State transportation leaders will travel by bus to see firsthand key rail-centered projects and attend briefings by state and local officials, following a June 17 joint transportation meeting in Spokane.

“We’re going to be touring many small communities whose focus is rail. The goods they move by freight have a huge impact on Washington’s economy. I’m looking forward to meeting with local officials to find out what we can do in Olympia to ensure they can get things to market efficiently,” said Sen. Curtis King, R-Yakima, co-chair of the Senate Transportation Committee and co-chair of the Joint Transportation Committee.

The two-day tour begins June 18 in Spokane and will include priority transportation projects in the city of Spokane and Spokane Valley. Republican and Democratic lawmakers will also visit Rosalia, Palouse, Colfax, Pullman and Ritzville.

“Rail has played a crucial role in moving goods across our state, and that role will only grow larger as our businesses and communities and markets grow,” said Sen. Tracey Eide, D-Federal Way, co-chair of the Senate Transportation Committee and co-chair of the Joint Transportation Committee. “What we do with rail will dictate whether we continue to thrive and prosper.”

Legislators will have a working lunch at the Spokane airport while participating in a Palouse and Coulee City railroad panel, which will include representatives from Washington State Department of Transportation and the Association of Wheat Growers.

“Freight is the lifeblood of our international economy. It connects Washington goods and commodities to the rest of the nation and the world,” said Representative Judy Clibborn, D-Mercer Island, chair of the House Transportation Committee and co-chair of the JTC. “I am looking forward to joining my colleagues for a firsthand look at how different transportation projects are generating economic growth in our state.”

Other stops will include grain terminals, rail tracks, bridge rehab projects, rail replacement projects, and a tour of the McCoy Shuttle Elevator in Rosalia.

“Next year the Legislature will be making big decisions about transportation,” said Rep. Ed Orcutt, R-Kalama, ranking Republican on the House Transportation Committee and JTC ranking member. “It’s important for us to learn more about rail and its economic impact. We can then make better-informed decisions about where to prioritize taxpayer dollars.”

The Joint Transportation Committee meeting will be held in Spokane in conjunction with the Association of Washington Cities annual conference. The tour concludes late afternoon June 19 after returning to Spokane.