Feb. 7, 2002: Locke visit pushes transportation plan

Locke visit pushes transportation plan

This story was published Feb. 7, 2002

By Nathan Isaacs
Herald staff writer

Gov. Gary Locke was in Richland on Wednesday to rally support for a statewide transportation plan, including a 9-cent gas tax increase over three years.

"We've got to fix our transportation problems," Locke said, with the Highway 240 and Interstate 182 interchange in the background.

He said locally paid gas taxes would pay for Tri-City highway projects under his transportation plan.

Currently just part of the Highway 240 widening project over the Yakima River delta has the money to begin construction early next year.

Two related projects, which involve adding lanes leading up to the Yakima River bridge, are in limbo awaiting about $43.5 million from the Legislature.

If those projects aren't funded, the four-lane highway would have an eight-lane bridge, or as Locke said, "It's a modern bridge in the middle of nowhere."

Locke said increasing the gas tax by 9 cents - raised 3 cents annually through 2004 - would pay for the Highway 240 project and others in the area.

About 54,000 vehicles make daily trips across the Highway 240 causeway. An additional 3,300 trips are expected during the peak years of Hanford's construction of a radioactive waste glassification plant.

"The latest information shows that traffic congestion contributes to a $2 billion loss in productivity in our state alone," Locke told officials from Richland, Pasco, Kennewick and Walla Walla, Franklin and Benton counties in the WinCo Foods grocery store parking lot.

"I know you can't afford this delay, and I know the state can't," Locke said. "We have a lot to do to rebuild our economy, and that means building a transportation system now that will get people, goods and services to where they need to go safely and efficiently in the future."

Locke was in Yakima earlier in the day with a similar message. There, the state wants to widen Highway 24 near Interstate 82. He was in Everett on Monday and plans to visit Tacoma today as part of a statewide tour on the issue.

Locke proposes a $8.5 billion statewide transportation package over the next 10 years. However, the Legislature is likely to put the issue to a public vote.

Locke said he wants the Legislature to act now.