Supporters of SR-167 converged on Olympia for the second time in four days to plead the case for completing the state's largest economic development project.

Members of the Senate Transportation Committee heard testimony from representatives of business, labor and local government who explained that the ports of Tacoma and Seattle can compete with other gateways to protect and in fact grow jobs in Washington, provided the state completes critical freight corridors.

"The return on investment for completing SR 167 is enormous," explained Tacoma Pierce County Chamber President Tom Pierson. "WSDOT estimates over 80,000 long-term permanent jobs will be created, generating $10 billion in wages."

As one testifier noted: "This is not simply about longshore jobs-- which are certainly important-- but also about orchardists in Yakima, potato growers in the Tri-Cities and trucking companies in Auburn."

Aaron Williams, president of the Fife Chamber of Commerce, representing the South Sound Chamber of Commerce Legislative Coalition agreed. "We have a long list projects in these bills that support our ports and support the thousands of jobs in the South Sound."

Fife City Councilman Glenn Hull, Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy, Tacoma Mayor Marilyn Strickland, Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber President Tom Pierson and Port of Tacoma Government Affairs Director Sean Eagan take a break from testifying before the Senate Transportation Committee.