As cutoff looms (Tuesday, February 11 for transportation) committees will be busy with public hearings and executive sessions during week 4, and this is a big week for transportation. Notably, Senate Transportation Chair, Steve Hobbs (D-Lake Stevens), will hear his “Forward Washington” transportation funding proposal.
Transportation Package
At this time Senator Hobbs has not released an updated version of the proposal. Notable highlights from last year’s package include:
- A $17 billion transportation package, with a 10-year comprehensive funding plan, levying a $15 per-metric ton carbon fee, a $0.6 gas tax increase, and numerous other fee increases.
- The package is broken into three separate bills:
- SB 5970: authorizes bonds for the package
- SB 5971: the revenue bill
- SB 5972: the appropriations bill
- Funding for the US 2 Trestle;
- Funding for state and local culvert replacements – $350 million for the 2019-2021 biennium;
- An additional $7 million to CRAB for the 2019-2021 biennium;
- An additional $18 million to the Transportation Improvement Board for the 2019-2021 biennium;
- An additional $5 million to the Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board for the 2019-2021 biennium;
- Highway preservation and local projects – see those projects here
A public work session will be held on the proposal Wednesday, February 5 at 3:30 pm.
