Last week, House and Senate Transportation Committee Chairs updated their respective transportation revenue proposals. With less than two weeks remaining in the legislative session, the window to pass a transportation revenue package is narrowing but has not yet closed.

Both proposals make significant investments in the economy and into programs cities care about.

Senate transportation package

Sen. Steve Hobbs’ (D–Lake Stevens) proposed transportation package invests approximately $17.8 billion over a sixteen-year period which includes roughly $2.8 billion in bond proceeds. The proposal relies on fuel tax increases, various fees, and a “cap and invest” program—these sources alone would generate $5.3 billion throughout the duration of the package. Sen. Hobbs’ proposal includes the following distributions for cities:

• Maintenance & preservation: $6.29* billion;
• Safe Routes to School Grant Program: $148 million;
• Complete Streets Grant Program (TIB): $146 million;
• State and local transportation projects: $2.57* billion;
• Transportation Improvement Board (TIB): $100 million;
• Cities and counties direct distribution: $354 million;
• Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board (FMSIB): $50 million; and
• State & local culverts: $1.856 billion (+$500 million in federal funds).

While AWC is fully supportive of the passage of a transportation revenue package, we plan to communicate our concerns with the reduction in culvert funding and with language that would preempt local governments from charging per trip fees on for-hire vehicles and third-party food deliveries, given that the proposal also raises revenue from these companies. We know that cities rely on the revenue from those fees to fund basic transportation projects, including improvements to public transportation systems and maintenance and preservation of current transportation infrastructure that these companies utilize.

*The House and Senate assume different programs in various line items such as Maintenance & Preservation, so the figures are not fully comparable.

House transportation package

Rep. Jake Fey’s (D–Tacoma) updated proposal only includes a spending plan but is stated to now rely on revenue from a “cap and invest” program instead of a carbon fee as originally introduced, in addition to a fuel tax increase and various fees. The proposal is slated to invest $22 billion dollars over sixteen years. Like Sen. Hobbs’ package, Rep. Fey’s spending proposal prioritizes local transportation spending for maintenance and preservation. This includes:

• Maintenance & preservation: $4.6* billion;
• Safe Routes to School Grant Program: $290 million;
• Complete Streets Grant Program (TIB): $59 million;
• State and local transportation projects: $6.1* billion;
• Transportation Improvement Board: $828 million;
• Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board (FMSIB): $0; and
• State & local culverts: $2.56 billion.

Rep. Fey’s proposal also includes $50 million for a “Complete Communities” grant program. The program would provide critical transportation investments in unserved and underserved communities across the state.

As the Legislature moves into the final weeks of session, we encourage cities to continue contacting your legislators. A bold transportation package will spur job creation, support the state's economic recovery, and ensure future Washingtonians have access to a multimodal, equitable transportation system.

Dates to remember

Senator Hobbs’ proposed transportation package, SB 5483, was scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Transportation Committee on Monday, April 12 at 10 am. Click here to view the recording.

Rep. Fey’s additive spending bill, HB 1564, was heard on Thursday, April 1 at 9 am. Click here to view AWC’s testimony.