AGC Members Make the Case for Transportation Funding
The Washington State Senate Republican Caucus reports that hundreds of Washington citizens turned out to share their thoughts and ideas on state transportation issues at hearings held in Bellevue and Everett last week and Yakima and Wenatchee this week.
Senate Transportation Committee co-chairs Sen. Curtis King R-Yakima and Sen. Tracey Eide D-Federal Way heard from scores of transit advocates business representatives and daily commuters during the three-hour public forums.
“For over two hours we listened to the concerns and comments of transportation taxpayers and that was just the tip of the iceberg” King said. King and Eide opened the Bellevue forum with some brief comments after which Secretary of the Washington State Department of Transportation Lynn Peterson presented the standing-room-only crowd with an update on transportation projects around the state and regionally. Several DOT officials followed Peterson after which lawmakers turned the floor over to the public who had much to say.
“Transportation is one of the highest priority issues facing the Legislature today” said Eide “and if there’s going to be a funding package passed it has to have the support of the public lawmakers and the governor. We’re going to compile all the input we receive at the rest of these forums and use it to create a truly viable transportation package that will move Washington forward.”
The additional Senate transportation feedback forum locations are:• Sept. 26 – Tri-Cities 6-9 p.m.
Columbia Basin College Gjerde Center 2600 N. 20th Ave. Pasco WA 99301
• Oct. 2 – Spokane (Eastern Region) 6-9 p.m.
Central Valley High School theater 821 S Sullivan Rd. Spokane Valley WA 99037
• Oct. 7 – Vancouver (Southwest Region) 6-9 p.m.
Vancouver Community Library Columbia Room 901 C St. Vancouver WA 98660
• Oct. 9 – Tacoma (Olympic Region) 6-9 p.m.
Evergreen Tacoma Campus Lyceum Hall 1210 6th Ave. Tacoma WA 98405
• Oct. 14 – Seattle 6-9 p.m.
King County Courthouse Room 1001 516 3rd Avenue 10th Floor Seattle WA 98104
• Oct. 15 – Bellingham 6-9 p.m.
Port of Bellingham Cruise Terminal 355 Harris Ave. Bellingham WA 98225