Highway Package Merits Enactment

Traffic congestion threatens Washington state’s economy and quality of life. That’s why 46 high-powered leaders - from labor, business, citizen groups and government - volunteered their time for a two-year immersion in this very complex problem.

As they worked, congestion worsened. And, a series of political pileups underscored the importance of their effort: Voters gave the green light to a short-term legislative transportation proposal, then repealed it. The crisis careened back into the Legislature, which duct-taped together another short-term relief package. Meanwhile, a Supreme Court decision and yet another round of election results showed initiatives to be a bumpy road that ends in gridlock.

Through it all, one message came through loud and clear: the public realizes there’s a transportation funding problem, but wants the state to spend its money more effectively.

Today, a credible solution is at hand. The 46-member Blue Ribbon Commission on Transportation has wrapped up its two years of work, which included extensive public input as well as a comprehensive, hard-eyed investigation of the transportation system’s many failings.

On Wednesday the commission approved its final recommendations. (They’re available on-line at www.brct.wa.gov). Gov. Gary Locke immediately expressed support and ordered the Transportation Department to implement some of the accountability and efficiency recommendations. Legislative caucus leaders began talking about how to make transportation a nonpartisan issue - a most welcome concept. Business leaders statewide are on board, too, recognizing that our trade-dependent economy can’t grow when trucks are stuck in traffic.

The recommendations won’t fit on a bumper sticker, or even in the space of this editorial. But they ought to please the public. The commission called for dramatic reforms to cut wasteful spending and create direct political accountability for the transportation system’s efficiency. In addition the commission proposed several ways to spread the burden for needed transportation improvements. An equalization formula would protect funding for poor counties as well as rich ones.

The governor would be made responsible for transportation. He’d appoint the transportation department’s director, so he’d have both a motive and the power to fight for progress. (Now, responsibility’s so diffuse that commission members felt no one’s accountable). Also, the state would create objective benchmarks for efficiency of roads, transit, construction work and administrative overhead. Using these, the state would measure performance and tie funding to results. For example, transit districts would have to meet efficiency standards - or lose state dollars.

Tax increases would go to fixing the worst bottlenecks and the money, appropriately, would come from a variety of user fees. In short: You drive, you pay, you benefit.

All together, this package makes sense and its enactment ought to be the Legislature’s No. 1 priority.