Washington state has learned a lot about its ports over the last few days. The ports of Tacoma and Seattle two weeks ago unveiled a study that demonstrated the economic firepower of the Puget Sound maritime sector. Of note, the two ports combined:
- are the third largest gateway for containerized cargo in North America;
- support 48,100 jobs in Washington state;
- generate over a quarter-billion dollars in state tax revenue every year; and
- are affiliated with $138.1 billion in economic activity in the state—1/3 of Washington’s GDP.
Policymakers were also reminded that the benefits of a healthy, thriving port industry are in jeopardy.
While the volume of cargo continues to climb at most West Coast ports, the Puget Sound has seen its market share slip 40 percent since 2000. While the loss of cargo is unfortunate, the accompanying loss of cargo-handling jobs and tax revenue into our state’s coffers is more distressing. Dramatic action is needed to reverse that trend.
In response, the Seattle and Tacoma port commissions last week announced plans to unify the management of the two ports’ marine cargo terminals and related functions under a single Seaport Alliance.
This dramatic move is a result of the two ports setting aside decades of differences for the betterment of the region and the entire state. As Port of Seattle Commissioner Stephanie Bowman declared, the Seaport Alliance will “tear down the Berlin Wall between Pierce and King County.”
This decision, however, is not enough.
While the two ports are positioning themselves to make their operations more competitive, these moves will be wasted if cargo passing through the ports becomes grid locked on the state’s roadways.
As the News Tribune’s Bill Virgin wrote on Sunday, “What happens to that container once it hits the highways headed for the Kent Valley, or north or south on Interstate 5, or to that grain car trying to get here from the Dakotas? The regional freeway system is overburdened with traffic and choke points.”
The question is, are state lawmakers willing to be as bold as the two ports? Are they willing to work through their differences and pass a statewide transportation package that completes long-stalled projects like state routes 167 and 509?
One transportation industry executive said at a roundtable meeting on Friday, “I’m frustrated that the state hasn’t had a bolder vision for the maritime sector and taken these jobs for granted.”
Now is time for our lawmakers to show vision, have courage and demonstrate leadership. The ports have acted. Now it is their turn.
