By Denis Law and Lynn Wallace
The collapse of the Interstate 5 bridge over the Skagit River last week was yet another reminder of the urgent need for transportation investment in our region. With little or no funding from the federal government, it’s critical for us to find ways to invest and maintain our transportation infrastructure – not only to ensure our safety but to create jobs, retain our businesses, make our ports competitive, and maintain the quality of life vital to the success of Renton and our state.
Our transportation system is on the brink of crisis. Interstate 405 (I-405) is the most gridlocked freeway in our area. If we don’t add capacity to I-405 and fix the interchange at I-405 and state Route 167, we will continue to have the most congested interchange and freeway corridor in the state. The economic impact of this congestion is tremendous.
According to WSDOT, 2.95 million vehicle hours of delay occur each year on I-405 at a cost of $70.8 million to the local economy.
I-405 is not our only problem – city streets are deteriorating, county roads are in urgent need of maintenance, and state highways are in desperate need of repair. The I-5 bridge is only one of numerous structures ranked as “deficient” and in need of repair. Additional routes and hours are planned to be cut by our transit agencies and we have an aging ferry system. Critical gaps in sidewalk and bicycle facilities make it difficult for children to get to school safely, and the list goes on.
Despite being identified as critical for the economic vitality of our region, construction on I-405 has not been fully funded.
But this year, we have a real opportunity to add capacity to I-405, and to move forward. A broad coalition of stakeholders – business, labor, environmentalists, and local elected leaders – have been working together and ALL agree that we need to take action now.
Gov. Inslee, House Transportation Chairwoman Judy Clibborn and legislative leaders from both parties have come up with a proposal that addresses I-405, provides funding and options for local communities, and tackles some of our other most pressing challenges. Their plan is to maintain what we have, protect jobs and our economy, and support transit and local transportation investment.
This “Connecting Washington” package (HB 1954/HB 1955), proposed by Rep. Clibborn, calls for an investment of $9.5 billion over 12 years. This plan would invest in our roads, provide funding to improve freight mobility and relieve traffic congestion, and provide funding for local governments to protect and upgrade local roads, transit and make critical safety improvements.
For Renton, this transportation package is well worth supporting. Along with funding for I-405 and the I-405/SR-167 interchange, Renton would receive nearly $4 million over 12 years plus additional grant funding to help with desperately needed local roads maintenance, and King County Metro would receive funds to avert significant transit service cuts. There would also be additional grant funding to help with our local roads.
It is not an option to do nothing. If we want our businesses to stay, create and grow jobs and turn our economy around, we have to invest in our transportation system.
We need to act now and ask the state Legislature to put aside their differences and invest in the future of our region.
Denis Law is mayor of the City of Renton; Lynn Wallace is president of the Renton Chamber of Commerce
