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Washington House leaders unveil transportation revenue proposal with 9¢ gas tax and $1 billion reserve
Summary
Chair Fai and Representative Andrew Barkas outlined a transportation revenue package that would raise the gas tax by 9¢, create a roughly $1 billion reserve for cost increases, push more than $1.8 billion in highway projects beyond a six‑year window and add an annual fee for high‑efficiency vehicles.
Chair Fai and Representative Andrew Barkas presented the House transportation revenue and budget proposal, saying it aims to protect safety and preservation work while responding to steep construction‑cost increases.
The package includes a 9¢ increase in the state gas tax, indexing to inflation and a mix of higher vehicle weight fees and an additional tax component on auto sales above $50,000. The proposal also sets aside roughly $1 billion in a reserve to meet unexpected cost increases and to keep underway projects moving when possible. "This is unprecedented in terms of where we're at in transportation," Chair Fai said, arguing the reserve reflects an expectation that construction costs will continue to climb.
Why it matters: lawmakers said rising costs and court‑ordered fish culvert work have strained prior plans and that the new revenues are intended to avoid across‑the‑board cuts to safety and preservation. Chair Fai pointed to priority projects that the package aims to restore funding for, including an interstate bridge and the North South Freeway.
Key details: according to Chair Fai the plan delays more than $1.8 billion in highway transportation projects beyond the six‑year window used for budgeting; she also described an approximately $1 billion additional investment for culverts and fish‑passage work on top of prior allocations. Representative Andrew Barkas said the House and Senate currently present different revenue approaches and that conference work will be required to reconcile them.
The proposal relies on a mix of revenue sources rather than a single mechanism. Chair Fai said indexing the gas tax would help the state keep pace with inflation and reduce the need for larger ad hoc increases in future sessions. "It was just looking at a lot of options," she said, explaining the 9¢ figure was chosen to meet part of the funding need.
Next steps: officials said the revenue and budget bills are scheduled for hearings on Tuesday, committee work Thursday and a floor vote in early April (representatives in the room noted the exact floor dates differ between chambers).
