Governor signs transportation package: $800 million in bonds and $1.5 billion for preservation over six years

The governor signed a set of transportation measures in Olympia, including House Bill 2711 and Senate Bill 6225, authorizing new bond authority and adjustments to transportation tax policy.

"Senate bill 6 2 2 5 authorizes, importantly, $800,000,000 in bonds to continue investing in maintenance and preservation of Washington's transportation system," the governor said. He added that the package increases bond authority for the State Route 520 corridor and provides funding "for these much needed transportation projects without raising taxes."

The governor explained Washington uses separate capital, transportation and operating budgets and said the transportation package represents $1,500,000,000 in investments in maintenance and preservation over the next six years, a 36% increase in preservation funding. He cited examples of how the money will be used: he said WSDOT will use $164,000,000 to pave an estimated 600 miles this summer and will replace the I-90 Hanson Road overpass in Moses Lake, which closed because of deterioration in January. The governor also referenced a recent landslide that closed northbound I-5 near Bellingham as context for the urgency of preservation work.

Speaker 3, identified at the event as State Representative Jake Fye, thanked the governor and his team for partnering with the legislature to produce the session’s transportation package. The governor also acknowledged State Senator Marco Lias (absent), Senator Curtis King, and State Representative Andrew Barkas for their leadership.

The signing included brief remarks and photographs; the governor said additional budget work (including the operating budget) would continue the following day. The transcript did not specify discrete project-level award schedules or detailed timelines for all projects mentioned.