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Democrats reject House Republican 520 Bridge plan,
opt for undersized option with high tolls
Statement from Rep. Doug Ericksen on passage of House
Bills 1773 and 3096
"The governor and majority
party want to build a new 520 Bridge that is too small, toll that bridge
ten years before it opens, and use some of these tolls for non-highway
activities. This is a poorly thought-out plan that highlights a lack of
leadership in Olympia on a major transportation issue of the day.
"It's misleading to claim
this is a financing plan for the 520 Bridge. It leaves a $2.3 billion
hole in funding that the governor and majority party say will be filled
with tolls. Their plan will also require a new toll on I-90 – there is
no way to argue against this. The end result will be people paying
significant tolls to sit in gridlock on the existing 520 Bridge and the
new 520 Bridge when it is built.
"House Republicans offered
a plan to build the right-sized 520 Bridge, build it sooner to save $600
million in construction costs, and keep tolls to less than 25 percent of
the total costs of the project. Unfortunately, it was rejected."
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For more information, contact:
John
Handy, Assistant Director: (360) 786-5758
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