The Legislature adopted a $7.5 billion transportation budget for the 2009-11 biennium that includes $4.7 billion in funding for more than 400 roads and ferry projects across the state. This translates to as many as 49,000 jobs. This transportation budget is the largest in state history.

Washington’s transportation revenue is kept separate from its Operating and Capital (non-transportation 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.

This is in addition to the $492 million in Federal Stimulus Highway Funds our state received as part of the American Recovery & Investment Act — including $341.4 million that will be allocated directly by the state to “shovel ready” projects based on selection criteria that include regional and statewide improvements that enhance safety and advance existing project commitments.

An average of 10 jobs are created or retained for each $1 million in highway spending — meaning that this stimulus will not only provide needed highway improvements, but will also put thousands of people to work within three months, and keep thousands more on the job for a year or longer.

Transportation Megaprojects

The Legislature moved forward with important transportation projects that have regional and statewide significance, including using available funds to target projects that can enhance safety and improve mobility, such as:

I-405 Corridor Projects – $341.7 million is dedicated to major safety and congestion relief projects.

SR 395 North Spokane Corridor – Nearly $8.2 million is dedicated in the 2009-11 biennium towards improvements to enhance safety and freight mobility through this major transportation corridor.

I-5/Tacoma HOV Improvements – $237 million is dedicated in the 2009-11 biennium towards $1.4 billion in improvements to I-5 in Tacoma.

SR 520/Bridge Replacement and HOV – Tolling and other available funds will make it possible to replace the 43-year-old floating bridge, which is vulnerable to significant weather and seismic activity floating bridge. This includes construction of the pontoon site in Grays Harbor county as well as pontoon construction in Tacoma.With these investments under way, the state finally begins to address one of its highest priority safety issues.

SR 99/Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement – The budget meets the state’s commitment to invest $2.4 billion for a deep-bored tunnel to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct and allows an additional $400 million in toll revenue to be generated.

I-90/Snoqualmie Pass East – $94.8 million is dedicated to the first phase of improvements to this vital link across the Cascades. It includes an additional lane in each direction between milepost 55.1 and 59.9, extending chain on and off areas, expanding the snowshed, building new bridges over Rocky Run, Gold Creek, and Resort Creek, and adding oversized culverts at Wolfe, Resort and Townsend Creeks. Improvements will also enhance safety along I-90 by reducing sharp curves, repairing deteriorated pavement, stabilizing unstable slopes, and installing avalanche fences.

Public Transportation

During tough economic times, more and more people rely on public transportation, which is why lawmakers maintain prior legislative commitments to the Regional Mobility Grant program by fully funding the program at $40 million.

Paratransit & special needs grants - The budget includes $25 million for competitive and formula grants for transportation for people with special needs. Funds go to transit agencies and nonprofit transportation providers of services such as for the elderly and people with disabilities.

Rural mobility grants - The budget includes $17 million for public transportation in and between rural communities. This flexible grant program helps rural communities serve people who rely on public transportation.

Vanpool grant program - The budget includes $7 million for a vanpool grant program for public transit agencies to add vanpools or replace vans and for incentives for employers to increase employee vanpool use.