Story by John Sattgast, Washington State House Republican Communications
House Republicans say Washington already has the money to fix crumbling roads and bridges — if lawmakers are willing to reprioritize it. John Sattgast reports from Olympia.
House Republican Transportation Leader Andrew Barkis says Washington should tap into the existing Climate Commitment Act revenue, often called the “carbon tax,” to fix aging infrastructure before asking taxpayers for more.
Barkis recently told reporters at a forum in Olympia that maintenance and preservation must come first, especially after the permanent closure of the Fairfax Bridge on State Route 165 near Wilkeson.
“You’re going to hear me all session long talk about the use of Climate Commitment Act… that we need to start putting some of those existing resources before we further the responsibility and the debt load for the people of Washington state.”
The Fairfax Bridge was closed last April due to structural issues. Barkis says the bridge is a warning sign of what happens when maintenance is delayed too long.
“We must look at some of these as an emergency situation like the Wilkeson bridge… and not go into a situation where we’re looking at eight to 10 years to replace critical infrastructure.”
Barkis says redirecting CCA revenue toward bridges and road preservation would address safety needs now – without raising taxes.