Senate focuses on transportation

OLYMPIA – The Senate tackled thorny transportation issues Saturday with votes to create a long-term ferry plan, freeze new money for a regional roads agency and authorize cameras to catch speeders in Seattle.

The Democratic majority also stumbled when its contentious plan to halt an expanded Puget Sound sand and gravel mine failed by one vote. The idea is likely to surface for another vote Monday.

The Senate’s transportation focus came one day after the state House approved a framework for tolls, seen as the key route to finance major roads and bridges in the future.

The nation’s largest ferry system was one of the Senate’s targets Saturday. Lawmakers unanimously endorsed a bill that orders Washington State Ferries to create a plan for maintaining, rebuilding and replacing its boats.

The long-range plan lays out orders for Gov. Chris Gregoire’s new ferries director, David Moseley, who is taking over a fleet that has been hammered with maintenance troubles in recent months.

Sen. Cheryl Pflug, R-Maple Valley, said the long-term blueprint should be a no-brainer for an agency managing billions of dollars in vessels and infrastructure.

“Who’d have thought that we ought to do property management and life cycle costs? Apparently, not the state Transportation Department,” Pflug said. “Apparently, we have to tell them that.”

Senators were less united about a bill that stops King, Pierce and Snohomish counties’ Regional Transportation Investment District from going to the ballot for more road-building money this fall.

The plan essentially puts the agency, known as RTID, on hold for a year. But the ultimate goal is eliminating the multicounty body in favor of a new way for financing road and transit projects in the state’s most populous region, Senate Transportation Chairwoman Mary Margaret Haugen said.

The Senate approved the bill 27-22.

Republicans also opposed a bill that allows Seattle to use remote cameras for snapping pictures of speeders. Drivers would be mailed a ticket if they’re caught in the act.

Police cameras already can be used to issue traffic tickets at stoplights, railroad crossings or school speed zones in some areas. Democratic supporters said expanding the program to Seattle speeders would help save pedestrian lives.

All three bills now move to the state House for further consideration.