The Issaquah City Council passed a resolution May 20 that strongly encourages state lawmakers to approve a proposed 12-year, $9.5 billion package of transportation improvements.
“Washington state’s transportation system is suffering from disrepair, with a backlog of maintenance and preservation needs, and data showing that without any new investments, more than half the pavement on our state roads and highways will be in poor condition by 2023,” the resolution states.
The proposed state package includes:
• Critical funding for key highway corridor projects throughout the state.
• A direct gas tax distribution that would provide new funding each year for Issaquah to maintain local roadways and arterials and to leverage existing funding.• Local transportation financing options that cities and counties could submit to their voters for transportation improvements in their communities.
• Investments in grant programs that are vital for cities and counties, including the Transportation Investment Board (TIB), the Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board (FMSIB), Complete Streets, Safe Routes to Schools and Bicycle-Pedestrian Safety.• Direct funding allocations for transit agencies, including King County METRO, that would otherwise have to make drastic cuts in routes.
The Issaquah City Council stated that the package also needs to include Interstate 90 improvements in and around Issaquah before it is finalized.
For more information on this legislation, view SHB 1954 and SHB 1955 on the state Legislature’s website.