Rossi’s transportation plan emphasizes traffic relief

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Republican governor candidate Dino Rossi is touting a $15 billion transportation plan focused on traffic relief.

The plan’s bankrolled by some long-standing Republican ideas, like earmarking 40 percent of the sales tax on cars. But Rossi doesn’t say how he’d make up the money lost from the state general fund.

Democrats say he’d have to raise taxes, or cut government programs.

Rossi’s wish list is topped by highway improvements on traffic bottlenecks, like the Highway 520 bridge and Interstate 405. He also wants more money for ferries and existing road projects, while boosting alternative fuel vehicles and fixing blocked salmon streams.

Rossi’s running against Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire.