Gov. Gregoire�s statement on the federal highway transportation funding bankruptcy

For Immediate Release: September 5, 2008

OLYMPIA � Gov. Chris Gregoire issued the following statement about today�s announcement that the federal Highway Trust Fund is bankrupt:

�Today�s announcement by the Bush administration that the federal Highway Trust Fund is bankrupt is deeply troubling. This is a crisis that could potentially affect thousands of transportation construction jobs in Washington state and across the country at a time when the national economy is slowing.

�In Washington state we have made tremendous progress in the past few years, completing 165 transportation projects. We currently have an additional 66 transportation projects under way and 43 more transportation projects coming online in the next six months. While we have federal funding to continue these projects through October, the projects� long-term funding could be in jeopardy.

�Our state�s congressional delegation understands the urgency of fixing the problem and has been working on it.

�Earlier this year, I called on Congress to not rely solely on the federal gas taxes, but to explore more choices and options to fund transportation projects. I strongly urge Congress to take swift action to fully fund the federal Highway Trust Fund and call for a long-term approach to address this problem.