WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State House Democrats

HOUSE DEMOCRATS

Transportation hearing highlights challenges to economic competitiveness

Image Courtesy of David Ansley

The Joint Transportation Committee met Wednesday at Sound Transit’s Union Station to hear testimony on the status of Washington’s ports and transportation systems, as well as the challenges and opportunities facing both entities.

“We heard today from industry leaders of all stripes about the importance of being able to move their goods quickly and efficiently, both across the state and to markets overseas,” said House Transportation Chair Judy Clibborn (D-Mercer Island). “Washington’s short- and long-term economic competitiveness rests on our commitment to modernizing our transportation and port infrastructure.”

The most substantial topic of the meeting was on Washington’s deep water ports and their contributions to the statewide economy. Business, industry and port leadership detailed their current work and the hurdles they face moving forward.

“British Columbia is building ports, roads and rails to take Washington’s port-related, middle-class jobs,” said Port of Seattle Commissioner Bill Bryant. “If we’re going to keep these jobs from going north, our state needs a transportation system that works. Our ports also need to make the right investments to handle newer, larger vessels.

“Given the statewide economic impact of port-related jobs, we in the maritime industry sometimes wonder when the state will have what we call ‘the Boeing moment,’” Tacoma Port Commissioner Dick Marzano said. “It’s that moment when the state says, ‘Because maritime businesses affect hundreds of thousands of jobs all over the state, we should do whatever we can to ensure they remain competitive.’”

The committee was also briefed on the current and future operations of transit agencies around Puget Sound and received a progress updated from WSDOT on the 520 bridge and SR 99 Tunnel projects.

“Not only do these systems and services help connect the different communities of our state, they are critical to reducing congestion and supporting economic growth in Washington state,” said Clibborn.

The Joint Transportation Committee was created in 2005 to review and research transportation programs and issues to better inform state and local government policymakers. It is made up of the chair and ranking member of both the House and Senate Transportation Committees.