Inslee says lawmakers must deal with transportation tax

OLYMPIA — Gov. Jay Inslee is urging lawmakers to take action on a transportation tax package this year, saying failure to do so would lead to things like reductions in ferry service and transit options in places like King County.

At an Associated Press legislative forum on Thursday, Inslee said 2014 was the time to address the “tough challenge” of transportation funding.

Last month, Inslee and legislative leaders said negotiations failed to produce a new tax package for transportation projects. Though they differed on the details, all sides were hoping for a roughly $10 billion deal that relied on increasing the state’s gas tax by at least 10 cents a gallon.