Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 16, 2001
Contact: Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136
He also called for action on his 10-year, $17.2 billion transportation proposal in an Olympia press conference today.
Locke said his message to the Legislature is: "Improve on my proposal if you can, but something must be done."
"The future of this state depends on transportation. We can't afford to delay any longer," he added.
"Let's finish the job on permit streamlining, regional empowerment, executive appointment of the DOT secretary and the other efficiencies that need to happen," he added.
The governor said the next order of business will be to pass the transportation package that will improve roads as well as mass transit and ferry service.
To pay for the package, the governor has proposed a 50 percent gross weight surcharge for trucks and a 2 percent sales and use tax increase for new and used vehicles. The package, which is contingent upon voter approval, also calls for a 4-cent increase in gas taxes in January 2002 and a 3-cent tax increase in 2004.
The governor's transportation plan would give metropolitan-area counties the authority to form transportation regions. Regions where local option revenue sources - subject to approval by voters in the regions - would pay for regional highway improvements critical to those areas.
"People in Aberdeen or Walla Walla should not be expected to help pick up the tab for highway projects they will seldom use. Under the package for traffic relief I'm proposing, at least 85 percent of the new state transportation dollars will stay within the region in which they are raised and 100 percent of the new regional dollars will stay within the region in which they are raised," Locke said.
"A partnership of state and regional investment is the smart and fair way of breaking out of gridlock while we improve the whole state transportation system," Locke said.
"We must pass the package to ensure that we can keep the state thriving in the 21st century," stated the governor. "We need to put this statewide financing package in place now, and I am asking the Legislature to approve this package in this special session."
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 Ten-Year Transportation Plan
- Governor Gary Locke's Proposed Transportation Project List
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 16, 2001
Contact: Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136
Locke calls on Legislature to pass transportation legislation
OLYMPIA - Gov. Gary Locke today called upon the Legislature to pass legislation within nine days that would streamline and reform operations at the Department of Transportation.He also called for action on his 10-year, $17.2 billion transportation proposal in an Olympia press conference today.
Locke said his message to the Legislature is: "Improve on my proposal if you can, but something must be done."
"The future of this state depends on transportation. We can't afford to delay any longer," he added.
"Let's finish the job on permit streamlining, regional empowerment, executive appointment of the DOT secretary and the other efficiencies that need to happen," he added.
The governor said the next order of business will be to pass the transportation package that will improve roads as well as mass transit and ferry service.
To pay for the package, the governor has proposed a 50 percent gross weight surcharge for trucks and a 2 percent sales and use tax increase for new and used vehicles. The package, which is contingent upon voter approval, also calls for a 4-cent increase in gas taxes in January 2002 and a 3-cent tax increase in 2004.
The governor's transportation plan would give metropolitan-area counties the authority to form transportation regions. Regions where local option revenue sources - subject to approval by voters in the regions - would pay for regional highway improvements critical to those areas.
"People in Aberdeen or Walla Walla should not be expected to help pick up the tab for highway projects they will seldom use. Under the package for traffic relief I'm proposing, at least 85 percent of the new state transportation dollars will stay within the region in which they are raised and 100 percent of the new regional dollars will stay within the region in which they are raised," Locke said.
"A partnership of state and regional investment is the smart and fair way of breaking out of gridlock while we improve the whole state transportation system," Locke said.
"We must pass the package to ensure that we can keep the state thriving in the 21st century," stated the governor. "We need to put this statewide financing package in place now, and I am asking the Legislature to approve this package in this special session."
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 Ten-Year Transportation Plan
- Governor Gary Locke's Proposed Transportation Project List
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