Tag Archives: Tracey Eide

King, Eide call first five transportation feedback forums a “great success”

After establishing the goal of listening to the public’s input on transportation issues at venues across Washington, state transportation leaders are now halfway through their ten-city tour and are calling the feedback forums a great success.

“At the forum in Pasco last week, the governor made an appearance and was impressed by the level of engagement from citizens across Washington,” said Sen. Curtis King, R-Yakima, and co-chair of the Senate Transportation Committee. “We’ve heard the calls for more revenue and we’ve heard the calls for no gas tax increases, but perhaps the clearest message we’ve heard is that the state’s transportation system needs help, and that some of our reforms would do a lot to restore the public’s confidence in that agency. Continue reading →

Senate transportation feedback forum in Spokane relocated to Spokane Valley

Senator Curtis King Proving to be even more popular than expected, the Senate transportation feedback forums being hosted by Senate Transportation Committee co-chairs, Sen. Curtis King, R-Yakima, and Sen. Tracey Eide, D-Federal Way, have attracted hundreds of area residents to the Bellevue location and most recently, to the Snohomish County location in Everett. Because of the overwhelming response, transportation leaders have decided to move the Oct. 2 forum from Greater Spokane Inc. in downtown Spokane to the theater at Central Valley High School in Spokane Valley.

“In Bellevue, we saw close to 400 people pack themselves into a school gymnasium,” King said. “It was standing room only, and the same was true for the Everett location. Hundreds of people turned out, which made us realize that some of the other facilities may not be large enough to handle the crowd. I’ve said it before, but it’s a good day in state government when we have to make room for more citizens due to the overwhelming turnout.” Continue reading →

74 residents testify at Senate’s first transportation feedback forum held in Bellevue

Hundreds of Washington citizens turned out to share their thoughts and ideas on state transportation issues at Stevenson Elementary School in Bellevue Tuesday evening. Senate Transportation Committee co-chairs, Sen. Curtis King, R-Yakima, and Sen. Tracey Eide, D-Federal Way, heard from 74 transit advocates, business representatives and daily commuters during the three-hour public forum.

“For over two hours, we listened to the concerns and comments of transportation taxpayers and that was just the tip of the iceberg,” King said. “I expect tonight’s forum in Everett to be equally well-attended, and I’m looking forward to receiving input from hundreds more as we embark on our feedback forum tour around Washington.” Continue reading →

Dates set for bipartisan statewide transportation forums

Senate Transportation Committee co-chairs Sen. Curtis King, R-Yakima, and Sen. Tracey Eide, D-Federal Way, today announced the dates and cities that will be included in a statewide listening tour aimed at gathering input from Washington residents on building a new package of transportation projects.

Beginning on Sept. 17 in Bellevue, legislators will hold at least one public meeting in each of the Department of Transportation’s six regions. Each meeting will begin at 6 p.m. and last until 9 p.m. and feature presentations from regional transportation officials, as well as opportunity for public comment. Continue reading →

Keeping Washington moving forward, Senate passes transpo budget

Sen. Curtis King, R-Yakima, and co-chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, today expressed his thanks and gratitude to members of the Senate and its staff after the unanimous passage of the Senate’s 2013-15 transportation budget proposal. King, along with co-chair Sen. Tracey Eide, D-Federal Way, and fellow budget writers Sen. Steve Hobbs, D-Lake Stevens, and Sen. Joe Fain of Auburn, spoke positively of the bipartisan atmosphere in which the budget was created.

“When a committee has co-chairs with the same authority, the potential for gridlock is increased,” King said, “but Senator Eide has been an extreme pleasure to work with, as have our vice chairs. It’s been an honor to work with these individuals, the other members of the transportation committee, and both partisan and non-partisan staff, without whom none of this would have been possible.”

Continue reading →

Bipartisan Senate committee unveils 2013-15 transportation budget

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 →

King sworn into office, named co-chair of Transportation Committee

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 co-chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, along with 30th District Senator Tracey Eide, D-Federal Way.

“I am very pleased and honored to have been selected as co-chair of Transportation,” King said. “The Senate Transportation Committee has a longstanding tradition of bipartisanship and I will work tirelessly to see that this tradition is continued.” Continue reading →