Dear friends and neighbors,

The 43rd district includes some of the largest and most complex transportation projects in the state. During this year’s legislative session, I focused on keeping the SR 520 project moving forward while making several other investments in transportation infrastructure to improve safety, mobility, economic vitality, and sustainability.

SR 520 project on track

The combination of declining gas tax revenue and rising construction costs presented the Legislature with a difficult challenge this year. The bipartisan 2025-27 state transportation package, which includes a spending plan, revenue bill, and bond bill, closes long-term structural gap in the transportation budget of nearly $8 billion and commits funding levels through 2031. The balanced, six-year plan ensures that the state can complete promised projects, preserve and maintain infrastructure, and increase road safety. It keeps major statewide projects on track, including I-90 Snoqualmie Pass Corridor Improvements, State Route 18 improvements, and the I-5 Interstate Bridge replacement over the Columbia River.

The budget includes more than $800 million to keep the SR 520 Portage Bay Bridge and Roanoke Lid Project on track to be completed by 2031. The new Portage Bay Bridge will be seismically resilient, will improve bus and carpool travel, and will include an extension of the SR 520 Trail. I know we all look forward to seeing the completion of these crucial improvements so we can put decades of construction disruptions in the rearview mirror.

Here are some of the other investments in this year’s transportation budget:

  • With traffic fatalities at a 30-year high in Washington, the package includes $700 million for state and local safety projects. Roughly $50 million will go to North Aurora safety improvements.
  • $366 million for active transportation projects to make it easier for people to walk and bike in communities.
  • $100 million for ferry and terminal preservation and $4 million for passenger-only ferry service for the King County Water Taxi and Kitsap Transit.
  • $33 million to improve safety on rural roads and at railroad crossings.
  • $20 million for local transit projects, including the Madison route expansion, Route 40 Northgate to Downtown, Routes 43 and 44 Ballard to University District, Route 48 North University Link Station to Loyal Heights, and the 67th to Fremont Transit corridor.
  • $9 million for to increase transit options for the upcoming 2026 World Cup event.
  • $5 million for hydrogen infrastructure grants, including a community transit demonstration project.
  • $2 million to help complete the Ocean Pavilion public pedestrian parkway on the Seattle waterfront.

Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter. If you missed my newsletters on public education, housing, or community projects, they are available on my website. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me with any questions at Jamie.Pedersen@leg.wa.gov.

Best wishes,

Jamie