Rep. John Ley says bill would let Oregon off the hook for $1.6 billion in borrowed funds to be paid back by tolling revenues
Ken Vance, editor
Clark County Today
The Washington State House Transportation Committee will hold a hearing Monday (Feb. 24) at 1:30 p.m. on House Bill 1958. The bill, co-sponsored by Rep. Sharon Wylie (Democrat, 49th District), concerns the interstate bridge replacement toll bond authority.
According to opponents of the bill, HB 1958 would put 100 percent of the $1.6 billion in borrowed funds, to be backed by tolling revenues, on Washington residents.
“There is no mention of Oregon in the bill’s language,’’ said Rep. John Ley (Republican, 18th District), a member of the House Transportation Committee.
Ley pointed out that the I-5 Bridge replacement project is theoretically a two-state project, where each state shares in the financial obligations. However, HB 1958 appears to let Oregon “completely off the hook,’’ Ley said.
“Furthermore, ‘if’ there is not enough IBR tolling revenue, then this bill allows WSDOT to use revenues from other tolled facilities to pay back the obligation,’’ Ley said. “And if that’s not enough, then they could use gas tax revenues. And if that’s not enough, they could use taxpayer money from the General Fund. It’s a horrible bill on many levels.’’
Ley urges concerned Clark County citizens to give their input on HB 1958 that would allow Washington state to borrow $1.6 Billion, to be paid back by tolls. This CCT story explains rising toll rates in Washington state, the very high cost of collecting tolls, and high interest payments paid to financiers on huge loans like this.
Residents can register a position on the bill at this link
See the bill webpage at this link
Ley encourages well-informed citizens to sign up and testify either in person or remotely.
Also read:
- Opinion: IBR’s systematic disinformation campaign, its demise
Neighbors for a Better Crossing challenges IBR’s seismic claims and promotes a reuse-and-tunnel alternative they say would save billions at the I-5 crossing. - Opinion: Is a state income tax coming, and the latest on the I-5 Bridge project
Rep. John Ley shares a legislative update on a proposed state income tax, the I-5 Bridge project, the Brockmann Campus and House Bill 2605. - Board authorizes C-TRAN to sign off on Interstate Bridge Replacement Program’s SEIS
The C-TRAN Board approved the Final SEIS for the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program, with Camas and Washougal opposing the vote over light rail cost concerns. - C-TRAN ridership grows for fourth consecutive year
C-TRAN ridership topped 5 million trips in 2025, marking the fourth straight year of growth. - Opinion: ‘If they want light rail, they should be the ones who pay for it’
Clark County Today Editor Ken Vance argues that supporters of light rail tied to the I-5 Bridge replacement should bear the local cost of operating and maintaining the system through a narrowly drawn sub-district.
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