AGC urges legislators to pass comprehensive transportation funding legislation

The end of the 2021 Washington State legislative session will wrap up at the end of April, but there’s one significant piece of legislation missing — a comprehensive transportation funding package. Following a year of COVID-19 shutdowns resulting in economic hardship, job losses and lower productivity, it’s time to take action that helps speed up the recovery.

In a recent letter, AGC and nearly 100 other organizations told lawmakers the time is now. In the letter, the Keep Washington Rolling Coalition noted that “a bold infrastructure package will support job creation and recovery, putting folks to work, moving goods more effectively and efficiently, and ensuring mobility for our essential workers.” To see a full copy of the letter, signed by business, labor, environmental and local government groups, click here.

Currently, there are two proposals being floated:

Proposal #1 – Senator Steve Hobbs: Hobbs is the chair of the Senate Transportation Committee. He’s suggested a 16-year, $17 billion plan.

Proposal #2 – Representative Jake Fey: Fey is also a chair on the Senate Transportation Committee and has suggested a 16-year, $26 billion plan.

Both options are being negotiated, but neither has been drafted into legislative language… yet.

AGC urges lawmakers to act quickly, adding that “While the approaches differ, there is agreement we need new investments to address the backlog of maintenance and preservation projects across the state, fund critical projects (such as the I-5 bridge over the Columbia, the Highway 2 trestle, the 405 corridor and the West Seattle Bridge), build a greener hybrid-electric ferry fleet, increase multi-modal options to support equitable recovery and meet our legal obligation of the removal of fish passage barriers.”

The letter continues, “While we appreciate that you are planning to use federal money to patch holes in the current transportation budget, there are still big problems in our transportation investments moving forward. We know that a healthy transportation system supports economic activity, jobs and quality of life for all Washingtonians. Please take action this year.”

We’re closely following this story and will alert you of any progress. In the meantime, we encourage you to reach out to your state representative and let them know how the passage of a comprehensive transportation funding bill would impact your business for the better. If you have any questions or want to. learn more about the proposal, contact AGC Chief Lobbyist Jerry Vanderwood. You can reach him by phone at (360) 352-5000 or by email at jvanderwood@agcwashington.com.

For more information about legislation currently being proposed, click here.