Union and maintenance workers urge lawmakers to prioritize preservation, maintenance and work‑zone safety funding

Katie Durkin, representing the Washington Federation of State Employees, told the Senate Transportation Committee that Department of Transportation maintenance and operations are at a breaking point and urged lawmakers to prioritize preservation and safety in SB 5161.

Durkin said members report DOT sheds in disrepair that may expose workers to asbestos, failing equipment and vehicles, and increasing lists of maintenance needs including guardrails, signage, pavement striping, bridges and rest areas. She cited an October incident in which a DOT worker in the Spokane area was struck by a speeding vehicle while working in a work zone; the worker survived. Durkin said there were more than 1,200 work-zone crashes in 2023 and that work-zone safety must be a budget priority.

She praised the governor’s continuation of the work-zone speed safety camera program, which had been funded one-time in the current biennium, and urged that the program be retained or increased to improve worker safety. She also cited WSDOT guidance recommending that new revenue be dedicated first to operations, maintenance and capital preservation before new projects, reflecting broad public engagement findings in the department’s highway system plan.

No committee action was taken on the testimony; it was entered into the record for the legislative budget process.