OLYMPIA – House and Senate transportation leaders have agreed to add another $5 million for U.S. 2 into the final state roads budget due out as early as today.
Rep. Judy Clibborn, D-Mercer Island, and Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island, leaders of the Legislature’s transportation committees, agreed to boost money for U.S. 2 on Saturday in their negotiations on the supplemental budget for 2008.
Coupled with previously pledged investments, U.S. 2 is in line for $14.6 million of improvements in the next three years. State officials estimate the highway needs $2 billion in safety improvements.
“It’s the start of something pretty great but ultimately U.S. 2 needs to be widened to a four-lane highway,” Rep. Liz Loomis, D-Snohomish, a member of the House Transportation Committee, said this morning.
Loomis said leaders of the Highway 2 Safety Coalition and the Department of Transportation will decide the specific project on which to spend the money. She said it will be targeted for improvements in the area of U.S. 2 and Fern Bluff Road where a number of fatalities have occurred.
The House and Senate had approved draft budgets pledging $5 million for a passing lane west of Sultan and $4.6 million for rumble strips and re-striping on stretches of the route on where 47 people have died as a result of collisions since 1999.
Lawmakers also want the Washington State Patrol to put six troopers on patrol on U.S. 2.
If released today, the final budget could be voted on as early as Tuesday. The legislative session is scheduled to end Thursday.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
