WA Dems propose a $16B transpo package
I-405 near Canyon Park. Photo by SounderBruceOLYMPIA - On Tuesday, Senate and House Transportation Committee Chairs Sen. Marko Liias, D - Everett, and Rep. Jake Fey, D - Tacoma, unveiled Senate Bills 5974 and 5975 and House Bills 2118 and 2119 - Move Ahead Washington - a 16-year transportation proposal for Washington state.
The $16 billion package provides historic funding for preserving our infrastructure, combating climate change by reducing emissions, expanding safe, affordable transit options, and addressing harm caused in communities of color from our existing transportation system.
There are technically two distinct bills here being yoked together. One would direct about $5B collected via the Climate Commitment Act towards transit and multimodal projects. This represents an unprecedented investment in transit from a state government that has traditionally left such things up to local jurisdictions. It includes operating funds, free youth passes and a down payment on some unspecified high-speed rail projects.
The second would take $11B from various sources (notably NOT a new gas tax) and direct it towards (mostly) highway projects, including a significant amount of highway widening.
Full lists of projects and revenue sources here. More coverage from the Times.