Senate Bill 6225: $800 million in transportation bonds signed; official highlights $1.5 billion preservation plan

An agency official signed Senate Bill 6225, which the official said was requested by the Office of Financial Management and authorizes $800,000,000 in bonds for maintenance and preservation of the state's transportation system.

The official described the measure as increasing bond authority for the State Route 520 corridor and as part of a broader transportation funding package. The official said that over the next six years the state will make $1,500,000,000 in investments in maintenance and preservation — a 36% increase in preservation funding — and emphasized that the funding would be provided "without raising taxes."

The official gave specific project examples: WSDOT will use $164,000,000 to pave an estimated 600 miles this summer, the I‑90 Hanson Road overpass in Moses Lake will be replaced after a January closure for deterioration, and funding will address slope control and landslide-vulnerable corridors (the official cited the recent landslide that closed northbound I‑5 near Bellingham). The official framed preservation as cost-saving, saying delaying preservation can make repairs three to five times more expensive than timely resurfacing or rehabilitation.

The signing included thanks to legislative leaders (the official named State Senator Marco Lias, Senator Curtis King, Representative Jake Fye and Andrew Barkas) and a photo opportunity. State Representative Jake Fye also spoke, thanking the governor and staff and noting the need for continued work on ferries and maintenance.

The transcript records the ceremonial signing and remarks but does not include bond sale schedules, legislative vote tallies, specific project timelines, or department-level implementation plans; those details will be determined by OFM, WSDOT and other responsible agencies.