Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 2, 2001
Contact: Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136
About $9.4 billion of the funds would come from the state if voters agree in a statewide vote this fall, while urban areas, primarily Central Puget counties, would raise the remainder to help fund the large projects the state alone cannot afford.
"We've got some of the worst traffic congestion in the nation and it is getting worse -- an aging ferry system in serious need of modernization, public transit systems running out of money and truckers struggling to get products to market on time," Locke said.
"Now it's time to act. No more studies," the governor emphasized.
He said the state's responsibilities would include improving highway capacity across the state and helping public transit, including passenger rail.
The state's share of the funds would come from:
A 50 percent gross weight surcharge for trucks
A 2 percent increase in the sales tax for new and used motor vehicles
A 4-cent gas tax increase in January and another 3-cent increase two years later.
Locke said the state would partner with urban regions to help pay for large projects in their areas.
The Central Puget Sound area, Spokane and Vancouver would form transportation regions where voters could tax themselves to fund regional highway improvements, under the governor's proposal.
In the Central Puget Sound region, the partnership would address large, expensive projects such as widening Interstate 405, building a new 520 bridge, replacing the Alaskan Way Viaduct, realigning Highway 509 in SeaTac and building a new Highway 167 corridor in Tacoma.
"These are the projects that cost the most. They also are among the corridors most critical to our regional and state economies," the governor said.
Locke said that if regional voters approved local revenue sources for those five Central Puget Sound projects, his proposal would provide $1.3 billion in state funding to lower their overall cost.
Locke also proposed a $50 million match in state funds to reduce the price of tolls on a new Tacoma Narrows Bridge if the region provides $50 million or more for that same purpose.
Locke said at least 85 percent of new state transportation dollars would remain in the area in which they are raised.
"And 100 percent of the new regional dollars will stay within the region," Locke said.
The governor also called upon the Legislature to pass legislation that would streamline and reform operations at the Department of Transportation.
Related Links:
- A State and Regional Partnership to Break the Gridlock
- Regional Empowerment to Cut Traffic Congestion
- Governor Gary Locke's Proposed Ten-Year Transportation Plan
- Governor Gary Locke's Proposed Transportation Project List
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 2, 2001
Contact: Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136
Locke proposes transportation package and urges Legislature to act
OLYMPIA - Gov. Gary Locke today proposed a 10-year, $17.2 billion transportation package to deal with traffic problems across the state.About $9.4 billion of the funds would come from the state if voters agree in a statewide vote this fall, while urban areas, primarily Central Puget counties, would raise the remainder to help fund the large projects the state alone cannot afford.
"We've got some of the worst traffic congestion in the nation and it is getting worse -- an aging ferry system in serious need of modernization, public transit systems running out of money and truckers struggling to get products to market on time," Locke said.
"Now it's time to act. No more studies," the governor emphasized.
He said the state's responsibilities would include improving highway capacity across the state and helping public transit, including passenger rail.
The state's share of the funds would come from:
A 50 percent gross weight surcharge for trucks
A 2 percent increase in the sales tax for new and used motor vehicles
A 4-cent gas tax increase in January and another 3-cent increase two years later.
Locke said the state would partner with urban regions to help pay for large projects in their areas.
The Central Puget Sound area, Spokane and Vancouver would form transportation regions where voters could tax themselves to fund regional highway improvements, under the governor's proposal.
In the Central Puget Sound region, the partnership would address large, expensive projects such as widening Interstate 405, building a new 520 bridge, replacing the Alaskan Way Viaduct, realigning Highway 509 in SeaTac and building a new Highway 167 corridor in Tacoma.
"These are the projects that cost the most. They also are among the corridors most critical to our regional and state economies," the governor said.
Locke said that if regional voters approved local revenue sources for those five Central Puget Sound projects, his proposal would provide $1.3 billion in state funding to lower their overall cost.
Locke also proposed a $50 million match in state funds to reduce the price of tolls on a new Tacoma Narrows Bridge if the region provides $50 million or more for that same purpose.
Locke said at least 85 percent of new state transportation dollars would remain in the area in which they are raised.
"And 100 percent of the new regional dollars will stay within the region," Locke said.
The governor also called upon the Legislature to pass legislation that would streamline and reform operations at the Department of Transportation.
Related Links:
- A State and Regional Partnership to Break the Gridlock
- Regional Empowerment to Cut Traffic Congestion
- Governor Gary Locke's Proposed Ten-Year Transportation Plan
- Governor Gary Locke's Proposed Transportation Project List
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