From the office of State Representative Steve Bergquist

This short survey is designed to understand the 11th District (Renton, Tukwila, and South Seattle) stance on this session's multiple transportation package proposals and their funding sources.

The survey includes brief descriptions of each proposal, as well as links to additional resources. In addition to asking you to provide your opinion on each proposal individually, the last question will also ask you to rank the proposals in order of preference.

Before you begin, it may be helpful to understand the transportation issues that our state is facing. Washington state is currently under legal obligation to remove fish passage barriers across the state, which is estimated to cost $3.5 billion. In addition, Washington's transportation system is in dire need of maintenance and preservation of our existing roads and bridges. Costs are estimated to be at least $2 billion.

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* 1. The Washington House Democrats have announced a $26 billion, 16-year transportation proposal. 

The proposal raises revenue with an 18-cent increase in gas taxes, phased over two years, as well as a $15 per ton fee on carbon emissions from transportation fuels. The carbon fee revenue would go toward (1) investing in transportation choices such as buses, trains, ferries, bicycling, and walking paths, and (2) investments in carbon reduction like helping make the switch to electric vehicles.

Additional highlights of the House proposal include: 

More than $6 billion for maintenance and preservation; nearly $3.5 billion for the state’s fish passage barrier removal obligation; $6.7 billion in new road-related investments through state and local governments; $1 billion to help replace the I-5 bridge between Washington and Oregon; and funds to build four new hybrid-electric ferries.

The proposal is unique because it raises revenue without borrowing. By paying as it goes, the plan would save taxpayers billions of dollars in interest payments.

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* 2. Sen. Steve Hobbs (D-Lake Stevens) announced the Forward Washington transportation proposal, which invests $18-19 billion over 16 years.

The proposal includes two main options for revenue: one that receives revenue from a Cap & Invest proposal and a second option which relies on a carbon fee. Additionally, the proposal raises the gas tax by 6 cents and increases nearly two dozen fees and taxes as a way to fund transportation. Learn more about the proposed revenue options. 

Highlights of the proposed list of projects for investment include:

More than $2.5 billion for maintenance and preservation; $3.5 billion for the state’s fish passage barrier removal obligation; over $1 billion for construction of new ferry vessels; $100 million in port district-dedicated money and increases for the Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board; a list of capital improvement projects, many of which complete long-term multiphase projects like replacement of the I-5 bridge, the completion of US-12 widening connecting the Tri-Cities and Walla Walla and the final phase of SR-18 at Tiger Mountain.

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* 3. Sen. Rebecca Saldaña (D-Seattle) has announced the Evergreen Plan, a 12-year, $14.3 billion transportation proposal.

The proposal raises revenue with a carbon fee, a vehicle emissions fee, a 3-cent increase in the gas tax, a tax on luxury aircraft and yachts, and other fees.

Highlights of the proposed list of projects for investment include:

Almost $2 billion for preservation and maintenance; $3.2 billion for the state’s fish passage barrier removal obligation; $2 billion to expand existing multimodal grant programs; $2.5 billion for Clean Fuel and Just Transitions (includes electrification of ferries and statewide vehicle replacement); $1.4 billion for the US 2 trestle; and $450 million for the I-5 bridge between Washington and Oregon.

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* 4. The lead Republican on the Senate Transportation Committee, Sen. Curtis King (R-Yakima) has put forward a $10 billion, 8-year transportation proposal.

The plan is funded by raising the state’s gas tax by 3 cents, raising the bicycle parts and sales tax by 2%, adding a 20-cent surcharge for transit and light rail riders, a 25-cent surcharge for ferry passengers, and a 50-cent surcharge for people using on-demand transportation, such as Uber and Lyft, as well as other taxes and fees. In addition, the proposal would pull some money from the state's operating budget.

Highlights of the proposed list of projects for investment include:

Over $5 billion for maintenance and preservation; more than $2 billion for the state’s fish passage barrier removal obligation; $300 million for ferry vessels; $300 million to help with the production of hydrogen, installing service stations and providing incentives for the purchase of hydrogen-fueled vehicles; and more than $1.7 billion for five major projects, including money toward replacing the I-5 Columbia River Bridge, the US-2 Trestle, and repairing the West Seattle Bridge.

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* 5. Please rank the four transportation proposals in order of preference.

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* 6. Your responses are anonymous, so if you'd like a personal reply:
a. Send me an email; or
b. Leave your name and phone number (optional)

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