Senate: new transportation budget would make 18,000 jobs
OLYMPIA, Wash. - The state Senate has unveiled an $8.6 billion transportation budget, attempting to balance construction-job creation with cuts forced by less revenue.
It's a $1 billion increase from last year's biennial budget. That's mostly thanks to federal stimulus dollars for mega-projects, such as a $590 million high speed rail corridor.
And more construction projects are under way because the poor economy has forced contractors to bid lower, and with lower bids the state can build more projects.
"We like to think that transportation is the one bright spot in this otherwise gloomy economic picture," said State Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, the Transportation Chair.
There's $30 million for fixing the Mercer mess, and building a corridor through the South Lake Union area. There's more money for a high-speed rail corridor between Vancouver, BC and Eugene, Oregon.
And a vote in the Senate last week makes it easier to get toll proceeds to continue moving ahead with replacing the 520 Floating Bridge.
Above all, the new spending plan creates or retains 18,000 jobs, with the belief those paychecks will be spent back in the local communities stimulating the economic recovery.
"That means more projects, that means more jobs," said Sen. Chris Marr (D-Spokane). "That means increased public confidence as we look ahead and look at future transportation revenue solutions."
There's a billion dollar hole looming in 16 years because people are driving less and needing less gas, which translates into fewer gas tax dollars back to the state. But for right now, there's no appeal for new gas taxes.
"We're not asking for any more taxes right now," Haugen said. "We feel we need to finish what we started and we think we're going to get done sooner than later."
The senators are also willing to spend money to keep the Washington State Patrol airplanes in the air for traffic enforcement, and there's money for a new trooper class of 54 troopers, up from the usual 45.
Cuts in the proposal include a hiring freeze for the state departments of transportation and licensing, and continuing the closure of up to 25 licensing offices.
It's a $1 billion increase from last year's biennial budget. That's mostly thanks to federal stimulus dollars for mega-projects, such as a $590 million high speed rail corridor.
And more construction projects are under way because the poor economy has forced contractors to bid lower, and with lower bids the state can build more projects.
"We like to think that transportation is the one bright spot in this otherwise gloomy economic picture," said State Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, the Transportation Chair.
There's $30 million for fixing the Mercer mess, and building a corridor through the South Lake Union area. There's more money for a high-speed rail corridor between Vancouver, BC and Eugene, Oregon.
And a vote in the Senate last week makes it easier to get toll proceeds to continue moving ahead with replacing the 520 Floating Bridge.
Above all, the new spending plan creates or retains 18,000 jobs, with the belief those paychecks will be spent back in the local communities stimulating the economic recovery.
"That means more projects, that means more jobs," said Sen. Chris Marr (D-Spokane). "That means increased public confidence as we look ahead and look at future transportation revenue solutions."
There's a billion dollar hole looming in 16 years because people are driving less and needing less gas, which translates into fewer gas tax dollars back to the state. But for right now, there's no appeal for new gas taxes.
"We're not asking for any more taxes right now," Haugen said. "We feel we need to finish what we started and we think we're going to get done sooner than later."
The senators are also willing to spend money to keep the Washington State Patrol airplanes in the air for traffic enforcement, and there's money for a new trooper class of 54 troopers, up from the usual 45.
Cuts in the proposal include a hiring freeze for the state departments of transportation and licensing, and continuing the closure of up to 25 licensing offices.