The News Tribune this morning celebrated the Senate’s passage of a statewide transportation package, declaring it a “breakthrough.”

“The legislation promises to relieve traffic chokepoints across the state. No region would benefit more than the South Sound. Its biggest megaproject would connect state routes 167 and 509 to Interstate 5 as part of a grand plan to speed cargo shipments from the ports of Tacoma and Seattle and relieve congestion on I-5.”

The paper goes on to acknowledge more is needed as the House and Senate move towards compromise. It is on this last point—the need for compromise—that they end their editorial: “All Washingtonians – Republicans, Democrats and independents – need a functional transportation system.”