Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 21, 2002
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Locke signs landmark regional transportation bill

RENTON — Gov. Gary Locke today signed into law Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill No. 6140, landmark legislation that empowers the central Puget Sound region to partner with state and federal governments to help break out of traffic gridlock.

Standing with Renton Mayor Jesse Tanner and a bipartisan assembly of state senators and state representatives, the governor signed the bill just blocks away from one of the state’s major traffic chokepoints, the Interstate 405 and state Route 167 interchange.

“Beginning with a recommendation from the Blue Ribbon Commission on Transportation, the authority to empower regions to speed up critical transportation infrastructure improvements has finally arrived,” the governor said. “With this new authority, regional voters will decide which top projects to invest in. The region will use its new transportation dollars to speed up the completion of these projects to get commuters, shippers and our economy moving again.”

“This legislation was a tough compromise, and is indeed a good step forward,” Locke said. “I am pleased to sign E2SSB 6140 into law.”

“There are many who worked very hard to make this bill a reality,” Locke said. “State Senators Tracey Eide, Bill Finkbeiner, Mary Margaret Haugen, Jim Horn, Steve Johnson, Jim Kastama, Dan McDonald, Margarita Prentice and Rosemary McAuliffe. And, on the House side, state Representatives Glenn Anderson, Mike Cooper, Fred Jarrett, Lynn Kessler, Ed Murray, Cheryl Pflug, and Geoff Simpson. I want to thank them for their hard work and dedication.”

Upon reviewing the bill, the governor decided to veto the null and void section of the legislation.

”I am vetoing one section of the bill, section 504, which would have made this new authority null and void if the statewide transportation referendum does not become law by the end of this year,” Locke noted. “I do not take this action lightly. By vetoing this section, the three central Puget Sound counties will retain a dynamic new tool to begin to address their most pressing transportation needs, regardless of the ultimate outcome of the statewide transportation referendum.”

“I will work vigorously toward the passage of the statewide referendum because it is absolutely critical to our state and this region,” the governor said. “Without it, neither the state nor this region can sufficiently cut traffic congestion or improve highway safety.”

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Related Links:
- Washington State Legislature
- Blue Ribbon Commission on Transportation
- Bill Information
- Sen. Tracey Eide (D-30)
- Sen. Bill Finkbeiner (R-45)
- Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen (D-10)
- Sen. Jim Horn (R-41)
- Sen. Steve Johnson (R-47)
- Sen. Jim Kastama (D-25)
- Sen. Dan McDonald (R-48)
- Sen. Margarita Prentice (D-11)
- Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe (D-1)
- Rep. Glenn Anderson (R-5)
- Rep. Mike Cooper (D-21)
- Rep. Fred Jarrett (R-41)
- Rep. Lynn Kessler (D-24)
- Rep. Ed Murray (D-43)
- Rep. Cheryl Pflug (R-5)
- Rep. Geoff Simpson (D-47)

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