News Releases
Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 17, 2001
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Locke urges Spokane business leaders to support transportation legislation

SPOKANE - Gov. Gary Locke today told the Spokane Transportation Summit that the state's transportation system is in crisis and urged support for his transportation plan to keep Washington on the move -- and thriving -- in the 21st century.

"We've got some of the worst traffic congestion in the nation," Locke said. "We MUST act on a traffic-relief package that comes to grips with our huge transportation problems."

Locke proposed a 10-year, $17.2 billion transportation package on May 2, and has called on the Legislature to approve it in the current special legislative session.

The governor called for immediate action to relieve congestion that hampers Spokane businesses, including:

Building a new North Spokane freeway to connect several communities with I-90 and central Spokane and speed up the flow of freight and goods

Widening I-90 to six lanes from the Spokane Valley to the Idaho border

Building new interchanges on I-90 at Pines Road and Harvard Road in the Spokane Valley

Widening lanes and making other SR-270 improvements in the Pullman area

Funding priority freight mobility projects across the state and continuing investment in the state's freight rail assistance program and "grain train"

Making new investments through the Rural Economic Vitality Program, which provides grants to rural areas across the state for transportation infrastructure that helps with economic development efforts

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.

Locke has proposed traffic relief through partnerships between state government and major metropolitan regions. Under his plan, the state will bear more than half the cost and urban areas, such as the greater Spokane area, could establish regional transportation programs to finance the rest with voter approval.

"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.

While the Legislature has passed a few of the Blue Ribbon Transportation Commission recommendations, others still must be enacted including permit streamlining, smart preservation and maintenance practices, empowering regions to partner with the state and restoring incentives for commute trip reduction.

The governor enlisted support from Spokane County business leaders to help enact meaningful traffic relief.

"I want each of you to identify five state legislators -- Republicans, Democrats, whatever your preference -- and make time to contact them," Locke said.

"Let's prove to the people of Washington state that we've got the guts -- and the wisdom -- to get Washington moving again."
Related Links:
- 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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