WA Lawmakers Pitch $16B 'Move Ahead Washington' Transit Package
Last edited Wed Feb 9, 2022, 02:59 PM - Edit history (1)
OLYMPIA, WA — State Democratic leaders on Tuesday released the details of their "Move Ahead Washington" plan, a sizable transportation package designed to allot $16 billion for infrastructure projects and improvements over the next 16 years.
Sen. Mark Liias (D-Everett), chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, joined his House counterpart, Rep. Jake Fey (D-Tacoma), for an announcement Tuesday, detailing an ambitious slate of planned investments, including significant funds for several major highway projects, more than two dozen transit projects and a roster of bicycle and pedestrian safety improvements.
"This package is key for an accessible, sustainable future in Washington's transportation sector," Fey said in a statement. "We've worked hard over the last two years to listen to communities all across Washington, and they told us that their top priorities included preserving our infrastructure, finishing the projects we've started, taking action against climate change, expanding multimodal options, and addressing the harm of past transportation policies. I'm proud that this package reflects all those things to invest in every Washington community."
The proposal includes a combined $4 billion over 16 years to complete state and local road projects, including $244 million for new HOV improvements along Interstate 5 near JBLM, widening projects for portions of State Route 18 and Interstate 90 and new bus lanes for Interstate 405.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/wa-lawmakers-pitch-16b-move-ahead-washington-transit-package/ar-AATD4DN
House, Senate Democrats release $16B transportation package
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — House and Senate Democrats in Washington state on Tuesday unveiled a $16 billion, 16-year transportation revenue package that spends on a variety of projects ranging from building new hybrid electric ferries and funding more walking and biking corridors to highway maintenance and replacing fish passage culverts.
Unlike previous packages that have included gas tax increases, this plan gets a bulk of its funding — $5.4 billion — from a carbon pricing program signed into law last year that requires the state's largest emitters, like refineries, to purchase credits for allowed emissions if they exceed a cap set by regulators.
“The investments in this package will help everyone, but particularly don’t pass on the costs to working families,” said Democratic Sen. Marko Liias, the chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee. "We’ve heard loud and clear that working families are still facing the brunt of an economic burden caused by the pandemic. That’s why there is no gas tax in this package.”
Other revenue sources include $3.4 billion from the the Federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that President Joe Biden signed in November, $2 billion from the state operating budget, and $2 billion from a new 6-cent-per-gallon tax on fuel exported to states with a lower gas tax rate than Washington, like Oregon, Alaska and Idaho.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/house-senate-democrats-release-16b-transportation-package/ar-AATCFlI
Democrats unveil 16-year, $16.8 billion transportation plan
OLYMPIA — Culvert replacement, expanded bus service, four electric state ferries and free transit for those 18 and younger.
They’re all part of Democratic state lawmakers’ 16-year, $16.8 billion transportation package unveiled Tuesday.
In Snohomish County, there’s money for highway projects, bus investments, ferry terminal upgrades and path improvements for bikes and pedestrians.
Sen. Marko Liias, D-Everett, said the Move Ahead Washington revenue and spending plan should transform the state’s investments in climate action, as well as move people and freight.
https://www.heraldnet.com/news/democrats-unveil-16-year-16-8-billion-transportation-plan/
