By The Chronicle staff
Washington state Rep. Andrew Barkis, R-Olympia, is urging for a public hearing to be held on House Bill 1324, which would direct excess Climate Commitment Act (CCA) revenue toward road projects.
The legislation would amend state law to allow the currently restricted funds to be used to address the state’s growing infrastructure backlog, which exceeds $11 billion, according to a news release from Barkis.
Under the bill, the funds could be used for major transportation projects, including the replacement of the Interstate 5 bridge over the Columbia River, the completion of the U.S. 395 North Spokane Corridor, the completion of the state Route 520 bridge and the Gateway Freight Project, which connects state Route 509 and state Route 167 to key ports in King and Pierce counties.
The Washington state Department of Ecology’s website states: “Under the law, proceeds from the CCA allowance auctions must be invested in critical climate projects focused on improving clean transportation options, increasing climate resilience in ecosystems and communities and addressing issues of environmental justice and health inequity in Washington.”
Barkis, the ranking Republican on the House Transportation Committee, said that while he respects the will of the voters in upholding the Climate Commitment Act, extra revenue should not be prohibited from being used to address the state’s transportation needs.
“Washington’s roads are in dire need of repair. We rank 47th nationally in road quality, face an increasing number of bridges in poor condition, and have a highway system in the early stages of failure,” Barkis stated in the release. “Despite these pressing concerns, which affect millions of Washingtonians, we are told Climate Commitment Act funds must only ever be directed toward projects that address things like environmental justice. With project costs soaring 70 percent since 2020 and infrastructure crumbling, we quite literally cannot afford to have a narrow focus on transportation revenues. I respect the will of the voters in upholding the Climate Commitment Act, but I also know they want us to fix our roads and bridges, get them out of traffic, and invest in infrastructure that supports every part of our state.”
Recent census data supports the need for road investments, Barkis stated in the news release, with more than 82 percent of Washingtonians relying on cars, trucks or vans to get to work.
In some counties, that number exceeds 93 percent. Public transit accounts for just over 6% of commutes statewide, while walking and biking combined make up less than 5%.
While some legislators have advocated for increasing the gas tax or implementing a new road usage charge to boost revenues, Barkis said making life more expensive for Washingtonians is not the right path forward.
“We can fund major projects with existing revenue sources, but only if we’re willing to get creative,” Barkis said. “Asking Washingtonians to pay more at a time when our state has the third-highest gas prices, the fifth-most expensive gas tax, and one of the highest costs of living in the country is not the answer. With 35 percent of Washington households living paycheck to paycheck, we need to prioritize fixing our roads and bridges without adding to the financial burden families are already facing.”
House Bill 1324 is currently in the House Transportation Committee.
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