Friends, neighbors –

Last week, the bicameral Move Ahead Washington transportation package was released. And this week, the Senate’s proposed supplemental Capital Construction budget was released. Months of your feedback, your ideas, and collaboration from neighbors and local leaders all around the state became a $16.8 billion transportation package and a $1 billion supplemental capital budget funding our communities’ priorities and needs.

As a member of Senate leadership, a member of the Senate transportation negotiating team, and as someone who sits on the Senate Transportation committee – it’s been my honor to elevate your concerns and ideas as we build a sustainable, connected future together.

Want the details? Come to my Facebook Live Town Hall this Saturday, Feb. 19, at 11:00am – and send in your questions/thoughts ahead of time so I can add them to my list. Click the image below!

So what new investments are on the table for our community? Here’re some highlights at a glance:

  • $74.3 million to finally respond to our community’s needs in Gorst, to design a climate resilient traffic solution in partnership with community and in consultation with the Suquamish Tribe
  • $120 million for Pierce Transit support and improvements
  • Youth 18 & under ride free through Move Ahead WA – by bus, train, and ferry!
  • $34 million for pedestrian safety improvements in Pierce County
  • $35 million for SR 3 widening and safety improvements
  • $6.5 million for a Kitsap Transit all-electric Fast Foot Passenger Ferry
  • $1.5 billion in our struggling Washington State Ferries system
  • Move Ahead WA also includes $3 billion to fund preservation & maintenance and $2.4 billion to keep healing our salmon population by removing fish passage barriers
  • $60,000 for the Gig Harbor Senior Center Office and Education Center
  • $2,070,000 for Day Use Development at Kopachuck State Park in Gig Harbor
  • $100,000 for the Harper Estuary Restoration and Bridge Construction in South Kitsap
  • $165,000 for an Accessibility Upgrade at the Kiwanis Park Playground in Bremerton

AND: this package secures a Tacoma Narrows Bridge toll reduction! While we weren’t able to negotiate a full elimination of the tolls, our bicameral negotiating team agreed to complement Move Ahead WA with a partner bill (which I’m sponsoring) to reduce the tolls by 75 cents.

Let me know what your questions and thoughts are! As always, I am eager to hear from you about your priorities and to bring your thoughts and concerns with me to Olympia – your voice is with me in committee, in leadership meetings, on the Senate floor. Easy ways to reach me include Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter – where you can shoot me a message and follow along to see what we’re up to. You can also reach out anytime at 360-786-7650 or Emily.Randall@leg.wa.gov. The more I hear from you, the more my work reflects our shared values and goals.

– Emily