News Releases
Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - April 27, 2003
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Gov. Locke Cheers Passage of State Transportation-Improvement Plan

OLYMPIA - Gov. Gary Locke issued the following statement on the Legislature’s passage of a transportation-improvement plan shortly before midnight Saturday, April 26:

“I am extremely pleased that the Legislature has come to an agreement on a transportation-improvement plan for Washington. This plan will help reignite our economy by creating thousands of family-wage jobs, and make a brighter future for our children and grandchildren.

“The improvements in this transportation plan will help break through traffic chokepoints, keep the traveling public safer, speed up commutes, improve freight mobility across the state, replace four auto ferries built in 1927, and improve public transportation and passenger rail.

“Passing a transportation budget this session that makes these major improvements was one of my top priorities. I applaud the hard work and diligence exhibited by legislative leaders, especially Rep. Ed Murray, chair of the House Transportation Committee, and Sen. Jim Horn, chair of the Senate Highways & Transportation Committee, and the important contributions of Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, ranking Democrat on the Senate committee, and Rep. Doug Erickson, the ranking Republican on the House committee. This agreement represents a true bipartisan effort and I thank those who voted for its passage. We can all be proud of this significant accomplishment.”

Locke spent considerable time throughout the session—especially over the last month—working with legislative leaders to reach a compromise agreement. These efforts included holding weekly meetings with transportation leadership since the beginning of session in January. He even called an all-night meeting in his office to help bring the parties together. That meeting lasted nearly seven hours, ending at 3 a.m.



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