It’s time for another massive transportation package, says lawmaker

Last month, Senate Transportation Chair Steve Hobbs held a more than three-hour public work session on his then $16.3 billion, 10-year transportation and environmental proposal to tackle road and environmental project needs across the state.

The idea was to throw the massive plan out there and see what stuck. Many, including Hobbs, expected to hear opposition to the plan, especially because it includes a carbon tax and 6-cent hike in the gas tax.

Hobbs said at the time, he would gauge reaction and decide how to proceed with anything from a bill to putting an idea on hold. On Thursday, Hobbs’ proposal morphed into official legislation when he dropped three bills:

SB 5970

SB 5971

SB 5972

“Think of it as another option in a plate of different options dealing with the environment and infrastructure,” Hobbs said. “The only difference is this is the only one that deals with all of our infrastructure needs and environmental concerns. This is the only one that does that, plus provides 65,000 jobs, too, in the meantime.”

He says those jobs would include construction jobs from building the projects to jobs in the fishing industry, and others.

“Think about the jobs in the fishing industry when you’re freeing up a thousand miles of fish habitat,” Hobbs said. “Think about the commerce and freight that will be moving again because you’ll be opening up all these roads – the I-5 bridge [over the Columbia River], and tourism that will come out of this.”

The ambitious plan would include big transportation projects across the state, such as replacing the I-5 bridge over the Columbia River, widening Highways 522 and 9, rebuilding the westbound Highway 2 trestle, and adding toll lanes to I-405, among many others.

It also addresses several environmental concerns, such as electrifying the ferry fleet – including building five new electric ferries – and removal of state culverts to free up fish passages – as ordered by the Supreme Court – and dozens of other projects.

The bulk of the plan would be paid for by a 6-cent hike in the gas tax and a carbon tax. The carbon tax would be $15 per metric ton of carbon emissions starting July 1, 2020. The gas tax increase would begin in July 2019.

How Hobb’s proposal differs

Hobbs says his carbon tax differs from initiatives that previously failed on the ballot.

“There was no accountability there,” Hobbs explained. “In my bill, it’s Legislative directed, but at least you can point to something.”

“It’s not going on the general fund, you can go look, you’re building ferries with this, you’re building the I-5 bridge over the Columbia River, you’re doing the trestle, you’re doing culverts, you’re fixing storm water projects, so you can actually see the money to specific projects, helping people,” Hobbs added.

His plan also maintains the ban on a low-carbon fuel standard in the state, which goes against current proposals from other Democrats and Governor Inslee.

Hobbs admits the governor has concerns with this proposal.

“The governor is not happy with the [aspect] I put on there with the low-carbon fuel standard,” Hobbs said.

But he says his package is a delicate balance.

“I’ve got the support of a good chunk of business and labor and probably half the environmental community – not everyone,” Hobbs explained. “The prohibition on the executive branch to do an executive order on the low-carbon fuel standard does give the governor pause.”

But Hobbs says he’s hopeful as his plan moves through the Legislature they can address some of the governor’s concerns.

Hobbs is optimistic his package has a chance.

“If you would have asked me at the beginning of session, I would have been like, oh this doesn’t have a chance, but at least we’ll get the discussion going,” Hobbs said. “Now that I have multiple signatures — senators from both sides — this thing might have a chance,” Hobbs said.

His proposal is expected to get a hearing in the transportation committee next week.

Follow @https://twitter.com/HannaKIROFM