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10th District Lawmakers
support House transportation plan, highlight ferry funding
Reps.
Barbara Bailey
and
Barry Sehlin of the 10th Legislative District in northwest Washington
today helped pass the House supplemental transportation budget. In an 85
– 10 vote in favor, lawmakers approved Engrossed Substitute House Bill
2474 to keep important existing roadway and marine transit projects
moving forward and funded, and add new-high priority activities.
“I’m pleased to see that this supplemental budget continues to fund
important ferry services in our communities, including new ferries for
increased capacity,” said Bailey, R-Oak Harbor, and member of the House
Transportation Committee. “There is also an important recognition of the
need to develop a long range-plan for more efficient delivery of marine
travel for local communities like ours. This is something I’ve called
for in my role on the House Transportation Committee,” continued Bailey.
“This budget embraces the reality that ferries are a critical component
to our transportation system in this state and an important extension of
other byways that move people and goods.”
The 2004 House
transportation supplemental budget supports the 2003-05 biennium
Transportation budget passed last year by the Legislature, and addresses
new critical projects, recent developments and associated funding
shortfalls in the amount of approximately $42 million.
“This budget continues funding for ferry projects we’ve already
committed ourselves to,” said Sehlin. “We’ll continue to monitor further
study that has been called for with citizens and the Washington State
Ferries to develop additional options.”
The budget now goes to the Senate for consideration. The Senate has
produced its own transportation budget and will send it to the House for
review. Both chambers then must work through differences and pass the
final version in the remaining 10 days of the regular 2004 legislative
session.
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For more information, contact:
John
Handy, Assistant Director: (360) 786-5758
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