Senate Passes Transportation Package Today

A Transportation Package was approved by the Senate today, which includes widening of the Interstate 5 at Joint Base Lewis-McChord and completion of the last six miles of SR 167 from the Puyallup terminus to the Port of Tacoma.

The Puyallup Sumner Chamber of Commerce would like to thank the following senators who voted for the package:  Sen. Bruce Dammeier 25^thDistrict,  and Sen. Angel, Bailey, Baumgartner, Becker,  Braun, Brown, Conway, Darneille, Fain, Hatfield, Hewitt, Hill, Hobbs, Honeyford, King, Liias, Litzow, Miloscia, Mullet, O'Ban, Parlette, Pedersen, Rivers, Schoesler, Sheldon,  and Warnick

The Senate Transportation Package represents a shot in the arm for the state's economy and our region.  We need to get our freight moving, our commuters unstuck from those traffic jams and help grow jobs long term.  This package will do that.

It is important that the transportation funding source be the gas tax.  These funds are guaranteed under the State Constitution to be utilized for roads and transportation projects.  Low Carbon Fuel Standards and Carbon tax do not have this guarantee.  This means that the Senate package ensures we can see where our money is going. It also ensures that we know what projects will be funded.  It does not just raise a tax that could be diverted at any time and leave our region once again in a transportation quagmire.

The transportation package is now moving on to the House of Representatives and, if approved there, to Washington State voters.

Again, a thank you to all our legislators who voted their support of our businesses, investment in our regional freight corridors and future job creation in Washington State.