Gridlock on roadways. Bridges closed. Projects backlogged. Ferries out of service. We have all been personally impacted by our state’s transportation problems.
Meanwhile, Washington residents continue to pay exceptionally high gas prices due to policy decisions from Olympia. Our state recently had the highest gas prices in the nation — driven by additional costs from the Climate Commitment Act and a state gas tax hike.
Washingtonians deserve more from their transportation system and the tax dollars they send to Olympia.
As the ranking member of the House Transportation Committee, I work alongside Democratic Chair Jake Fey to help craft transportation budgets and policies. We have navigated challenges and made progress, but Washington’s transportation system remains at a crossroads. How we move forward next year is critically important.
The Legislature must start by maintaining and preserving infrastructure. The problem: At a time when our state needs to focus on maintaining roads and bridges, we are instead funneling billions of dollars into transit, electrification programs and other initiatives that serve relatively few people.
Census data underscores this point. More than 82% of Washingtonians rely on cars, trucks, or vans to get to work. Public transportation accounts for just over 6% of commutes statewide, while walking and biking — combined — make up less than 5%.
The Legislature must reset our state’s transportation spending priorities.
House Republicans have been emphasizing maintenance and preservation of infrastructure for years. In 2021, I introduced the Reprioritizing Existing Appropriations for Longevity Act. The comprehensive proposal would have directed sales tax paid on motor vehicles to help pay for transportation preservation projects, including highways. It would have also shifted funding on sales tax paid on transportation projects from the general fund to the transportation budget. The plan could have provided $2.2 billion for transportation funding for the 2025-27 budget cycle — without raising taxes.
The Democrats opted for drivers to pay more.
A Washington State Department of Transportation report revealed that 8.5% of state bridges are in poor condition. This threat is playing out in real time, as recent closures of the White River, SR 167, Green River Dan Evans (SR 169) and Carbon River/Fairfax bridges have devastated communities — including commutes, family drives to soccer games and business activities.
I have been traveling around our state to examine infrastructure and meet with local officials. An example that illustrates our maintenance problems and funding challenges is the U.S. 12 bridge in Waitsburg.
This bridge was identified for replacement around 20 years ago at a cost of about $3.6 million. Today — because of policy changes related to land use, greenhouse gas emissions reductions, environmental protection, workforce enhancements and pay, social justice considerations, removal of fish passage barriers, taxes and multimodal improvements — the project is estimated to cost more than $10 million and take two years to complete.
We can do better.
With project costs soaring and infrastructure crumbling, our state cannot afford to have a narrow focus on transportation revenues. We need real reforms.
This year, I offered legislation that would allow all types of transportation projects to use surplus CCA revenues — not just walkways, transition to electric vehicles and ineffective community projects. Under current law, CCA revenues cannot be used to improve roadways. Our state just received an additional $220 million in CCA revenues, which shows the significant funding potential for this solution.
On other reforms, House Republicans want to stop building walkways that have no connections as part of the Complete Streets mandates and eliminate duplicate government policies addressing the same issues. We must find efficiencies that provide flexibility, reduce costs and lead to better outcomes.
With resources stretched thin, it is unfortunate we have to spend millions of taxpayer dollars on removing graffiti from infrastructure. The Legislature should increase the penalties for individuals who commit these crimes. Over the years, I have proposed this legislation.
Gov. Bob Ferguson said in his inaugural address: “Let us listen to one another, without consideration for party, so that the strongest argument prevails.” This has not happened in the Legislature. The ruling party has not considered many ideas from minority-party Republicans. This must change if we want to address our state’s transportation problems and other crises holistically.
Washingtonians deserve real solutions and real results. State lawmakers must deliver them in the 2026 legislative session.
