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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

On the first day of the 2013 legislative session, Washington State Supreme Court Justice Charles Johnson administered the oath of office to Republican Senator Curtis King, who represents the 14th District, to begin King’s second four-year term. Shortly thereafter, the Senate adopted a committee structure that installed King as the...

Under a new bipartisan banner, Democrat and Republican senators in the Washington State Senate today announced the formation of a Majority Coalition Caucus to lead the Senate during the 2013 legislative session. Twenty-five state senators have committed themselves to the new majority group, including Sen. Curtis King, R-Yakima, who will...

The Washington State Senate today voted unanimously in favor of Senate Bill 5260, which removes the 75-foot length limit for saddlemount vehicle combinations from Washington State Law and increases the limit to 97 feet. “You’ve probably seen these vehicle combinations on freeways around the state. Often it’ll be a chain...

On Jan. 16, Billy “Bud” Rhynalds was killed by a falling tree during a storm while he set up safety cones on State Route 203 near Carnation, in rural King County. Today, members of the Washington State Senate paused to remember Rhynalds, a 12-year maintenance employee with the Washington State...