OLYMPIA — Paula Hammond says she likes nothing better than a good challenge.
She’s got one now.
Hammond is the new secretary of transportation for Washington, the first woman ever put in charge of one of the most scrutinized departments of state government.
It’s a hot seat. Clogged roads and the state’s response to unclogging them is a source of unending frustration among the public. Hammond’s task is to find a way out and she is eager to start looking.
“I guess it’s gotten into my blood these vexing transportation issues,” she told The Herald in an interview.
It won’t be easy because funding is tight and getting tighter, said the 50-year-old civil engineer.
Too few dollars affect — and will continue to affect — most everything the department attempts to do, whether it’s paving roads, picking up litter, replacing Steel Electric ferries or installing concrete barriers on I-5 near Marysville.
Hammond also spoke of why she wanted this $163,500-a-year job and how a wisecrack two decades ago came true with her appointment.
Q: What is the foremost transportation challenge Snohomish County faces?
A: It’s the urbanization and the spreading of the density on where people live. They’re having growing pains. Their roads haven’t kept up with the growth so you’re seeing safety issues on every corridor and congestion on almost every corridor.
Q: U.S. 2 is a good example of more cars and less safety.
A: The safety issue on that corridor is a big issue. It was never as obvious as when we went to Monroe with legislators. As we went through the corridor on the bus we saw people standing on the side of the road holding signs marking the spots of accidents where fatalities occurred. That showed us how personal each death is to people living out there. It’s a huge deal. The costs of finding the ultimate solution is priced at $1 billion so I’m really happy we’re going to try some lower-cost enhancements and awareness campaign.
Q: On another safety issue, will there be 10 miles of concrete barrier on northbound I-5 near Marysville in place of the cable barriers?
A: When all is said and done, maybe. Are we going to be able to afford it this year? No, I don’t think so.
We’ve set aside $10 million of federal money. What our traffic engineers and what our safety guys have told us is the incidence of accidents have been more around the interchanges. We’re looking very carefully at whether we could recommend a phased-in solution to give us the northbound concrete barrier where it’s really been critical at the interchanges and some other places.
Q: Will there ever be 10 miles of concrete on that stretch?
A: I don’t know. Without new revenue we don’t have money in our budget.
Q: Revenue forecasts show fewer dollars coming in than what lawmakers counted on when they approved projects and raised the gas tax in 2003 and 2005 to pay for them. How bad is it?
A: First of all, everyone’s committed to deliver on those commitments. If the declining forecast stays true that is going to be a big problem. It’s going to take us more than the original 16 years to build those projects, which mean there won’t be new projects unless you come up with a new revenue stream. That’s how bad it is.
Q: What do you do?
A: Where does it all come out of the spigot when you don’t have enough money? We have grappled with that for years. We are trying to get by with what we have but we’re not taking care of the existing system the way that we should be.
There are things you have to do. For example, you have to upgrade the ferry boats and deal with the Steel Electrics situation.
Then what happens when you run out of money? You can’t do as many asphalt overlays and roadway patchings. We’re not doing as much litter pickup. Those kinds of things are going to start sliding and people are going to notice.
Q: Uh oh, does this mean dirty rest stops?
A: Oh, I have a real issue with dirty rest stops so I think we are going to not have that be what people see.
Q: Why not ban studded tires? Those things tear up highways.
A: That may be coming. It’s such a political item. We have recommended to get rid of them for years. It’s an emotional issue for people. My own parents when they were alive felt like that they had to have studs from November through April or they weren’t going to be safe.
Q: With funding so tight, is it time to scrap the relocation and redo of the Mukilteo Ferry Terminal and just give the buildings a good paint job?
A: (Laughs.) Well, I’ll tell you I’m looking very carefully at that. The cost estimate for whatever option we’ve looked at has gone up tremendously. We don’t have the budget to replace that thing. So now the question is can you value engineer the heck out of it to find something that is within the budget.
