What’s on the radar for new roads chief?

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.

Hammond said the top problem is growth.

“It’s the urbanization and the spreading of the density on where people live,” she said. “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.

One corridor that will get some help is U.S. 2.

“The safety issue on that corridor is a big issue,” Hammond said. “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.

“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.”

Hammond said lower revenue projections could hurt projects.

”If the declining forecast stays true that is going to be a big problem,” she said. “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.