Author: SHANNON NAJMABADI
Washingtonians invited to online open house for 509 expressway
This Memorial Day Weekend – the unofficial start of summer that typically sees droves of Americans hit the road for vacation plans – Washingtonians won’t have to leave their homes to learn more about the State Route 509 Completion Project in south King County, Washington. That’s because the public is invited to attend the Washington […]
Washington youth will soon ride ferries free, costing the state $2M
Washingtonians 18 and under soon won’t have to pay to use public transit, including the ferry system. Implementing that policy – part of the “Move Ahead Washington” transportation package passed by the state Legislature earlier this year – will take some work, the Washington State Transportation Commission learned. That includes dealing with the fact that […]
Light rail on track for $4.8B Columbia River bridge replacement
Any replacement for the aging Interstate 5 (I-5) bridge over the Columbia River connecting Washington and Oregon will likely include light rail. It’s a controversial decision because previous attempt to replace the bridge failed in part because light rail was included in the project. In 2013, the Columbia River Crossing project was ultimately torpedoed by […]
Washington Legislature passes rideshare drivers benefits bill
Legislation staking a middle ground between independent contractor and employee when it comes to modern-day carpool drivers for companies like Uber and Lyft passed the Washington State Legislature and is on its way to Gov. Jay Inslee’s desk. House Bill 2076, dubbed the “Expanding Fairness” bill, guarantees benefits for rideshare drivers while still maintaining their […]
Washington Senate approves transportation revenue bill amid partisan rancor
The Washington State Senate approved revenue sources legislation for the Democrat majority’s $16 billion, 16-year “Move Ahead Washington” transportation package. Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5974 – so designated after a series of amendments were passed to be included in the legislation – provides funding anticipated to come from the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, a one-time $2 […]
Washington state’s highways ranked near the bottom in the nation
Washington state ranks 42nd in the nation in highway performance and cost-effectiveness, according to a new report from the Reason Foundation. The yearly report measures highway performance based on 13 different categories, including urban and rural pavement condition, deficient bridges, traffic fatalities, spending per mile, and administrative costs per mile of highway. “All 13 categories are considered […]
Prepare for longer winter road closures, care of vaccine mandated WSDOT firings
A Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) short-staffed due to COVID-19 vaccine mandates combined with a winter predicted to be colder and wetter than normal could mean a perfect storm for drivers navigating the state’s sometimes treacherous passes. WSDOT lost more than 400 employees – out of a total workforce of 6,800-plus – in October due to […]
Top Washington transportation official encourages vacations after vaccine mandate firings
An email in which a high-ranking Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) official urged staff to not worry about keeping up with their workload and take a vacation, after Gov. Jay Inslee’s vaccine mandate created hundreds of vacancies, is raising some eyebrows. A video posted on YouTube by someone identified as “I am WAM (We Are Many)” reviews […]