Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - January 23, 2002
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Locke urges support for investments in transportation, education

OLYMPIA — Gov. Gary Locke today urged support for investments in transportation and education to keep Washington’s businesses competitive.

Locke addressed a joint legislative meeting of the Association of Washington Business and the Washington Chamber of Commerce Executives in Olympia today.

Noting an estimated $2 billion cost in time spent waiting in traffic, the governor said the state’s transportation crisis must be resolved.

“We are in gridlock in this state, and not just on our freeways,” Locke said, calling for business and bipartisan legislative support in breaking the jam in the Legislature. The governor encouraged moving away from entrenched positions and working together “in a bipartisan spirit – a ‘spirit of Washington.’”

The governor’s transportation proposal includes a 9-cent increase in the gas tax, spread over three years, to rebuild the roads and bridges that each region of the state decides are most important. Locke’s plan would give the regions the power to set priorities and speed up project construction in partnership with state and federal government.

“Demands on our transportation system have never been greater and our ability to meet those demands haven’t kept pace,” Locke said. “Adjusted for inflation, today we spend fewer state dollars on transportation than we did a decade ago.”

Locke also cited education as a top priority. He expressed appreciation for support of K-12 initiatives and called for an even greater commitment to “making all of our schools great.”

The Washington Competitiveness Council, which the governor convened last year, called for an improved educational system in its December report. The council also recommended better roads and transportation, less government regulation and a more predictable business climate for the state’s employers.

Locke said he is committed to making the changes recommended by the council.

“With your help, we can accomplish most, if not all, of what is outlined in the Competitiveness Council’s report,” the governor said. “Failure only means that sooner or later, someone else is going to have to address the challenges we face here today.”

With one in three jobs in Washington related to trade, Locke also has consistently promoted international trade as a win-win strategy and emphasized its importance to the state’s economic vitality.

Tonight, the governor will deliver keynote remarks to the World Trade Center Tacoma Globe Awards event.

The World Trade Center Tacoma promotes international business and trade in the Northwestern United States. The Globe Award honors a business or individual with consistent contributions to the community’s international trade status. The Marco Polo Award recognizes a small business for initial success in international trade. The award-winners will be announced after the governor’s remarks, which are scheduled to begin at 7:15 p.m. at the Tacoma Convention Center.

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Related Links:
- Washington State Legislature
- Washington Chamber of Commerce Executives
- Locke's remarks to AWB/WCCE
- Washington Competitiveness Council
- Association of Washington Business
- Blue Ribbon Commission on Transportation

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