Though the Legislature was able to pass a state budget before the Tuesday night deadline that would have shut down parts of state government, the final vote on a transportation package that could finally mean relief for Renton-area drivers was stalled.
Approved by the state Senate on Monday, the transportation package, if approved, would deliver $1.2 billion to widen the Interstate 405 corridor from Renton to Lynwood.
Included in the in the project is the state Route 167 – I-405 interchange, one of the busiest and most-clogged interchanges in the state. According to the WSDOT website, drivers in the area can experience congestion for up to eight hours each day.
“It’s very good news for us,” said Renton Deputy Public Affairs Administrator Preeti Shridhar.
All four Renton area state senators voted for the transportation package.
Last year’s budget included money to begin buying land around the project, but did not fund construction, which will build a new flyover ramp connecting the HOT lanes on SR167 to the carpool lanes on I-405, as well as some money to widen the I-405 corridor.
Shridhar also said the money for the project appears to be “front-loaded,” meaning most of it will be released by the legislature by 2017, which would allow work to begin on the project relatively quickly.
Shridhar said while the construction money is the biggest gain from the bill, other aspects of the transportation package would also benefit Renton. For example, though not Renton-specific funding, money put into the Transportation Improvement Board, funding for the Freight Mobility Board and the Complete Streets Grant program could also benefit city projects.
“Keeping these funds available is good news for us,” Shridhar said.
Shridhar also said it is the City’s understanding that the distribution of the gas tax as provided in the new bill could benefit Renton as well as the Senate provided $375 million to be distributed 50/50 between cities and counties.
Mayor Denis Law has been contacting legislators to urge them to vote for the package. Law said it was important to finally get the interchange project underway.
“We’re very excited about seeing that project move forward,” he said.
As of press time, the House of Representatives had yet to vote on the bill.
