Democrats propose $16.8 billion transportation package

Legislation intended to funnel $16.8 billion in the next 16 years into the state’s transportation infrastructure was proposed by Washington Democrats this week.

Senate Bill 5974 consists of the transportation plan, which could fund several existing construction projects lining western Washington and promote transit ridership across the state. In addition, new construction projects could spring up along the west side.

Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, said she was concerned with the lack of eastern Washington representation in the bill. She said one project tackles a transit issue in her district, Legislative District 13, but other than that, the plan focuses on the west side.

Sen. Marko Liias, D-Everett, said the plan’s funding comes partially from the 2021 Climate Commitment Act revenue and federal aid. In the past, funding has relied on increases to the state’s gas tax; now, different approaches are being taken, he said.

“The investments in the package will help everyone, but particularly don’t pass on the cost of working families,” Liias said.

If SB 5974 passes, the current vehicle fuel tax exemption for exported fuel would be replaced with a credit system collecting a 6 cents per gallon tax; however, that premium would only apply to a portion of exported fuel instead of the entirety, he said.

The new package also contains more than $2 billion in additional fees, including on license plates for cars and motorcycles. Additionally, the bill includes plans for matching available federal dollars to move forward on a high-speed rail project between British Columbia and Oregon and spending nearly $2.5 billion removing barriers to fish passages.

Washington is home to a few oil refineries, but none are in District 13, Warnick said. So essentially, this credit system intending to protect working class families would do the opposite for her constituents.

“They called it Move Ahead WA,” she said. “But it’s moving ahead in western Washington, not necessarily eastern Washington.”

Mike Ennis, Association of Washington Business, testified in opposition to the transportation plan during a public hearing in the Senate Transportation Committee on Thursday. He said the proposal raises $4.5 billion in taxes and fee increases.

Ennis said several revenue streams for funding the plan could potentially harm working class families and several industries not confined to Washington.

Local governments would receive more taxing authority with the passage of SB 5974. With that additional authority, there would be increases in aircraft fuel taxes, plate fees, stolen vehicle check fees, enhanced licenses and identification cards, driver abstract fees and other areas.

“We are ensuring we take resources we already have available, as well as some modest fees and other resources,” Liias said, “to make life better for all of us.”

To support funding for the transportation plan, legislators removed a requirement to consider and enact legislation regarding compliance with certain portions of the Climate Commitment Act.

The carbon emissions reduction account (CERA), created through the CCA, would be allowed to spend revenue on active transportation, transit programs, ferries, rails and fuel alternatives, including electricity.

The state intends on using some of CCA’s revenue to fund the building cost of four hybrid-electric ferries and electrifying older vessels and terminals. Legislators also are prioritizing an ultra-high-speed rail, Liias said.

The Washington State Department of Transportation would negotiate to eliminate Amtrak rail fares for underage passengers, he said. The Washington State Transportation Commission would also adopt a fare-free policy for people under 18, he said.

The fare-free policy could extend further to encompass all transit agencies statewide, including ferries and buses, which Warnick said is concerning.

“It’s a carrot and a stick thing,” she said. “Hold out an idea for a grant, but if you don’t give free rides to children, you don’t (qualify).”

The conversation of child safety has yet to be incorporated in the discussion of the bill.

Warnick said children would be allowed to travel anywhere without a transit employee intervening. The state could experience more child runaways and potentially kidnappings and other crimes, she said.

If passed, SB 5974 would allocate around 24% of CERA’s revenue toward creating the Climate Active Transportation Account. Expenditures might provide safe routes to school, bicycle programs and grants applying to several community programs.

Children would have safer means of transportation to school if their guardian, school bus or other resources are not available, Liias said. The bicycle program would be targeted towards children from middle to high school, he said.

Several children testified during a public hearing for the bill on Thursday in the Senate Transportation Committee. They shared a sense of support for the legislation and said it would make it easier for them to get to and from school and extracurricular activities.

Automatic safety cameras detecting speed would expand to school walk areas, public parks and hospital speed zones, according to the bill’s text. And, cities would be allowed one camera per 10,000 residents, it stated.

CERA revenue would also create the Climate Transit Programs Account, according to the bill’s text. Fifty-six percent of CERA’s annual revenue would fund the account, supplying a variety of transit grant programs to several areas.

WSDOT would create a bus and bus facility grant program to help rebirth the transit sector. The grants would be available for, but not limited to, services including buses, ferries and vans.

The bill sets a target that all passenger and light-duty vehicles after the model year 2030 be electric. The Interagency Electric Vehicle Coordinating Council would be created to develop strategies toward meeting targets.

Warnick said not all vehicles can run efficiently on electric energy. Eastern Washington lacks the infrastructure needed to support cleaner methods of transit and with other legislation looking at tearing down certain dams, the regions could face a lack of energy.

“We on the east side just don’t have the infrastructure that’s needed to plug in all those vehicles,” she said.

Solar and wind power are not enough to adequately supplement hydroelectric power, she said.

While the Democratic transportation plan offers statewide solutions, most are best suited to western Washington, she said. The plan does address some Republican and eastside priorities, but not enough for her to offer her support at this time, she said.

SB 5974 is scheduled for executive session in the Senate Transportation Committee on Monday.