FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Dec. 18, 1995

OLYMPIA - In announcing a 1996 Supplemental Budget, Gov. Mike Lowry today proposed $169.9 million in transportation spending recommendations to continue programs that received only first-year funding in the 1995-97 biennial budget and fund new projects aimed at economic development and improving mobility.

"It is vital to our economic health to be able to move goods quickly and inexpensively, but it is also important that we as individuals can get to work or anywhere else in a safe and timely manner," Lowry said. "We will keep the state moving ahead with this transportation budget."

The supplemental budget package includes $107.4 million for second-year funding of state and local highway projects and agency activities already underway. Among the projects are:

• Traffic Management: The Department of Transportation (DOT) does not have funds allocated to manage the traffic flows in urban areas in the next year. Without these operations, the express lanes through downtown Seattle and traffic flows on Interstate 5 and Interstate 90 would not function efficiently. At the same time, the Office of Urban Mobility, the central planning agency for the HOV lane core system and the state's local and regional transportation planning agent, is also funded for the second year of the biennium. The supplemental budget proposes $12.4 million to keep both of these services running.
• Local Highway projects: The Governor's proposal appropriates $55.8 million available from fund balances for the Transportation Improvement Board for planned local highway projects.
• Licensing Application Migration Project (LAMP): The Governor proposes $15.3 million to allow the Department of Licensing to continue development an integrated information system designed to match drivers' licenses with vehicle registration.
• Narcotics computer system: This budget appropriates $197,000 to allow the State Patrol to continue development of a computer system to assist in the investigation of narcotics cases.

In addition, Lowry proposes new spending on several projects to ease congestion and trigger economic investment, including:

• Improving freight mobility: To improve freight mobility, $12.9 million is earmarked for both the Mill Plain extension in Vancouver and the NE 40th Street interchange in Redmond. The Mill Plain extension, from I-5 to the Port of Vancouver, will allow the port to develop 1,200 acres of property for import and export activities and is a major economic boost for southwestern Washington. In Redmond's Overlake business district, the NE 40th St. interchange under state Route 520 will be widened and new collector-distributor lanes constructed in each direction to improve access to a business park and ease congestion in surrounding intersections. Also, $500,000 is provided to develop a Washington Investment Strategy for Freight, a collaborative effort by the Department of Transportation, the private sector, and local elected officials to identify future freight rail needs in Washington State.
• Highway improvements: Some high-priority projects which will improve traffic flows around the state are: $6.6 million for continued development of the Sequim by-pass; $6 million for HOV lane improvements near Everett; $5 million for engineering and design of future construction projects; $3 million for safety improvement projects; $2.1 million for park road improvements; $500,000 to study alternatives to a seismic retrofit for the Alaskan Way viaduct in Seattle; and a $50,000 corridor study for a future Belfair by-pass in Mason County.
• County highway improvements: Approximately $20 million is proposed for the County Road Administration Board for county road preservation projects. New criteria would allow counties to qualify for rural arterial grants which otherwise would not be available.

The Governor's supplemental transportation budget also responds to several developments that were not anticipated when the current two-year budget was approved in June. Those include:

• Snow and Ice Removal Costs: $2.5 million is provided to the state Department of Transportation to meet costs associated with earlier than expected winter storms. Since the final cost of winter storm maintenance activities is not yet known, adjustments may be required in this appropriation.

• Maintaining Trooper Field Force Levels: Attrition at the State Patrol has been significantly higher than anticipated--running approximately one per month above estimates. To maintain the trooper field force at target levels, $1.3 million in additional funding is required to provide a second cadet training class.

• Service Improvements at the Department of Licensing: Executive request legislation will be introduced during the 1996 Legislative Session to change the current four-year driver's license to five-year renewal terms. This will reduce waiting times in license offices around the state by up to 20 percent, while increasing revenue by $735,000 in the current biennium and $4.8 million in 1997-99. Those resources will be directed to fund service improvements in the Clark County and Kent licensing offices.
• Improved Cash Management in the Ferry System: Approximately $34 million will be taken from the Ferry Systems Operating Account to cover a portion of the construction costs for new jumbo ferries. This would still leave an estimated cash balance of $53 million in the account for future ferry capital and service improvements.

For more information, contact the Governor's Communications Office at 360-753-6790.