We talk a lot about the importance a completed State Route 167 has for the Port of Tacoma, but it has been a while since we've talked about why it is important. And perhaps more important, why we should care.

The House Transportation Committee delved into this question yesterday as part of a work session exploring the connections between transportation and trade. Eric Schinfeld, President of the Washington Council on International Trade, kicked things off by reminding lawmakers that 40 percent of jobs in the state are connection to international trade. "International trade is the largest single driver of our state's economy," he said. "If you want to do something to grow jobs and improve the economy of Washington state, then you will want to grow the trade economy."

There was also a great deal of conversation about the broad range of jobs tied to international trade. "What is a trade related job?" asked Schinfeld. "Too often we think of trade jobs as the jobs at the port, the jobs at the railroad and jobs in trucks. That's absolutely true. But what are our biggest exports? Farmers, machinists, software writers are all trade related jobs too."

Linda Styrk with the Port of Seattle and Sean Eagan with the Port of Tacoma then made the connection between those trade related jobs and the need for transportation investments. Eagan reminded lawmakers about the testimony provided by Art Stippin, a trucking business owner from SeaTac who spoke at the Senate Transportation Committee's listening session in Tacoma. Stippen explained that for his drivers, a minute of waiting time ends up costing him $19/minute – a data point “you folks don’t hear about but I think about every day.” Eagan then noted that WSDOT estimates a completed SR 167 would reduce travel time by 15%. "At $19 dollars a minute, that adds up quick," said Eagan.

Check out the presentations by Schinfeld, Styrk and Eagan at TVW [their testimony begins at the 14 minute, 20 second mark]

 

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