Everett, Wash.
Published: Sunday, June 28, 2009

$9 million to be sought for U.S. 2 in federal transportation bill

Money would pay for overpass and other projects if bill clears Congress

By Bill Sheets, Herald Writer

 EVERETT -- If Congress passes a new $500 billion funding bill for transportation, it could mean help for dangerous local roads such as U.S. 2 and other projects in Snohomish County.

There's doubt, though, whether the bill can get through Congress anytime soon.

The bill, introduced recently in the U.S. House of Representatives, proposes to more than double federal spending for safety-related road projects to $12.6 billion.

U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Everett, plans to ask for $9.25 million in improvements for U.S. 2 between Snohomish and Gold Bar. These would include a westbound overpass at Bickford Avenue and other smaller projects.

This is a long way from the goal identified in a 2007 state study that concluded U.S. 2 needed $2.4 billion in improvements between Snohomish and Skykomish.

Any step in that direction, however, is positive, said Fred Walser of Monroe, chairman of the U.S. 2 Safety Coalition.

"All of it makes a big difference," Walser said. "Any money we can get to improve safety is needed."

The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Jim Oberstar, D-Minn., proposes to spend $337 billion on highway construction, $100 billion for public transit and $50 billion to build a nationwide high-speed rail system.

It would increase transportation spending by 38 percent and create or sustain 6 million jobs, according to language in the bill.

It aims to overhaul the federal transportation bureaucracy by reducing the number of agencies that relate to moving people or freight down to 33 from 108. The bill also stresses funding for connections between different modes of transportation.

"The bill is designed to transform surface transportation in the United States," Larsen said at a meeting with Snohomish County-area officials and others in Everett last week. Larsen serves on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

The bill would reauthorize transportation spending for another six years, replacing the current plan, which expires Oct. 1.

The Obama administration, however, wants to wait 18 months before approving a new plan, proposing instead to keep transportation going with lesser amounts in the interim. This would postpone a debate about transportation policy and funding until after the 2010 congressional elections.

The House bill has not identified a funding source, and with gas-tax revenues dwindling, an unpopular increase in the 18.4-cents-a-gallon federal tax could be on the table. The tax has not been raised since 1993. Other types of taxes could be considered as well, Larsen said.

"Everything is on the table," he told the group last week.

Oberstar's reauthorization bill would have a greater effect on the economy than the administration's plan, Larsen said.

If the bill is authorized by September, many of its projects could begin next year, around the time many of the projects under the economic stimulus program are ending, he said.

Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., would like to see the reauthorization happen soon but doesn't think it's realistic, spokesman Matt McAlvanah said.

"Given the enormous legislative priorities before Congress right now, health care, energy, financial regulation, the reality is they might not get to it" before September, McAlvanah said.

Murray's primary near-term priority for transportation is to make sure the Federal Highway Trust Fund remains solvent, her spokesman said. It's scheduled to run dry by Aug. 21 if it doesn't receive $5 million to $7 million, according to Larsen's office.

In the Oberstar bill, Larsen plans to ask for funding for 12 projects or programs for Snohomish County, including four for U.S. 2, and three for Island County. If the bill doesn't pass, Larsen will seek funding elsewhere for U.S. 2 and other local projects, said Andrea Mahnke, a spokeswoman for Larsen.
© 2009The Daily Herald Co., Everett, WA