OLYMPIA – State transportation officials began Wednesday trying to figure out what will be left of a massive improvement plan for highways, bridges, ferries and buses should voters repeal the gas tax increase this fall.
They are hacking the list of projects to those that are of high priority and can be finished with a pool of funds that would be severely depleted with the passage of Initiative 912 in November.
State officials estimate the 3-cent increase imposed July 1 would generate $42 million before the initiative, if successful, would kick in. Of that total, $7 million is earmarked for cities and counties.
That’s a far cry from the $5.5 billion that lawmakers envisioned raising from the 9.5-cent tax hike they approved in April. The increase is to be phased in over four years.
“It’s pretty bad,” state Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D- Camano Island, said of the potential curb in revenue. “It doesn’t do much when you consider the cost of asphalt.”
On Wednesday, state Department of Transportation leaders developed five guidelines to help staff in the regional offices prioritize projects. Recommendations from each one are due tomorrow and will be shared with the governor next week.
“We tried to determine what are the most important things to consider in deciding how to spend the $35 million we know we will have,” said Linda Mullen, communication director for the Transportation Department.
She said each project will be examined in terms of whether construction has begun, if it will prevent “rework” later, if it will improve public safety, is an urgent need and is it better to do now rather than later.
She cited one project in Snohomish County. Construction is to start this fall on widening I-5 in Everett to add a carpool lane. That project is being funded by the 5-cent-a-gallon tax increase approved two years ago, which would not be affected by the initiative.
The transportation improvement plan also includes improving the I-5 interchange at 41st Street. The state wanted to do the interchange at the same time as the widening to minimize construction. That may not be possible if the initiative passes.
A spokesman for I-912 said money is not as big an issue as suggested by officials and lawmakers who backed the gas tax increase.
Brett Bader, spokesman for I-912, said the plan approved by lawmakers will generate at least $3 billion from vehicle weight fees and special fuel charges that the initiative does not address.
“It’s hard to paint a picture of doom and gloom and safety disasters around the state with $3 billion coming in,” he said. “I would tell the Department of Transportation to only spend their money to reduce traffic congestion. That should be the department’s No. 1 priority.”
Haugen, a driving force behind the transportation package, is gearing for a fight to defeat the initiative.
“That to me is the only option at this point,” she said. “If this gas tax plan fails, you won’t see anything else for years.”
Reporter Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623 or jcornfield@ heraldnet.com.
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