OLYMPIA – Washington would build more ferries, improve safety on U.S. 2 and stay on track with widening a deadly stretch of Highway 522 under the proposed Senate transportation budget released today.
Also included in the plan is money to start designing a new bridge across the Snohomish River on Highway 9 and finding ways to ease congestion on U.S. 2 through Everett.
Overall, the draft proposal invests $4.3 billion in spending on roads, rail, buses, and ferriesin the two-year budget beginning July 1.
Combined with the recent infusion of federal stimulus dollars, the state will be launching nearly $5 billion in projects through the middle of 2011.
One surprise in the Senate plan is money for a second Island Home class ferry for traveling between Port Townsend and Keystone Harbor on Whidbey Island.
Work is already under way on a 64-car vessel for that route. A second boat would restore service to levels enjoyed in 2007 before the state pulled its aging Steel Electric class boats off the run because of safety concerns.
Two additional Island Home boats would get built between 2011 and 2013 in the six-year transportation outlook put forth by senators.
In December, Gov. Chris Gregoire issued her proposed transportation budget that funded only one Island Home and delays building a second one until after 2013.
On U.S. 2, between Skykomish and Snohomish, another $2 million would be poured into safety projects, matching the sum in the federal budget signed earlier this month by President Barack Obama.
With Highway 522, it’s a matter of keeping a promise, Haugen said.
The $176.3 million project will widen the route to four lanes between the Snohomish River and the city of Monroe, build a new bridge across the river and a new direct ramp between eastbound Highway 522 and eastbound U.S. 2.
Funds were pledged from the nickel gas tax increase approved in 2003 but the project has been delayed several times since. Bids could be sought starting in December.
Gregoire recommended putting the project off another two years drawing the ire of many legislators in the Snohomish County delegation.
The Senate Transportation Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing on the proposal at 1:30 p.m. Thursday. Action by the Senate is not expected until next week.
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