Senator Steve Hobbs releases updated Forward Washington transportation package

By Chris Herman

Senior Director of Trade & Transportation

Senator Hobbs released an update to his revenue transportation package known as Forward Washington on Wednesday. The $18-$19B, 16-year proposal (which includes two options: one that receives revenue from a Cap & Invest proposal and a second option which relies on a carbon fee) raises nearly two dozen fees and taxes as a way to increase funding for transportation. On Thursday, Hobbs heard the proposal in a work session during the Senate Transportation Committee. While much of the proposal remains similar to last year, this year’s changes double the amount of funding dedicated to state highway maintenance and preservation.

The project list provides a well-rounded series of investments, including full funding for the state’s fish passage barrier removal obligation, over $1B for construction of new ferry vessels, a robust list of capital improvement projects, many of which complete long-term multiphase projects like replacement of the I-5 bridge, the completion of US-12 widening connecting the Tri-Cities and Walla Walla and the final phase of SR-18 at Tiger Mountain.

For ports, Hobbs includes $100M in port district-dedicated money and provides increases for the Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board.

For more information and to see specific revenue options as well the project list related to Connecting Washington, use this link.  http://leap.leg.wa.gov/leap/budget/detail/2021/st2123Bien.asp