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Home / Washington Business - July/August 2005 / Washington's Transportation Plan at Risk |
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Washington's Transportation Plan at Risk |
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Written On: July/August 2005 |
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Written By: by Tom McBride - AWB Government Affairs Director |
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The recently approved $8.5 billion transportation funding plan may be history. Just as the first 3-cent gas tax increase took effect, opponents handed in 425,000 signatures to qualify Initiative 912 for the November ballot. If approved, the 9.5 cent gas tax would be abolished.
If I-912 is defeated, the 2005 transportation package will fund more than 270 projects throughout the state to ease congestion and improve road and bridge safety. In Spokane, it means funds for the new north-south freeway and on Snoqualmie Pass it pays for a 15-mile stretch of I-90 between Hyak and Easton to mitigate avalanche risks, replace damaged pavement and expand capacity.
In Puget Sound, both the Alaska Way Viaduct and the 520 Evergreen Point Floating Bridge will receive substantial funding. These roadways are aged and vulnerable to earthquake and storm damage. Although the funding is significant, completion of the projects will require additional funds from local and federal governments.
The bulk of the money will come from gas tax increases of 3 cents in 2005 and 2006, 2 cents in 2007 and 1.5 cents in 2008. Despite the increase, due to inflation today’s gas tax of 31 cents is worth less than the state’s 23 cent gas tax in 1991 dollars.
The remainder comes from new annual fees and miscellaneous fee increases. Weight fees on passenger cars and light trucks range from $10 to $30 (with exceptions for farm vehicles) and $75 for motor homes. A variety of licensing fees will be increased, including replacement license plates, instruction permits, license renewals and DUI license revocation hearings.
"While we support increased transportation funding, we did not zero in on a plan," AWB President Don Brunell said. "We know the need is too great and something must be done. Gridlock and dilapidated infrastructure impact our ability to move people and goods safely and in a timely way. The question now is what the taxpayers will support."
According to state transportation officials, goods valued at almost $96 billion go through Washington’s ports yearly. Freight volumes in Washington are growing twice as fast as the state’s population and truck trips increased by 94 percent on the I-5 corridor between 1993 and 2003. Those volumes are expected to increase by another 80 percent by 2020.
Likewise, on I-90, studies show 35 million tons of freight and 10 million vehicles travel over I-90 annually. Daily traffic volumes of 58,000 cars exceed the road’s design capacity and frequently cause backups up to 30 miles. Average traffic volumes are expected to increase annually by 20,000 vehicles daily over the next 20 years.
AWB’s Governmental Affairs Council voted to oppose I-912. The full board will consider a position at its next meeting in September.
"Regardless of how one feels about the legislation, elected officials should be commended for addressing the problem," Brunell concluded. "It is not easy going home and telling your constituents you raised their taxes."
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