The Washington State Department of Transportation recently unveiled its latest version of the state's transportation plan. Of note was the attention the agency paid to the adverse impacts on the freight sector due to increased congestion on state highways.

The plan said a 20 percent increase in freight congestion will cost the state more than 27,000 jobs and $3.3 billion. Freight mobility is important for Washington state, the plan concludes, because freight-dependent industries support 1.5 million jobs in the state, or 44 percent of the state’s jobs.

Completion of state routes 167 and 509 were two of the top priorities called out in the plan. In the past, WSDOT has estimated the completion of SR 167 alone could generate 80,000 long-term jobs—certainly a much better alternative than continuing to lose jobs due to congestion.