Washington Research Council Blog

New Brief: I-1125: Jamming Transportation Planning

We have a new brief today on Initiative 1125, which would affect tolling and transportation policy in Washington. 

The initiative would forbid the transfer of revenues in the motor vehicle fund or any toll fund to the general fund; require that lanes funded by the gas tax or tolls be used for highway purposes; require the legislature, rather than the Transportation Commission, to set tolls; require that toll rates be uniform, consistent and non-variable; require that tolls on future tolling facilities end when the cost of the project has been paid; require that tolls may not be diverted to other projects; and specify that I-90 floating bridge tolls may only be used for work on I-90.

As explained in the brief, the initiative would have a negative impact on funding for needed transportation infrastructure projects.

The Transportation Budget and the Gas Tax

Today the House released its 2011-13 transportation budget proposal. It would appropriate $8.924 billion for transportation operations and capital needs.  That's $1.8 million more than the governor proposed spending.

Of note, from the summary:

Transportation revenue sources have continued to grow more slowly than expected, with
projected revenues for the 2011-13 biennium $100 million less than what was assumed a
year ago (a roughly 2 percent decrease).

In related news, the Tax Foundation posted a map today that shows gas taxes per gallon in each state.  Washington has the seventh highest gas tax in the nation, at 37.5 cents.