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Debate over Washington transportation funding centers on roads versus multimodal priorities
Summary
Panelists at an AWB forum in Vancouver debated whether recent legislative funding should be concentrated on road preservation or diverted to a multimodal account, with state Rep. Stephanie McClintock and industry leaders warning of rural impacts and higher costs for everyday drivers.
At an AWB spring session in Vancouver, state Rep. Stephanie McClintock and industry leaders on a transportation panel pressed for clearer priorities after the recent legislative session, arguing that road preservation needs more targeted funding than the multimodal account created in the package.
"I am hopeful the governor will not sign that," McClintock said of the proposed package and the related tax changes, adding that she estimated "an extra $300 a year for your average driver." She criticized directing significant funds into a multimodal account that she said could be spent on trails and ferry electrification rather than fixing pothole‑filled roads.
The dispute centered on how to pay for preservation and capacity projects. Moderator Ron Arp and panelists cited two recent funding moves mentioned during the session: a midyear 6¢ increase in the gas tax and a proposal to transfer $1.2 billion in sales tax into a transportation multimodal account. Kevin Tapony, a local contractor and co‑owner of Tapony Incorporated, said he would "definitely be an advocate of keeping it focused on the roads," and urged that safety and maintenance be prioritized before expanding multimodal investments.
Johan Hellman, who represents BNSF Railway in the region, warned of the broader economic consequences of shifting transport costs. "Every time we amp up that cost, every time we raise those taxes, it makes the cost of everything that much more expensive," he said, emphasizing freight sensitivity to taxes that fall on trucking and cargo movement.
Panelists differed on the political path forward. McClintock said the state has a "priority problem" rather than a revenue shortfall and urged lawmakers to preserve road funding for rural users who must drive long distances. Industry representatives urged AWB to keep pressure on legislators and to press for transparent, accountable use of any new revenue so voters see projects tied to dollars.
The panel left the timing and final shape of any statutory changes unresolved: McClintock noted the governor had until May 21 to act on legislation, and panelists encouraged continued outreach to lawmakers and clearer messaging tying specific projects to taxes.
