Senator Curtis King and six of his colleagues in the Majority Caucus Coalition held a press conference today in which they unveiled their proposal for a statewide transportation revenue package.
The package would generate $12.4 billion relying on a combination of a 11.5 cent gas tax increased phased in over three years, a 15% increase in truck weight fees, some additional fee increases, sales tax, and transfers from the Environmental Legacy Stewardship Account.
The package would spend $1.659 million on the Puget Sound Gateway project, which includes both the completion of State Routes 167 and 509. Although not confirmed in the printed material provided at the press conference, we have been told that this would fund four lanes all the way from Puyallup to the Port of Tacoma. By way of comparison, the House proposed spending $1.44 billion on the Puget Sound Gateway.
Here are the materials specifically outlining King's proposal:
Transportation Revenue package cover letter
140212King_Draft_ Proposal DetailFINAL (3)
140212KingProposal ReformsFINAL (2)
Copy of 140211KingNonHighwaySummaryPage (3)
Copy of 140212Copy of King_Draft_BalanceSheet 4
King declared that he has thirteen committed votes for his package.
Senator Rodney Tom, speaking at the press conference, also announced that the Senate had reserved a meeting room to resume negotiations with the Governor and the House next Wednesday, February 19. It was unclear, however, whether all parties had agreed to meet on that day.
King was joined by senators Randi Becker, Michael Baumgartner, Steve Litzow, Rodney Tom, Joe Fain, Andy Hill, and Linda Parlette.