Senate transportation budget includes Snohomish County priorities
Published 1:16 pm Monday, February 25, 2008
OLYMPIA – State lawmakers this morning revealed the Senate transportation budget that includes money for building new ferries, replacing malfunctioning I-5 cable barriers near Marysville and improving U.S. 2.
The budget proposes to set aside $368 million for new ferries, including $85 million to replace the four Steel Electric ferries that were pulled out of service in November due to safety concerns about their 80-year-old hulls. The budget calls for $26.9 million to replace the cable barriers with concrete barriers.
The state is also expected to spend $9 million for U.S. 2 safety improvements. The money is expected to pay for adding a mile-long passing lane along U.S. 2 west of Sultan and for installing centerline rumble strips on the highway between east of Monroe and Stevens Pass.
The House transportation bill was introduced last week, including the same amount of money for U.S. 2. Democratic leaders in the House and Senate will now start reconciling their competing spending plans.
Reporter Yoshiaki Nohara: 425-339-3029 or ynohara@heraldnet.com.
