State could soon sell naming rights for parks and bridges
Jan 22, 2013, 7:50 AM | Updated: 8:16 am
Don't expect to ever drive on the "High Times on Tacoma Narrows" bridge. There are restrictions within the transportation proposal that excludes marijuana growers, among others. (WSDOT Photo)
(WSDOT Photo)
We’ve got CenturyLink Field and Safeco, and soon the state could get a piece of the corporate pie.
Washington State Representatives Jan Angel of Gig Harbor and Linda Kochmar of Federal Way will introduce a bill Tuesday (HB 1051) that would allow businesses to name our roads and bridges. Their hope is to bring in a little extra cash for transportation without adding an extra tax.
Before you start thinking about all the interesting names you might start hearing from Kimi Kline during KIRO Radio traffic reports, you should know there would be some limits in the bill.
No obscene or indecent names would be allowed, no X-rated films or adult video games referenced, and marijuana growers would be excluded too. So, chances are slim you’ll ever drive on the “High Times on Tacoma Narrows” bridge.
Another house bill (HB 1050) would allow the renaming of public facilities. Also sponsored by Representative Angel, the proposal includes state and locally owned structures like parks, docks, libraries and rooms of the legislature.
The facilities bill does not carry the same exclusions as the transportation proposal. It allows for individual agencies to come up with their own guidelines about how the naming rights would be sold.
