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Home / Washington Business - September/October 2003 / Transportation Issues 2003 |
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Transportation Issues 2003 |
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Written On: September/October |
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SUMMARY
As we look toward Washington’s future, AWB remains confident that solutions will be found for our state’s transportation challenges. Washington’s legislature came through during the final stages of their special session by implementing a transportation package that will decrease congestion while increasing expediency of freight. This new package will help reduce our member’s shipping costs, and offer alternate transportation systems to save time and money.
THE LEGISLATURE GETS SERIOUS ABOUT TRANSPORTATION
Transportation has been a huge issue for many years, but this year it took center stage in the Legislature. Difficulties in moving freight between plants for Boeing, West Coast Paper’s inability to make deliveries, problems encountered by agricultural businesses in moving products between eastern and western Washington and the general public’s complaints finally forced the Legislature to review this problem. Thanks to the backing and support of AWB, the first transportation package since 1990 has been successfully passed into law. The transportation package will start to create better highways, decrease traffic congestion and save businesses millions. With accountability as a major component of this law, businesses and the public will know how and where the money will be spent.
TRANSPORTATION INVESTMENT PRIORITIES
Our transportation investments are focused on some very basic concepts. Safety, preservation, mobility, improvements and ferries are the top priorities for the upcoming year. These investments are made in the current-revenue budget plan, along with the revenues from the transportation package. Projects in each of nearly all of these categories are funded in both urban and rural Washington, and extend to all counties in both eastern and western Washington.
The major investments that will be made this year include the following upgrades and projects:
• East-side freeways and other dangerous roadways will receive drastic safety improvements.
• Traffic signals will be installed at all dangerous intersections.
• All dangerous curves on major highways will be straightened to reduce the number of accidents on these thoroughfares.
• The east half of the Hood Canal Bridge will be replaced.
• The Yakima River Bridge will be improved.
• The bridge deck on the Lewis and Clark Bridge will be replaced.
• Concrete pavement will be preserved on outdated bridges will be replaced.
• Seismic beams on all outdated bridges will be replaced.
• Passenger and commuter trains will be increased.
• The quality of rail shipments of agricultural products will be improved.
• A variety of major highways will be widened.
• The distance of HOV lanes on I-5, SR 16, and SR 99 will be increased.
DETAILS
HB 2131- Where is the Money Going? The total revenues for the new transportation package are in excess of $4 billion. The transportation budget has been divided up into various improvements across the state over a span of ten years. AWB has completed this tedious task and listed the objectives of the new gas tax, and the amount of revenue that will be spent on each project.
• $983 million is to be spent on the design, right of way, and new construction projects that improve mobility and safety of the state highway system.
• $661 million will be used for repairing, repaving, and re-striping of existing highways and facilities.
• $315 million will be for administrative support and maintenance of the Washington State ferry system.
• $289 million is to be spent on maintenance activities for the state highway system. The maintenance activities are to include damage repair, installation of drainage systems, and continuous repair schedules on all bridges, tunnels, and rest areas.
• $183 million will be invested in ferries, ferry terminals, and emergency repair.
• $60 million is to be spent on operations and construction of passenger and freight rail activities, as well as the additional new law capital projects.
• $39 million will be spent for traffic operations, which include the continuation of the incident response program.
• $29 million will be provided for intelligent transportation system projects and the completion of five weigh-in-motion and CVISN projects.
• $21 million will be allocated for track and safety improvements of the rail system between Seattle and Bellingham.
• $9 million will be spent on freight rail projects that keep a lower number of trucks on the state highway system.
ESB 5279- Transportation Efficiency
This bill extends the reauthorization date of the Transportation Permit Efficiency and Accountability Committee (TPEAC). TPEAC is designed to expedite transportation permitting by reducing regulatory burdens that overlap, and is made up of representatives of numerous businesses, state and federal agencies, local governments, and tribes. TPEAC is made up of representatives of business, including AWB and member companies, state and federal agencies, local governments, environment and tribes.
SB 5748- Regular Audits for Transportation Agencies
SB 5748 makes it essential for the Legislature to improve the accountability and efficiency of transportation-related agencies. Taxpayers will know that their tax dollars are being well spent to deliver critically needed transportation projects and services.
To accomplish this, a Transportation Performance Audit Board has been created, and a system of transportation functional and performance audits has also been established to provide oversight and accountability of transportation-related agencies. The Transportation Performance Audit Board will review the performance and outcome measures of transportation-related agencies, and allow such reviews to be viewed by the public at large through the legislative transportation committee. The purpose of these reviews is to ensure that the Legislature has the means to adequately and accurately assess the performance and outcomes of those agencies and departments who are charged with improving our transportation system.
Introduced by Sen. Bill Finkbeiner (R-Kirkland), SB 5748 was signed into law by Gov. Locke on May 16.
SB 5245-More Monitoring for Local Transportation Improvements
SB 5245 allows members of the House and Senate to be policy board members of all the transportation planning organizations in their prospective districts. This will allow the legislature to keep a rigid eye on the progress of our state’s transportation improvements. AWB praises the Legislature for incorporating this bill into the transportation improvement package.
SB 5248-Building Better Transportation, Creating Jobs
There is a pressing demand for additional transportation projects to meet the mobility needs of Washington's citizens. With major new investments in transportation initiated, additional workforce assistance is necessary to ensure project delivery timelines. Recruiting and retaining a high quality workforce and implementing new and innovative procedures for delivering these transportation projects is required to accomplish them on a timely basis that best serves the public.
SB 5248 will guarantee that the state prevailing wage process will operate efficiently, and allow contractors and workers to be paid promptly. AWB supported this bill along with Gov. Locke because it will create an abundance of employment opportunities, and assist in keeping numerous construction companies in Washington state stay in business.
Our roads, streets, bridges, and highways represent public assets worth over $100 billion. Unfortunately, many of these facilities are in poor condition. Given the magnitude of public investment and the importance of safe, reliable roadways to the motoring public, the passage of SB 5248 was a necessity. Fortunately for Washington, the Legislature understood the need to create stronger accountability to ensure that cost-effective maintenance and preservation is provided for these transportation facilities.
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