Washington state legislature passes transportation package

The state of Washington passed a $16.2 billion transportation investment package designed to speed up the movement of cargo through ports and freight corridors in the Pacific Northwest.    The Washington State Legislature has passed a $16.2 billion transportation investment package designed to speed up the movement of cargo through ports and freight corridors.
   The allied ports of Seattle and Tacoma, businesses and community leaders have been advocating for the funding to complete key freight routes of State Route 509 in King County and State Route 167 in Pierce County, which is included in the transportation package, the ports said in a statement.
   In addition, the transportation package is comprised of a number of other investments, including improvements on Interstate 5 at Joint Base Lewis-McChord and on Interstate 90 in Snoqualmie Pass.
   The state of Washington will invest nearly $3.25 billion in projects that service the Puget Sound gateway, the ports said.
   The completion of SR 509 will allow for the development of over five million square feet of office, retail and commercial space. The construction would cost $700 million, according to studies by the Port of Seattle and the cities of SeaTac and Des Moines.
   The completion of SR 167 could fuel job growth to $10.1 billion, according to an estimate from the Washington State Department of Transportation.
   Marine cargo operations from the Port of Seattle and Port of Tacoma supported more than 48,000 jobs combined, generating nearly $4.3 billion in economic activity in 2013, according to an analysis by Martin Associates.
   “This package means jobs and economic development across our state, and we thank our senators and legislators for recognizing the need to invest in transportation infrastructure,” Port of Seattle Commission co-President Courtney Gregoire said in a statement.