TRANSPORTATION REFORMS IDEAS

Return sales tax from transportation construction to the transportation budget

o o o o Right now, sales tax collected on transportation construction is deposited into the general fund. The 18th Amendment to the Washington State Constitution affects Article II, Section 40, generally requiring funds raised for transportation purposes to be spent on transportation projects. This reform would redirect sales tax collected on transportation construction into the transportation budget, and wouldnt affect the general fund until the 2017-19 biennium. BENEFIT TO JOE DRIVER: Nearly $400 million more in transportation dollars could be made available for projects. For example, that money could entirely fund highway bridge preservation for the next ten years and achieve statewide bridge conditions in excess of 97% fair and good.

Use Environmental Legacy Stewardship Account funds to meet stormwater requirements

o o o $40 million from the transportation budget is spent annually on transportation-related stormwater projects. Using ELSA funds would free up more revenue for actual transportation projects without affecting money already set aside for toxic waste cleanup. BENEFIT TO JILL DRIVER: This reform could replace an estimated $480 million in fuel tax revenue over 12 years. As an example, thats enough funding to complete the US-12 widening project near Walla Walla.

Implement state auditors recommendations to reform the Ferry Vessel Construction Program
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WSF would use a design-build purchasing process for new vessels, obtain an independent owners representative as a third-party intermediary to perform project quality oversight, manage change orders and ensure the contract provisions are carried out, and would be required to use a fixed price contract. Revisiting the build in Washington and apprenticeship policies would allow for more competitive bidding. BENEFIT TO JOE DRIVER: New ferries could be built better, faster and cheaper.

Open a dialogue about prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements

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Having a discussion about prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements is not a deal killer. Since current standards increase construction costs by an estimated 10% to 15%, it would be remiss not to at least address the issues and start having the discussion. BENEFIT TO JILL DRIVER: If prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements were closer to federal standards, the savings could be directed toward additional transportation needs. For example on the SR-520 bridge replacement project, 15% of the total cost is estimated at just over $200 million sufficient to fully fund the current phase of I-90 Snoqualmie Pass improvements and complete the design on the final phase.

Add congestion relief to the states required list of transportation priorities

o o A common-sense provision that most residents would be surprised to learn is NOT already in practice. BENEFIT TO JOE DRIVER: WSDOT would be required to consider congestion relief along with its other transportation priorities already in state law.

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TRANSPORTATION REFORMS IDEAS

Streamline environmental permitting

o o o o State permitting requirements above federal standards can add up to an estimated 20% to a projects costs. Adhering to federal standards would reduce the delay between permit approval and groundbreaking. Recent successes include the 2009 Nile Valley landslide repair and the 2013 Skagit River bridge rebuild. BENEFIT TO JILL DRIVER: Eliminating unnecessary delays and costs will allow for expedited project completion. As an example, a 20% savings on the total cost of the I-405 Renton to Lynwood corridor widening project would be estimated to fully fund recommended improvements to interchanges along I-5 through Joint Base Lewis-McChord improving safety and reducing congestion.

Use toll revenue for highway projects within the corridor being tolled
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This reform would require tolls to cease once a projects bonds are paid (except for ongoing maintenance and operation) and tolls would be limited to the transportation corridor in which they were generated. More residents would support tolling if they were confident the money was being used for a project that affects them directly. BENEFIT TO JOE DRIVER: Road users wouldnt be forced to pay tolls indefinitely for non-road projects.

Implement the 2013 omnibus transportation reform bill

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Sen. Steve OBans HB 2070 combines four bills (HBs 1957, 1978, 1986, and 1988) that were all passed by a bipartisan majority in the House in 2013. Would provide for improved permitting on all transportation projects, require WSDOT to report engineering errors and seek approval for project changes, among other things. BENEFIT TO JILL DRIVER: Reduction in major WSDOT-designed project errors such as the SR 520 cracked pontoons and misaligned on-ramps on SR 16.

Use of Public-Private Partnerships (P3s)

o o o P3s in other states have yielded significant amounts of savings. Partnering with local businesses could help drive the economy and provide jobs. BENEFIT TO JOE DRIVER: Utilizing P3s could help reduce risks and problems in design, construction and operation of transportation projects.

Reform the states regional transit authority boards

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Would make changes streamlining the states existing regional transit authority boards. BENEFIT TO JILL DRIVER: A more streamlined RTA would result in a more accountable, efficient and equitable system of administering public transportation funds.

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