State Legislature 2013 session

[eridani]

47. Rep Clibborn's (D-45) five transportation principles

Last week, Rep. Judy Clibborn (D-Mercer Is.), chair of the House Transportation Committee, unveiled the opening salvo in the debate over how to begin upgrading Washington's crumbling transportation infrastructure. The $10 billion package is funded by a 10-cent gas tax increase phased in over 5 years, plus vehicle tab renewal and other fees.

"This represents a very good first step in addressing the $50 billion in identified needs to restore Washington's crumbling transportation infrastructure," said WSLC President Jeff Johnson. He refers to the 2011 Washington Connects Task Force, which cited a 10-year funding need of $50 billion to rebuild this "backbone of Washington's economy.

At Clibborn's news conference announcing the package, she was surrounded by leaders representing labor, business, environmental groups and local government. This diverse group of interests has reached the common conclusion that current transportation revenues do not provide for the maintenance and operation of our existing highways, roads, ferry, or transit systems. And while the details of what will pass remain to be debated, all agree that now is the time to address this crisis.

As the Legislature continues to debate this important issue, unions from across Washington state have come together to develop a set of five transportation investment principles:

1. Maintain what we have now: We need to maintain the value of our transportation assets through a permanent funding source for maintenance and operation. This should include funding for highways, bridges, roads, transit, and ferries at the state and local levels. The funding sources for maintenance and operations should be indexed to inflation where possible.

2. Invest in strategic-economic corridors: We need to complete funding for existing critical corridors (SR 509, Columbia River Crossing (CRC), SR 520, I-405, I-90, SR 395, SR 167 and SR 519). We should also include in the package, funding for the next set of critical economic corridors and increased investments in our ferry system.

3. Increase State and Local Investment in Roads, Rail, and Transit: Local roads and bridges are quickly deteriorating to unacceptable and unsafe levels. Local governments require the funding and tools to preserve these assets and address growth needs. Demand for public transit, funded largely by volatile local sales tax revenues, is expected to dramatically increase at the same time public transit has been forced to dramatically reduce services. We need a permanent reliable funding source for public transit, state owned freight rail, increased local funding options, and an increase to the State’s share of transit funding.

4. Invest in Livable Communities: Transportation is responsible for more than 50% of our state’s greenhouse gas emissions. We need to increase our investment in clean water infrastructure improvements and healthy, safe, and sustainable community transportation projects.

5. Build it in Washington: Our scarce transportation dollars should maximize the creation of jobs in Washington State. An improved transportation system allows businesses to prosper and employment to grow. Our investment in our transportation infrastructure can be a source of good local jobs. This includes but is not limited to preliminary engineering design work at WSDOT, pre-manufactured products, materials needed for road improvements, building new ferries, manufacturing rolling stock, and the use of community workforce agreements and apprenticeship utilization.

In addition to the WSLC, the following unions have signed onto this set of principles: Washington State Building and Construction Trades Council; Seattle Building and Construction Trades Council; Aerospace Machinists 751; United Transportation Union; Maritime Trades Council; ILWU Local 19; ILWU Puget Sound District Council; Professional and Technical Employees, Local 17; International Union of Operating Engineers 302; Masters, Mates and Pilots; Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen; Amalgamated Transit Union 587; Marine Engineers Beneficial Association; and Laborers District Council.


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