Washington Business Fall 2015 | Legislative Review | Page 30
2015 legislative review
Infrastructure
Michael Ennis: Transportation, Aviation
The 2015 legislative session presented a number of significant budget challenges for lawmakers, but after the 105-day regular
session and three special sessions, the Legislature finally adopted a comprehensive, statewide transportation revenue and
reform package. AWB members made this a top priority for the business community and it has been a decade since Washington
invested in transportation infrastructure, despite deteriorating road conditions and population and employment growth. The
$16.3 billion package raises the state motor vehicle fuel tax by 11.9 cents per gallon and funds about $8.8 billion in new road
projects, including the North-South freeway in Spokane, State Route 520 in Seattle, and State Route 167 in Tacoma. The package
also raises about $1.2 billion in road preservation funding, $170 million in freight rail improvements, and $375 million for city and
county road projects. The Legislature also adopted
a series of transportation reforms aimed at reducing
project costs and delays, improving accountability
and transparency, and streamlined permitting. And
for the first time since the practice was started in
1971, sales tax dollars on gas tax-funded projects
will be coming back to the transportation budget
from the general fund. The transportation package
also contains several important environmental considerations, including $1 billion in transit/bicycle/
pedestrian projects, authority for Sound Transit
officials to ask voters to fund a $15 billion light rail
extension in the Puget Sound Region, incentives
for alternative fuel commercial vehicles, incentives
for electric vehicles, and a commute trip reduction
tax credit for businesses. Finally, the Legislature
adopted a provision that protects consumers from
hidden gas taxes that would come from a low-carbon
fuel standard. Combined, these investments make
Kristal Fiser, UPS, center, testifies in favor of the transportation package as part of
this transportation package one of the most envia slate of AWB-led panels. Joining her are AWB President Kris Johnson, left, and
ronmentally friendly in state history.
Washington Roundtable President Steve Mullin.
2ESSB 5987/2ESSB 5988/
ESSB 5989
statewide revenue package
Passed/AWB Supported
AWB supported Senate Bills 5987, 5988,
and 5989, sponsored by Sen. Curtis King,
R-Yakima, which make up the statewide transportation revenue package.
The bills impose an 11.9 cent gas tax
increase and various other transportation related fees to fund $16.3 billion in
transportation improvements across the
state. Accompanying the revenue package
28 association of washington business
were several transportation reforms
that AWB also supported, including: SB
5990, sales taxes on transportation projects (incorporated in SB 5987); SB 5992,
modifying requirements for ferry vessel
construction; SB 5993, labor reform; SB
5994, environmental permitting; SB 5995,
adding congestion relief as a statewide
transportation goal; SB 5996, streamlining
Washington State Department of Transportation’s (WSDOT) permit process; SB
5997, concerning project delivery; HB 1219,
streamlining permitting for structurally
deficient state bridges; HB 1842, transit
agency coordination; HB 1851, expedited permits and contracting process for
structurally deficient local bridges; and
HB 2012, using practical design principles
in WSDOT project development. The
Legislature also adopted a provision to
protect Washington consumers from hidden gas taxes found in a low-carbon fuel
standard. 2ESSB 5987 passed by a vote of
37-7 in the Senate and 54-44 in the House.
2ESSB 5988 passed the Senate 38-6 and
the House 61-30. ESSB 5989 passed the
Senate with a vote of 40-7 and the House
by a vote of 63-29.