Washington State Transportation Budget got a raise from the Democrats’ transportation package. The nearly $17 billion deal was being pushed at the very end of the legislative session. Two Conference Committee reports on the revenue and spending portions of the plan were signed last week.
Both Conference Committee reports for Senate Bill 5974 (revenue) and Senate Bill 5975 (spending) passed on a partisan 4-2 vote. The Washington State Department of Transportation is a governmental agency that constructs, maintains, and regulates the use of transportation infrastructure in the of Washington.
The “Move Ahead Washington” transportation package proposed in February would have increased transportation revenues by $16.8 billion over 16 years, while the most recent iteration of the transportation budget would increase revenues by $16.9 billion over the same time period.
Public Works took the hit as the transportation budget would transfer $57 million a year, from fiscal year 2024 through fiscal year 2038, from the Public Works Assistance Account to the Move Ahead Washington Account.
Legislators say this move is to partially make up for the loss of the controversial and regionally unpopular export fuel tax that was stripped from the package by the House. The full legislature will vote on the final transportation package.
Democratic reps. and senators voted to approve the reports. The Republicans rep. and senator voted not to approve the reports. Some criticized the plan’s increased fees and spending and the partisan nature of the process. On the other hand, it is also being hailed for it’s investment in the state’s transportation.
