Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - December 14, 2001
Contact: Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136
Locke lauds Washington State Department of Transportation for ‘on time, on budget’ road projects, promotes transportation package for economic stimulus
SEATTLE —
Gov. Gary Locke today cited the
Washington State Department of Transportation for numerous “on time, on budget” road projects, including the
38th Street Interchange at I-5 in Tacoma. The governor addressed the
Lakewood Rotary Club.
“Speaking of reforms, you’ve met
Doug MacDonald… our ‘reform’ of the Department of Transportation. Doug’s theme is, ‘on time, on budget,’ and he’s proving it. Look at the 38th Street Interchange… not only on budget, but also ahead of schedule. There are countless other examples in
Clark,
Spokane and other counties,” the governor declared.
“Your valuable dollars are going to valuable use,” said Locke.
Locke further cited two bills he signed into law last spring that will expedite projects and cut costs: design build contracting and environmental permit streamlining.
Locke used the occasion to not only reiterate the need to act quickly on his $8.5 billion plan to relieve traffic congestion, but again referred to the non-partisan nature of the issue.
“Transportation is a statewide issue, from the farmer in Eastern Washington who needs to get product to Western Washington ports to the mom who has to get her child to soccer practice down the freeway,” said Locke.
His transportation improvement package to the 2002
Legislature calls for spending $8.5 billion over 10 years to unclog highway chokepoints and make other badly needed system improvements. The plan, which would allow regions to raise additional funds for transportation needs, calls for a phased-in 9 cents per gallon gas tax increase and other fee increases. The 2001 Legislature failed to act on the governor’s previous transportation proposal.
“We all recognize that our economy eventually will stall without a major transportation overhaul. We also recognize that this package will begin to create nearly 20,000 jobs at a time when our state desperately needs them,” Locke said.
Related Links:
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Washington State Department of Transportation
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Tacoma's 38th Street Bridge and I-5 Interchange Project
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Washington State Legislature