business backgrounder | economy
measure was approved by lawmakers. Another $ 400 million for rest areas, ferries, railroads and other projects is already spent or committed.
“ We’ re underway and we’ re doing what we do very well,” said Kevin J. Dayton, the chief engineer at the Washington State Department of Transportation.“ We’ re delivering projects.”
The $ 16.3 billion Connecting Washington package was approved by state lawmakers in 2015. It funded about $ 11.3 billion over 16 years for road projects, highway maintenance and operations, ferries, rail and more. The rest includes transportation investments for other state agencies, local governments and debt service. It was the first statewide transportation package approved by the Legislature in a decade, and includes new fees and an increase in the gas tax.
AWB supported the legislation, which included about a dozen transportation policy reforms.
“ Our economy depends on a strong transportation system and the Connecting Washington package is already delivering a positive return on investment,” said Mike Ennis, AWB government affairs director for transportation.
Dayton said his agency appreciates the support of Washington’ s employer community.
“ We appreciate AWB’ s membership, along with other business and industry partners, for their recognition of the importance of an effective transportation system and their willingness to support investments in Washington’ s system,” Dayton said.“ By working together, we can keep our state’ s economy moving forward.”
“ We’ re underway and we’ re doing what we do very well. We’ re delivering projects.”
— Kevin J. Dayton, chief engineer, Washington State Department of Transportation
Connecting Washington also included several reforms, including streamlined permits, adding congestion relief as a statewide transportation goal and other measures aimed at reducing project costs and delays.
These efforts are underway at an exciting time in state history.
This $ 16.3 billion is being invested in the middle of a historic economic and population boom. Think of more cranes, more freight trucks, and more commuters driving to work.
Over the past 10 years, four out of five major transportation corridors show more congestion, Washington State Transportation Director Roger Millar testified to lawmakers earlier this year. Interstate 90 is 117 percent more congested. Interstate 5, 76 percent. State Route 520 is below 2007 levels due to carpooling and tolling.
And traffic delays are proving to be a major cost of doing business in Washington.
An estimated 400 incidents per year cause delays of four hours or more on state highways, Millar told lawmakers. In 2016, crash delays cost Washington’ s economy nearly $ 200 million in lost productivity, and fuel from idling vehicles, on state roads. Transportation officials are working closely with the Washington State Patrol and local partners to take care of these crashes more efficiently and safely open the roads.
Dayton also stressed the critical importance of keeping the transportation system well-maintained. Washington has more than 18,700 lane-miles of road and 3,300 bridges to take care of, for example.
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