OLYMPIA – Following the unanimous passage of the Senate Transportation Budget, Sen. Rebecca Saldaña, D-Seattle, released this statement:
“Ensuring transportation funding that moves our state forward is one of the most critical issues in our district. Being stuck in traffic in our cars is about time away from our families, missed economic opportunities for our state, and pollution that increases asthma and other problems in children.
“I was extremely disappointed Senate Republicans rejected a measure that would have dealt with the car tab price increases without risking the buildout of light rail in our region. However, a lot of work went into the budget to ensure our state can maintain the infrastructure we have, increase investments in transit options and reduce traffic for the people of our region. It funds important projects like Interstate-405/State Route167 interchange, I-5 express lanes and RapidRide enhancements and traffic safety improvements.
“The generation before us missed the mark in investments in transit options that would have reduced traffic and increased mobility for our region. I am glad to have been able to vote for a transportation budget that makes investments in a clean and healthy transportation system that our district can count on in the future.”
