Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen
The three-year tie in the state House of Representatives has been broken. Now that Democrats control both houses of the Legislature, what does that mean for solving Washington’s transportation crisis during the 2002 session? For Senate Democrats, it will mean the same as it always has: that we will continue to work productively with our Republican colleagues. Together we arrived at bipartisan solutions to transportation last session and we look forward to doing it again.
For instance, with Democrats in the majority in 2001, the Senate put together a statewide financing plan to invest $8.5 billion in our overwhelmed transportation system; assembled a regional transportation plan to allow local areas to fix their own worst traffic choke points; and passed eight critical accountability and efficiency bills recommended by the Blue Ribbon Commission on Transportation, an independent panel of 52 business, government, labor and civic leaders.
Two more transportation efficiency measures passed by the Senate were signed into law: a bill to streamline the environmental permitting process for construction projects, and a bill to allow the state to contract with a single "design-build" company for large projects. Combined, these efficiencies will save taxpayers around 20 percent on future improvements.
Unfortunately, the bulk of our efforts stalled in the divided House. Now that the House is no longer deadlocked, Democratic senators are more eager than ever to keep working with those across the aisle — and across the Capitol Rotunda — on a long-term transportation solution for the entire state. After all, the stakes have never been higher.
Traffic choke points keep getting worse, forcing people to spend more time in their cars than with their families. Farmers can’t get their goods to market on time. Bus and rail improvements are delayed, and outdated ferries continue to dock at obsolete terminals.
The day of reckoning for 20 years of transportation neglect is at hand — and no part of Washington is immune. Every community in the state has a critical project that’s still waiting to be built — if only there was enough money. The time to invest in transportation is now.
Q: Isn’t this just another excuse to raise taxes?
A: The number of people, jobs and drivers in Washington has jumped dramatically since 1980, but investment in our transportation infrastructure hasn’t kept up with the demand. In fact, the Blue Ribbon Commission found $150 billion worth of improvements that we desperately need over the next 20 years. We can pay for only $55 billion of them with current revenues. Even with every conceivable efficiency put into place, the commission concluded that raising new revenue is unavoidable.
Q: Doesn’t Washington already have one of the nation’s highest gas taxes?
A: At 23 cents a gallon, Washington’s gas tax ranks 22nd in the nation. It hasn’t been increased since 1991, so its purchasing power was lost to inflation long ago.
Q: What are some other benefits of a transportation investment package?
A: Jobs, higher incomes and a strong tax base — there’s no better economic stimulus concept out there right now. For every $1 billion spent on new construction, 27,600 construction and construction-related jobs are created. An additional 14,500 jobs are created throughout the economy when those new employees spend money.
Q: How does Washington’s transportation spending compare with other states?
A: Washington spent less on its highways — only 6.7 percent of its total spending — than 39 other states between 1992 and 1998. The 50-state average was 9.5 percent spent on highways. Other states have also passed major investment packages: Illinois, for example, passed a five-year, $8 billion plan for highways roads and transit. Virginia has begun a 6-year, $10 billion plan approved in April 2000 for highways, transit, airports and ports; and Colorado approved $1.6 billion to expand a major highway corridor and build bridges, highways and light rail and transit stations.
These and other states recognize that jobs, incomes and a strong tax base are the payoff from a strong transportation system. Washington needs to follow their lead. Senate Democrats are ready and willing; with some cooperation, we’ll be able.
Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D- Camano Island, chairs the Senate Transportation Committee and the Legislative Transportation Committee.
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