![Charles Prestrud of the Washington Policy Center believes the budget does not fund WSDOT preservation and maintenance at the level needed to achieve a state of good repair.](https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Large_Clark-County-Today-Interstate-205-Vancouver-05.jpg)
Charles Prestrud of the Washington Policy Center believes the budget does not fund WSDOT preservation and maintenance at the level needed to achieve a state of good repair
Charles Prestrud
Washington Policy Center
On April 23rd the Washington State Legislature passed a $13.4 billion transportation budget for the 2023-2025 biennium.
The bill provides $5.4 billion for WSDOT highway projects including the I-5 Columbia River Bridge, the SR 167/SR 509 Gateway projects, and the US 395 North Spokane Freeway. The budget restores funding for highway projects the Governor’s budget proposal deleted or pushed out to future budgets.
![Charles Prestrud](https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Story_Clark-County-Today-CHARLES-PRESTRUD.jpg)
The budget includes $1.3 billion for the Washington State Ferry System. That is intended to cover the cost of five new hybrid-electric ferries, though the competitive procurement process is just starting so the ultimate cost is still to be determined. The first of the new ferries, which are urgently needed, is not expected to enter service before 2027. In recognition of the need to keep WSF‘s aging fleet operating longer than previously planned, the budget includes additional funding for repair and maintenance.
The transportation budget was boosted by revenue from the Climate Commitment Act. When that Act was passed the legislature-imposed restrictions on the types of projects and programs that could be funded with the revenue. The intent was to direct the funds to programs that reduce CO2 emissions rather than highway projects.To that end the transportation budget includes close to a billion dollars for various transit, electrification, bike, and pedestrian projects, as well as incentive programs.
As is typical, the transportation budget also includes funding for studies designed to inform future decisions. These include a study of public-private partnerships, a state-wide retail delivery fee, local jurisdiction implementation of projects on State Highways, I-5 planning, implementation of vehicle miles traveled targets, etc. These items and others will be covered in future blog posts.
The budget is also noteworthy for what isn’t in it. A bill proposing a mileage tax was introduced in the session, but it did not pass out of committee and the budget does not assume one will be imposed in this biennium. The budget does include funding for further study of the steps needed for future implementation of a mileage tax/Road User Charge.
The budget, though it covers a lot of ground, does not fund WSDOT preservation and maintenance at the level needed to achieve a state of good repair. As a result the backlog of preservation and maintenance work is likely to increase. WSDOT has also expressed concern about their ability to complete all the construction projects funded by the legislature.
As of Friday, April 28, the transportation budget bill, which was approved in a unanimous vote by the House and a 46-3 vote in the Senate, is awaiting the Governor’s signature.
Charles Prestrud is the director of the Coles Center for Transportation at the Washington Policy Center.
Also read:
- Opinion: Hiding the growing cost of the Interstate Bridge replacementJoe Cortright of the City Observatory addresses the rising cost of the Interstate 5 Bridge replacement project.
- 90 minutes of delay on Southbound I-5 in Southwest Washington on Friday afternoon, July 26Travelers using southbound Interstate 5 through Woodland should expect up to 90 minutes of delay during Friday afternoon and evening and should delay travel or prepare for additional travel time.
- Nighttime paving work on I-5 and SR 14 in Clark County July 28-Aug. 9Nighttime travelers in Clark County should expect delays for maintenance and paving work beginning Sunday, July 28 until the morning of Friday, Aug. 9. 
- Northeast 182nd Avenue/Northeast Ward Road to be closed on Aug. 1Northeast 182nd Avenue and Northeast 172nd Avenue in Clark County will have single-day closures on August 1 and August 5 for road preservation, with detours in place.
- Interstate Bridge Replacement program awarded $1.499 billion FHWA Bridge Investment Program grantInterstate Bridge Replacement program officials have shared that the program received $1.499 billion through the Federal Highway Administration’s Bridge Investment Program.