Gas up road projects, officials say

By Warren Cornwall

Herald Writer

Snohomish County officials are singing a familiar two-part harmony to state lawmakers as the legislative session approaches: we need roads and the money to build and repair them.

"Traffic is on my mind," Snohomish County Councilman Dave Somers said to kick off a Tuesday meeting between county leaders and half of the county’s 18-person legislative delegation.

With the state facing a $1.3 billion budget crunch and transportation problems showing little sign of easing, the lobbying song was delivered at a higher pitch than in past years. And members of both parties pointed to a gas tax as the most attractive source of relief.

An incremental gas tax increase spread over several years is the "only viable way" to find the additional money needed for transportation projects, said county councilman Gary Nelson, a former Republican lawmaker.

"We know of no other way that will meet the needs of all counties," he said.

County officials offered lawmakers an $80 million wish list for new funding of road projects in the coming year and a half, most of them revolving around I-5 and Highway 9.

State Transportation Secretary Doug MacDonald added his voice to the chorus of those pleading poverty in the face of growing traffic.

Between 1980 and 2000, the number of miles traveled by Washington drivers has risen by 88 percent, while spending on transportation construction and maintenance has remained nearly flat when adjusted for inflation, he said.

"The people of Snohomish County are really at ground zero of this crisis," he said, pointing to the population growth in the county.

State lawmakers were sympathetic and vowed to try to accomplish what couldn’t be done last year: pass a plan raising more money to deal with traffic.

The 49-49 membership tie that contributed to a deadlock in the House has broken, with Democrats taking a two-vote majority following the November elections. But the prospect of voting for a tax increase during an election year for all House members could make finding a solution tricky, some people acknowledged.

"I think it’s going to be very difficult," said Aaron Reardon, D-Everett, who sits on the House Transportation Committee.

On Tuesday, officials offered different versions of what form a gas tax increase should take.

Reardon said he would want to see the Legislature increase it a certain amount and put the remainder to voters statewide.

Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island, chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, said she wanted the Legislature to vote for the increase and not split it with voters. One possible scenario would be raising it by 9 cents over three years, she said.

Nelson supported leaving it to the Legislature, but suggested spreading the tax increase over a longer time period.

But House Republican leader Clyde Ballard, R-East Wenatchee, has repeatedly vowed that he would only support a spending package that sent a statewide gas tax increase to the voters.

A standoff over whether to put an increase to the voters helped kill a $9 billion package from Gov. Gary Locke in the last legislative session, which included a 9-cent increase in the state gas tax.

You can call Herald Writer Warren Cornwall at 425-339-3463 or send e-mail to cornwall@heraldnet.com.

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