Growth Is Driving Road Plan North Spokane Freeway Among Projects In State Transportation Panel’s 20-Year Budget

A 20-year state transportation plan calls for spending $57 billion on roads, trains, buses, airports and ferries to keep up with Washington population growth.

More than half the state money would go toward city bus systems, passenger trains and other public transportation. The plan doesn’t include any money for local roads, which are the responsibility of city and county governments.

The proposal includes $80 million to start building a North Spokane freeway - far less than the $1 billion that is needed for the job.

The state Transportation Commission hopes a gas-tax fund earmarked specifically for big-ticket projects will boost the money available for the north Spokane freeway.

Commissioners said the state actually should spend nearly $104 billion to preserve existing transportation systems and make improvements to prevent congestion. A budget that size would include all the money necessary for the north Spokane freeway, for instance.

Even the “constrained” plan the commission adopted is $28 billion more than the state would collect if revenue is unchanged.

Drafters of the plan say the state would meet the proposed budget if the economy grows as much as expected. Forecasters predict the state will add 1.6 million residents by 2016.

“We have to face the fact that if we want adequate transportation systems, we’ve got to find the ways to pay for them,” said commission chairwoman Connie Niva.

The Washington Transportation Plan, ordered by state legislators, is the first document to include all forms of transportation, rather than just highways.

The commission plans to write a series of six-year proposals that would offer more detail than is included in the 20-year document. The first of those short-term plans will be presented to the Legislature next year.

None of the suggestions can be implemented without legislative approval.

The commission last year gave draft copies of the plan to 500,000 state residents, and asked for comments.

Of the 7,000 people who responded, about 80 percent said the top priority should be maintaining existing roads and transportation systems, the commission reported.

More than 70 percent said the state should expand public transportation, including rail systems.

The 20-year plan earmarks about $33 billion for public transportation, including city buses, commuter trains and ferries.

Commissioners predicted a 75 percent increase in the number of passenger train customers in the next 20 years, and called for daily rail service from Spokane to Seattle. Passenger trains now run between the cities four days a week.

By comparison, the commission would spend $17 billion on highways.

Persuading people to leave their cars in favor of public transportation “may be a better investment than laying down more asphalt,” said Spokane’s Linda Tompkins, vice chairwoman of the commission.

Tompkins noted most transportation spending by local government goes into roads. Roads account for about 75 percent of all public money spent on transportation, she said.

Other than highway projects, the commission’s report does not identify specific projects. Such details will be included in the six-year plans, as well as budgets the commission presents to the Legislature every two years.

Tompkins said the money would be distributed based on population and geographical regions. “If you just look at needs, they (Western Washington) would get 100 percent,” she said.

, DataTimes MEMO: These 2 sidebars appeared with the story: 1. PROPOSED PROJECTS Here are some of the major highway projects proposed for Eastern Washington, as well as some removed from the proposal to save money (All figures are 1995 dollars.): Additional lanes, new intersections and other improvements to Interstate 90, primarily in the Spokane Valley. Cost: $168.1 million to $184.4 million. The commission’s original proposal included another $75 million to $86 million to add lanes to I-90 on the West Plains. Design and construction of two miles of the north Spokane freeway, between U.S. Highway 395 and U.S. Highway 2. Cost: about $80 million. That’s $694-$790 million short of what’s needed to build the freeway from I-90 to U.S. 2. Additional lanes on U.S. Highway 195 between Rosalia and Plaza, a distance of nine miles. Cost: $38 million to $41.5 million. Also, safety improvements and new interchanges on the highway in Hangman Valley. Cost: $20.5 million to $25.5 million. Additional lanes and other improvements to U.S. Highway 395 and U.S. 2 north of Spokane. Cost: $68.2 million to $83.3 million. Trent Road improvements in the Spokane Valley. Cost: $18.5 million to $21 million. Improvements for Francis Avenue in north Spokane. Cost: $14 million to $16.1 million - at least $32 million less than originally proposed. Designated lanes, signs and other improvements for bicyclists, primarily along 68 miles of state Highway 20 in northeast Washington. Cost: $22.9 million to $29 million - at least $2 million less than originally proposed. Dan Hansen

2. TRAFFIC SPENDING The Washington Transportation Commission recently completed a 20-year plan that calls for spending $56.9 billion to keep traffic flowing. The plan is only a proposal, requested by the state Legislature, which decides how money actually is spent. The 20-year plan does not include spending by local governments.

Where the money would go: Public transportation, $25.9 billion. State highways, $17.1 billion. Ferries, $3.9 billion. Freight rail, $3.2 billion. Inter-city passenger rail, $2.9 billion. Bicyclists and pedestrians, $1.6 billion. Aviation and state airports, $1.5 billion. Marine ports and navigation, $847 million. SOURCE: Department of Transportation