Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - April 28, 2003
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Business, Labor, Transit, Consumer Groups Highlight Benefits of Statewide Transportation Plan

OLYMPIA - Business, labor, transit, law enforcement and consumer groups today joined Gov. Gary Locke to highlight the benefits of the state’s new transportation-funding plan.

The transportation-improvement plan will provide critical improvements to transportation infrastructure, spurring business growth, creating thousands of family-wage jobs and improving the state’s competitiveness.

“This transportation-improvement plan sends a clear signal that Washington is open for business,” Locke said. “This plan will help us keep and grow the jobs we already have and attract new ones.”

Locke thanked the many businesses, labor groups, law enforcement organizations, firefighters and civic groups for their support of the transportation plan. The Legislature passed the transportation-improvement plan late Saturday night, the day before the end of session.

Business and community leaders joining the governor today included:

· Bob Watt, Vice President of Government & Community Relations, Boeing Commercial Airplane Company
· Rick Bender, President, Washington State Labor Council
· Linda Lanham, Political Director, Machinists Union
· Don Brunell, Executive Director, Association of Washington Business
· Jim Shipman, Executive Director, Washington State Transit Association
· Peter Thein, Deputy Director, Washington State Transit Association
· Rick Jensen, Chairman, Washington State Highway Users Federation
· Bill Hanson, Executive Director, Washington Council of Police & Sheriffs
· Kelly Fox, President, Washington State Council of Firefighters
· Ronal Serpas, Chief, Washington State Patrol
· Duke Schaub, Director of Government Affairs, Associated General Contractors
· Bruce Beckett, Director of Washington State Government Affairs, Weyerhaeuser
· Janet Ray, Managing Director of Corporate Communications, AAA of Washington
· Doug MacDonald, Secretary, Department of Transportation
· Aubrey Davis, Chair, Transportation Commission
· Sen. Jim Horn, R-Mercer Island, Chair of the Senate Highways & Transportation Committee
· Rep. Ed Murray, D-Seattle, Chair of the House Transportation Committee
· Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island, ranking Democrat on the Senate Highways & Transportation Committee;

“This transportation plan will boost the economy and get people to work,” Bender said. “We welcome the thousands of good family-wage jobs this transportation plan will create.”

Beckett said, “We want to thank the five corners – the governor, the House and the Senate for their hard work on this transportation plan. Weyerhaeuser recognizes the importance of this plan to the state and looks forward to implementing it.”

Serpas said, “I would like to thank the governor, the Senate Highways & Transportation Committee and the House Transportation Committee members for their commitment and diligence to produce a meaningful transportation budget that the Washington State Patrol will use every day to make a difference in protecting our families, friends and children.”

Last week the governor highlighted the importance of transportation improvements to ensure that Boeing builds its next jet, the 7E7, in Washington.
“For many years, Washington state businesses have labored under the current transportation system. It is wonderful to see that our state is ready to take these steps and start building toward our future,” said Watt of Boeing. “We think this is a tremendous step forward.”

Microsoft embraced the news as well.

“This is a positive step toward addressing the transportation issues in our state,” said Brad Smith, Microsoft senior vice president and general counsel. “As a local business, we feel it is important to improve the quality of life in the Puget Sound, as well as the business and economic climate.”

The governor spent considerable time throughout the session – especially during the last month – working with legislative leaders to reach a compromise transportation agreement. These efforts included holding weekly meetings with transportation leadership since the beginning of session in January. Locke 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.

The new plan calls for a five-cent gas tax and a 0.3 percent sales tax surcharge on motor vehicles. Together, the agreement raises $4.2 billion in transportation funding and creates thousands of family-wage jobs.

“While a huge shot in the arm of our state’s economy and transportation system, this transportation plan won’t solve all our problems, but it’s an excellent start. This has been a long time coming,” Locke said. “Now let’s get our people to work and improve our transportation system.”

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