Senate Transportation Committee advances package of transportation bills, increases toll-bond authorization for I‑5 bridge

The Senate Transportation Committee advanced a package of transportation measures on April 8, 2025, moving multiple bills to the rules committee after staff briefings, amendment votes and floor remarks.

Haley Gamble, committee staff, summarized Senate Bill 5,734 and its proposed substitute, saying the measure "allows for the issuance of up to $1,600,000,000 in bonds for the construction of the I‑five Bridge replacement project" and that the substitute increases the authorization to "$2,500,000,000" and creates dedicated toll accounts to prevent commingling. That bill was moved with a due‑pass recommendation and advanced to the rules committee.

The committee also advanced substitute House Bill 12‑64 addressing salary surveys for Washington State Ferries collective bargaining units. Jenna Forte, committee staff, said the bill would require the Office of Financial Management to contract with a nationally recognized firm to conduct salary surveys for specific ferry positions and that the fiscal note estimates $375,000 from the motor vehicle account to conduct the surveys. The committee adopted a striking amendment that revised the definition of total compensation, limited public disclosure of private‑employer survey data, and required survey results be shared with bargaining parties by April 1 of even‑numbered years. Senator King voiced concern that the comparator entities chosen for the surveys may pay significantly higher wages and warned the change "could significantly impact the cost of our running and maintaining our ferry system." The amended bill received a due‑pass recommendation to the rules committee.

On passenger rail, staff reminded the committee that Engrossed Substitute House…