OLYMPIA—The passage of a new two-year transportation budget means $15.6 billion in projects and improvements, said Rep. Adison Richards (D-Gig Harbor).
“I’m proud to say this transportation budget is strongly bipartisan, just like the ones before it,” Richards said. “That’s because we worked together on shared priorities. The people in the 26th District need investments in our roads and bridges, and we need creative solutions to traffic and our struggling ferry system.”
The two-year budget passed with strong support from Democrats and Republicans in both the House and Senate.
However, Richards joined several other Democrats in voting against the revenue package that increased gas taxes.
“I’m particularly happy with the investments and reforms to help fix our ferry system and successful efforts to keep bridge tolls from going up,” Richards said. “While I voted against the revenue package that increased gas taxes and other fees, I’m pleased that overall, the budget itself struck the right balance of cuts and fixing existing infrastructure. It’s also great for local residents that we successfully fought against toll increases.”
There are $13.348 million in projects entirely in the 26th District and $565 million in projects shared with nearby districts.
26th District highlights include:
- Kitsap Transit – SR 305 Day Park and Ride, $8 million
- Kitsap Transit power generator installment and replacement, $1.658 million
- Bay Street pedestrian project, $2 million
- SR 16 / Wollochet Drive safety improvements, $1.68 million
- Bridge toll increases were removed from the revenue package
Shared project highlights include:
- Pierce Transit Pacific Ave / State Route 7 Corridor Bus Rapid Transit stations, $500,000
- MV Issaquah improvements, $1.546 million
- State ferry system ticketing and reservation modernization, $6 million
- State ferry wait times traveler information system, $4.642 million
- State ferry dispatch system replacement, $11.926 million
- Pierce Transit maintenance and operations base rehab including zero emission infrastructure, $696,000
- Kitsap Transit electric bus fleet conversion, $11.2 million
- Ferry terminal electrification, $150.8 million
- Hybrid electric ferry construction, $274 million
- SR 3 / Gorst area widening, $13.5 million
- SR 16 repayment of sales tax for New Tacoma Narrows Bridge, $57.593 million
For more information about the transportation budget, operating budget, or capital budget, visit https://fiscal.wa.gov/