Republicans oppose proposed 75-year Sound Transit bonds, cite governance and cost concerns

Republican leaders at the media availability opposed a bill that would let Sound Transit issue 75-year bonds instead of the current 40-year maximum.

A Republican senator who serves on the Senate Transportation Committee said he voted against pursuing the longer-term bond option, arguing it would significantly increase the state's debt burden and produce substantially higher interest costs over the life of projects. "You're paying substantially more interest over the life of that," he said, and added that it is unclear what projects 75 years from now would still be relevant.

Speakers also criticized Sound Transit's governance structure, noting the board is not fully elected and saying that makes voters and taxpayers less protected when the agency bonds for multibillion-dollar projects. "We need wholesale changes in leadership there, including a restructuring of the governing board to make sure that you actually can get people in there that are accountable to the people," one Republican said.

They urged a deeper review of why Sound Transit projects are behind schedule and over budget and said Republicans would press for accountability and alternatives rather than extending bond terms. The availability did not record any formal Republican plan to amend the proposed change; speakers recommended examining governance fixes and project-management issues before considering long-term bonding authority.

The question was raised by Melissa Santos of Axios Seattle; Senator McKeown (Senate Republican deputy leader) and other Republicans answered.