State transportation funding comparison: Washington faces higher costs for ferries, fish passage and debt

Mark Mattson, staff coordinator for the House transportation committee, briefed the commission on a cross‑state analysis intended to provide context for Washington’s transportation budget. Using Federal Highway Administration data and state budget estimates, Mattson compared resource mixes, lane‑mile ownership and pavement condition indices among high‑growth states.

Mattson highlighted that Washington’s 2025 biennial transportation resources rely heavily on fuel taxes, vehicle and driver fees, federal funds and bonds, and that major cost drivers include the state ferry system and fish‑passage obligations. He said the state’s biennial highway improvement allocations are large and that Washington has initiated numerous mega‑projects compared with peer states.

Using the International Roughness Index, Mattson said Washington had improved some pavement categories between 2008 and 2023, but that inflation‑adjusted highway preservation spending has lagged peers. He reviewed revenue options used elsewhere — indexed local fuel taxes, dedicated sales tax measures, EV registration and delivery fees, and voluntary road‑use pilot programs — and said short‑term fixes exist but longer‑term action (e.g., usage charges or tolling) may be required.

Commissioners asked about Arizona’s apparent pavement performance and the effects of climate and explicit preservation policies; Mattson attributed outcomes to a mixture of planning, climate and how revenues are funneled in each state. He concluded that Washington’s ferry obligations, fish‑passage costs and debt service distinguish the state’s fiscal picture and will shape future policy choices.