business backgrounder | economy
measure was approved by lawmakers . Another $ 400 million for rest areas , ferries , railroads and other projects is already spent or committed .
“ We ’ re underway and we ’ re doing what we do very well ,” said Kevin J . Dayton , the chief engineer at the Washington State Department of Transportation . “ We ’ re delivering projects .”
The $ 16.3 billion Connecting Washington package was approved by state lawmakers in 2015 . It funded about $ 11.3 billion over 16 years for road projects , highway maintenance and operations , ferries , rail and more . The rest includes transportation investments for other state agencies , local governments and debt service . It was the first statewide transportation package approved by the Legislature in a decade , and includes new fees and an increase in the gas tax .
AWB supported the legislation , which included about a dozen transportation policy reforms .
“ Our economy depends on a strong transportation system and the Connecting Washington package is already delivering a positive return on investment ,” said Mike Ennis , AWB government affairs director for transportation .
Dayton said his agency appreciates the support of Washington ’ s employer community .
“ We appreciate AWB ’ s membership , along with other business and industry partners , for their recognition of the importance of an effective transportation system and their willingness to support investments in Washington ’ s system ,” Dayton said . “ By working together , we can keep our state ’ s economy moving forward .”
“ We ’ re underway and we ’ re doing what we do very well . We ’ re delivering projects .”
— Kevin J . Dayton , chief engineer , Washington State Department of Transportation
Connecting Washington also included several reforms , including streamlined permits , adding congestion relief as a statewide transportation goal and other measures aimed at reducing project costs and delays .
These efforts are underway at an exciting time in state history .
This $ 16.3 billion is being invested in the middle of a historic economic and population boom . Think of more cranes , more freight trucks , and more commuters driving to work .
Over the past 10 years , four out of five major transportation corridors show more congestion , Washington State Transportation Director Roger Millar testified to lawmakers earlier this year . Interstate 90 is 117 percent more congested . Interstate 5 , 76 percent . State Route 520 is below 2007 levels due to carpooling and tolling .
And traffic delays are proving to be a major cost of doing business in Washington .
An estimated 400 incidents per year cause delays of four hours or more on state highways , Millar told lawmakers . In 2016 , crash delays cost Washington ’ s economy nearly $ 200 million in lost productivity , and fuel from idling vehicles , on state roads . Transportation officials are working closely with the Washington State Patrol and local partners to take care of these crashes more efficiently and safely open the roads .
Dayton also stressed the critical importance of keeping the transportation system well-maintained . Washington has more than 18,700 lane-miles of road and 3,300 bridges to take care of , for example .
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