Dear neighbors,
I’ve had the pleasure of visiting every corner of the beautiful 26th District, and recently did a video tour of projects that I fought to get state funding to complete.
The first video I’ll share is about a local transportation project in Gig Harbor—but it also touches on my new law (House Bill 1902) to streamline the permitting process and get things done faster.
Saving time and money
You probably drive by transportation projects every day. I know I do. And it’s only natural to wonder why some of them take so long.
I share the frustration of folks wondering if we can do things better.
A big part of the delay has nothing to do with the private contractor who wins the bid for the job. What slows things down? Permits.
- Here’s a snapshot of what the state Department of Transportation has to deal with:
Local permits
- Shoreline Management Act Permits
- National permits under the National Environmental Policy Act
- Water pollution regulations and programs, including the federal Clean Water Act
- State permits under the State Environmental Policy Act
- Hydraulic Project Approval managed by the state Department of Fish and Wildlife regarding the effect on fish, especially given the federal court ruling about tribal fishing rights and culverts.
Nobody is saying we should ignore the goals of these permits—that we should pollute more or hurt fish. What we can, and must do, is figure out how to streamline how long it takes to go through all of this before construction starts.
That’s why I wrote House Bill 1902, which passed with overwhelming bipartisan support. This isn’t a political issue. Everybody wants things to go faster. Delays cost taxpayers time and money.
The law brings together contractors, construction workers, engineers, cities, counties, ports, local governments, tribes, state agencies, and others.
These people know where the bottlenecks are, and where we can reach our goals while saving time and money. I’m excited to work on this on behalf of all the people and taxpayers of the state of Washington.
Constituent story – Safety on Purdy Drive 🚨
A resident contacted my office about excessive speeding on Purdy Drive, an issue so dangerous they no longer felt safe taking out their trash cans each week for collection.
After hearing their concerns, my office immediately contacted the Washington State Patrol (WSP) and the Department of Transportation to advocate for increased attention to the area.
State troopers responded quickly and, understanding the unique design of Purdy Drive, added it to their patrol rotation.
In just the first three days of patrols:
🚗 26 traffic stops were made
⚠️ 24 drivers were cited for speeding
🚔 1 individual was found with a misdemeanor warrant
😱 1 was caught driving 117 MPH
WSDOT conducted a traffic study in 2022 and acknowledged that conditions have changed in this area and are looking to reassess it for potential speed limit changes.
We want to thank the resident who brought this to our attention. Your voice matters. Public safety is one of our highest priorities, and we’re committed to advocating for safer communities across our district.
If you have a concern, don’t hesitate to reach out to my office!
Additional notes
Since session, I have been visiting colleagues and touring facilities around the state to continue committee work, learning more about the issues facing our state and where we can find common ground.
I have been to Bellingham for an economic conference, Grays Harbor to tour the Port and Westport’s Port and fishing hub (boats from places like Gig Harbor launch from there), Kennewick for a Joint Transportation Committee Meeting, and Moses Lake to visit Republican colleagues who farm and some of their neighbors to learn about the issues facing our agriculture industry. More on these visits to come.
I also continue to meet with constituents in coffee shops, over the phone, and restaurants to hear concerns that may turn into legislation. Don’t hesitate to reach out and we will continue to do our best to respond and meet with folks. Also be on the lookout for additional coffee hours coming soon!
In the meantime, I continue to develop ideas for bills and am in the process of deciding what to introduce and working with the partners involved. Stay tuned and keep the faith.
