WA Gas Taxes May Reach New Heights With $26B Transportation Plan

OLYMPIA, WA — A plan unveiled by House Democrats this week seeks to raise certain fees, including gas taxes, to help fund about $26 billion in transportation spending over the next 16 years.

The package includes billions in funding for state and local projects, highway maintenance, and carbon reduction efforts, along with hundreds of millions to electrify the state's ferry fleet, which is currently the largest consumer of diesel fuel in Washington.

"Our proposal is much more substantial than any in state history because the needs and challenges are so much bigger," said state Rep. Jake Fey (D-Tacoma), the transportation chair. "Those needs include long-overdue investments in preserving and maintaining our current transportation system, help for frontline communities, and carbon reduction to fight climate change. Our proposal will also mean a boom in construction jobs in every corner of the state."

Among the proposed funding sources is an 18-cent boost to gas taxes and a new carbon fee that would begin in 2023. According to the Seattle Times, the two fees together would result in a total gas tax of $1 per gallon, about twice as high as taxes in neighboring Idaho and Oregon. Other increases include boosts to driver's license fees, title fees and rental car taxes.

(Find more about the revenue and spending proposal via the legislature's website.)

In a news release, House Democrats said the proposal incorporated feedback from dozens of listening sessions across the state and boosts support for local infrastructure projects and green transportation initiatives.

"It's common sense to protect and strengthen our vital bridges and infrastructure," said. "Rep Marcus Riccelli (D-Spokane). "Our proposal invests $4.6 billion toward that effort and greatly enhances support for city and county governments to do much-needed preservation and maintenance projects on the local level. Importantly, we also live up to our commitments by finishing what we started when it comes to existing projects on the books."

In a statement published Tuesday, the ranking Republican on the House Transporation Committee agreed that the need to address Washington's transportation needs was pressing, but decried raising taxes to do so.

"Given our current circumstances, this does not seem like a way to provide social justice or equity," wrote Rep. Andrew Barkis (R-Olympia). "It is no secret we have a transportation problem in this state, and that our priorities have become misplaced. We should be working on reprioritizing our budget to work within our means by focusing on existing revenue and shifting the sales tax revenue paid on vehicles from the operating budget to the transportation budget."

The Democrats' 16-year funding proposal is separate from the two-year transportation budget that lawmakers will negotiate separately. Discussion and debate on both will continue over the 105-day legislative session until final votes are scheduled.