Last week, House Transportation Committee Chair Jake Fey (D–Tacoma) released an updated version of his sixteen-year transportation spending proposal, prioritizing maintenance and preservation and local transportation investments.

The proposal, HB 1564, invests $4.6 billion in maintenance and preservation throughout the next sixteen years, including $575 million in additive spending for the 2021-22 biennium. The package, referred to as Miles Ahead Washington, provides substantial local investments, including:

• State and local project funding: $6.15 billion;
• Transportation Improvement Board (TIB): $828 million;
• State and local decarbonization projects: $391.9 million;
• Local carbon reduction grant funding: $95.7 million;
• Bike and pedestrian grants and projects: $585 million;
• Safe Routes to School Program: $290 million; and
• Complete Street grants: $59 million.

Although Rep. Fey’s previous proposal assumed carbon fee revenue to fund transportation investments, Miles Ahead Washington instead relies on a cap and invest carbon revenue, as laid out in SB 5126, the Climate Commitment Act. Given that the package is partially funded through bond sales, Miles Ahead Washington will need bi-partisan support and must pass by a 60% majority vote.

On April 5, the Senate is expected to release an updated version of its transportation revenue proposal, Forward Washington.

Dates to remember

Miles Ahead Washington received a public hearing in the House Transportation Committee on April 1 at 9 am. To view our testimony, click here.

The Senate Transportation Committee will be holding a work session on the Senate’s proposed transportation package, Forward Washington, on April 6 at 8:30 am. Materials for the work session will be posted on the Committee's webpage on April 5 at Noon.