Senate unveils road plan

By DAVID AMMONS | The Associated Press • Published March 28, 2007

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"We'd love to have done more, but money goes only so far," Haugen said. "As it is, we're feeling pretty good about the ways we found to keep our major projects on schedule."

Sen. Dan Swecker of Rochester, the ranking Republican on the transportation panel, was at Haugen's side during a news conference and embraced the proposal. He said it is taking a Herculean effort to keep all the highway projects alive and on schedule despite the skyrocketing cost of materials.

The Senate's version is expected to pass the upper chamber this week. House-Senate negotiators then will be assigned to work on a compromise during the final three weeks of the session.

Plan highlights

VIADUCT: Seattle, King County and the state plan a fresh attempt to find an acceptable replacement for the quake-damaged structure, which handles more than 110,000 vehicles a day. Both houses agree to $915 million to get started on work needed regardless of the design that is chosen.

520 BRIDGE: The plan identifies as much as $4.1 billion for a project that could cost $4.3 billion. This would include $560 million in state money, federal dollars, $1.1 billion from regional taxes, $1.2 billion in expected tolls, and heavy use of a $1 billion pool of money that is set aside exclusively for the viaduct and bridge.

COST OVERRUNS: The Senate budget accommodates nearly $2 billion in escalating costs. Examples: I-90 improvements at Snoqualmie Pass were originally budgeted at $388 million, but now are at $525 million. Highway 16 and I-5 car pool lanes originally costing $930 million are now expected to be $1.4 billion. The Highway 395 North Spokane corridor has risen from $374 million to $473 million.

BACK ON SCHEDULE: Gov. Chris Gregoire had proposed sliding the schedule for some projects, but the Senate budget keeps them on track and even accelerates 17 projects that are ready to go. The latter include stretches of I-5, I-90, I-405, and Highways 9, 20, 539, 395, and 167. The $470 million replacement of the eastern half of the Hood Canal Bridge also would be accelerated.

FERRY SYSTEM: The Senate plan would allow a scheduled 2.5 percent ferry fare increase to proceed in May. The House wants a one-year fare freeze. Fares rose 6 percent last year. Both houses would freeze eight terminal projects for two years while a study of ferry usage and terminal needs is conducted.

FREIGHT & RAIL: The plan includes $76 million for 40 freight mobility rail projects and money for freight projects across the state. The budget would provide $229 million for rail, including a fifth daily roundtrip for the Amtrak Cascades from Seattle to Portland.

On the Web

Legislature: www.leg.wa.gov

Governor's plan: www.ofm.wa.gov

Senate plan: www.leg.wa.gov/senate/Committees/tran

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