Q: Is it worth it?
A: When you look at the long-term need there and, if you believe the ferry system is going to grow, then yes.
Q: Let’s talk about the Steel Electrics. Have you found any replacement vessels?
A: No. We looked around the country to see if there was any vessel that if we totally lost our Steel Electrics we could go grab. We just couldn’t find one.
What we’re working on right now is how long do you keep those boats in service without throwing too much bad money after good? How much money do you put into maintaining them while you’re trying to get your new one acquired and built?
Q: Talks are under way on a contract to build four 144-car ferries. Some think at least one of the boats should be downsized to replace a Steel Electric.
A: I’ve heard the governor say maybe we only build three of the big ones and two of the little ones. I don’t know yet.
Q: Is it true you are considering suggesting such a change?
A: To the existing contract? No, not today, not right now. Partly because we haven’t decided how we think we can fund it. Right now there is no money for Steel Electrics. If we found the funding and thought we could get going, would we do a separate bid package or would we try to find a business model that it could fit into the current contract? I don’t know. I don’t know how I feel about trying to shove it into the one we’re trying to get going.
Q: There’s not enough cash to build all four big boats anyway.
A: We think we’re a little short. I don’t want to announce in the paper what I think they are going to cost. We do think we are a little short.
Q: Why do you let the Steel Electrics continue to operate?
A: Because they’re fine, they’re in good shape. They have issues but they’re not unsafe or we wouldn’t run them.
Q: Let’s get back to roads. Can you eliminate congestion on your watch?
A: No. Can anybody? I don’t think so. We have to make some tough choices both personally and in government. I don’t think it’s government’s goal to get people out of their cars, but I do think the reality of people’s unwillingness to sit in congestion will change the way we use our system. Some people will eventually pay to drive when they want. People will say that bus doesn’t look so bad driving by me at 40 mph when I’m sitting in traffic. Sometime we may not make that choice to go to downtown Seattle on a weekday morning.
Q: Should the state double deck its highways by building one set of lanes above another?
A: Have you ever thought about what you would have to do? I don’t think there are people interested in paying the billions of dollars to do that.
Q: Why not open more HOV lanes to all cars outside commute hours?
A: The last time we did the lane count, I-5 had enough use throughout the day that we really didn’t see the benefit. I think we need to constantly monitor the HOV lanes to maximize their use.
Q: Why did you want to be secretary of transportation?
A: I guess it’s gotten into my blood these vexing transportation issues and I really want to try and find solutions. I know, get a life, right?
We’ve come a long way and we’re really on the cusp of some very cool innovation and technology and I want to be a part of that. I want to be part of the figuring out of some of these issues.
Q: What two things do you most impress upon your staff?
A: I don’t want surprises. We’ve tried so hard to be transparent and open in our communications and if I don’t know something or staff doesn’t, then we cannot be clear with the public and there is nothing worse than having someone like you call us and say I heard a project is $20 million over budget and me not knowing it. The other issue for me, and it’s the way I’ve been forever, is the issue we’re going respect each other and we’re going to be civil to each other.
Q: You’re an engineer. Why did you choose roads instead of planes? Boeing is here.
A: I know — but I’m from Oregon, so what do I know about planes? Roads intrigue me. In civil engineering, we talked about airport design but that didn’t seem very exciting. Those runways aren’t very long. I’m more interested in those statewide routes. I grew up in a rural community in Southern Oregon and we used the highways all the time to go anywhere.
Q: When you were appointed, you revealed having voiced interest in the top job in 1985.
A: It was an interview in an internal newsletter. The last question was, What is your career goal? I was saying that I wanted to be a district engineer someday and I really thought that would be a great job but you never know. I wonder what (then Secretary) Duane Berentson would say if he knew I wanted his job. I just sort of threw that in as something funny to say but amazingly it came true.
Reporter Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623 or jcornfield@heraldnet.com.
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