Does the state need new transportation taxes? TVW Host Austin Jenkins of Inside Olympia talks with Senate Transportation Co-Chair Curtis King, R-Yakima, about transportation issues, including revenue, the Columbia River Crossing project, and more.
Author Archives: fdgadmin
Making good on promises to continue a tradition of cooperation, leaders of the Washington State Senate Transportation Committee today proposed a bipartisan transportation budget that would spend $8.7 billion in 2013-15: $5.3 billion in capital construction spending and $3.4 billion for operating costs and debt service payments. The proposal would complete the tunnel replacing Seattle’s Alaskan Way Viaduct, restore and maintain ferry service levels, and improve or preserve highways across Washington, as well as make a number of system-wide reforms.
“We were faced with a particularly challenging set of circumstances this year, but I’m proud that this committee has not only faced those challenges but overcome them,” said Sen. Curtis King, R-Yakima, and co-chair of the transportation committee. “We’ve been able to maintain funding for all the projects to which the state is already committed, and we’ve even identified a number of areas where we can generate savings by implementing reforms.” Continue reading
This session, I am co-chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, and we’re responsible for crafting a state transportation budget. Historically, the transportation committee has been one of the more (if not the most) bipartisan, cooperative committees in the Legislature, and this session has been no different. The other co-chair, Democrat Senator Tracy Eide of Federal Way, and I have been working side-by-side to develop the elements of a budget proposal. Continue reading
Newly-appointed Washington State Department of Transportation Secretary Lynn Peterson announced last week that Ron Paananen – now a private consultant – will lead a comprehensive assessment of the Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement, the State Route 520 Bridge Replacement and HOV Program, and the Interstate 5 Columbia River Crossing projects. I am concerned about the her choice of a former WSDOT administrator and project director to review these three mega-projects. Continue reading
Since the Majority Coalition Caucus took control of the Senate in December, I’ve been able to get several of my bills passed by the Senate and sent to the House of Representatives for consideration. Two of those bills are of particular interest to me and I wanted to share their details with you. Continue reading
This year’s Senate Transportation Committee co-chairs, chosen to lead after a power shake-up in the chamber, are a fascinating study in contrasts.
Sen. Tracey Eide is the feisty veteran Democratic legislator from Federal Way who rides and promotes public transit. Sen. Curtis King is an affable Republican with a woodworking business in Union Gap.
Don’t call them foes, though. Eide and King are good friends. Their colleagues in the bitterly divided Senate should emulate their ability to work through political differences.
Sen. Curtis King, R-Yakima, and co-chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, today expressed his concern about the state Department of Transportation’s choice of a former WSDOT administrator and project director to review three of the state’s transportation mega-projects. Newly-appointed Transportation Secretary Lynn Peterson announced Thursday that Ron Paananen, now a private consultant, will lead a comprehensive assessment of the Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement, the State Route 520 Bridge Replacement and HOV Program, and the Interstate 5 Columbia River Crossing projects.
“I have no doubt that Mr. Paananen is technically qualified to lead the review of these three, multibillion-dollar projects; that’s not the issue here,” King said. “What troubles me is the fact that Mr. Paananen was a former administrator on two of these projects and his private employer receives millions in consulting fees from DOT, including current payouts of $2.4 million on the Columbia River Crossing – one of the projects to be reviewed. This is obviously an enormous conflict of interest.”
House Democrats on Wednesday unveiled their $9.8 billion transportation revenue proposal, but it won’t go very far unless they at least agree to put its biggest element to a popular vote, the Senate Transportation Committee co-chairman said.
Sen. Curtis King, R-Yakima, said a proposed 10-cent gas tax increase doesn’t have the required support of two-thirds of both houses to be approved by the Legislature. Even if it did, King said he would oppose approving a tax increase without a vote of the people.
Click here to read the full article from the Yakima Herald Republic.
Members of the House of Representatives Transportation Committee unveiled their 2013-15 transportation revenue package Wednesday. It calls for raising the gasoline tax by 2 cents each year for five years, increasing the commercial gross weight fee by 15 percent, raising the motor vehicle excise tax by 0.7 percent, raising the hazardous substance tax by 0.3 percent, and a new $25 sales fee on bicycles over $500. Sen. Curtis King, R-Yakima, and co-chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, said it’s a proposal he expected. Continue reading