Transportation, Climate Change & the Legislative Session

As we head into the March, the Legislative Session has really started to heat up on the transportation front.  The Transit Oriented Communities (TOC) bill (HB 1490/SB 5687) which is an environmental community priority continues to move forward.  The bill which seeks to create affordable, walkable communities around rail stations has passed out of policy committees in the House and in the Senate.  In addition to creating livable communities around transit, the bill is also seeking to combat climate change by requiring transportation and land use planners to integrate climate change considerations into planning processes.  In Washington State, transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions so unless we tackle emissions from transportation, we will not be able to meet state goals to reduce climate change emissions.  In the House, the TOC bill passed out of the House General Appropriations committee and is awaiting consideration on the House floor.  In the Senate, the bill is being considered by the Ways and Means committee this week and will likely pass out of committee.

The other hot button transportation issue occupying legislators this Session is how to allocate federal stimulus money for transportation projects.  Last week, President Obama signed into law the federal stimulus package which includes money for transportation projects in Washington.  The state will see $341 million for state highways and $150 million which will be distributed through regional Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) like the Puget Sound Regional Council.  The package also includes almost $200 million for transit projects and grant money for ferries and intercity passenger rail.   Last week the Legislature released a list of projects that would be funded by the federal money, most of which are maintenance and repaving projects.  Conspicuously absent from the list is any money for the Mercer Street improvement project and the Spokane Street Viaduct project, both of which are considered critical pieces for the overall replacement of the Alaskan Way Viaduct.  In December, the State, City of Seattle and King County jointly decided to replace the failing viaduct with a tunnel.  The City of Seattle was anticipating that a portion of the federal stimulus money would be used to fund Mercer Street improvement project and the Spokane Street Viaduct project.  City officials are continuing to work with Legislators and the Governor to secure funding for these projects.

For more information on these legislative issues, please contact Shefali Ranganathan, Transportation Choices Coalition, shefali@transportationchoices.org.