Washington Will Start Road Projects

OLYMPIA (AP) — The Senate is about to give a green light to the first 11 state highway projects to be financed by a voter-approved bond measure.

The Senate Transportation Committee is expected to vote Tuesday for the initial funding for projects that will eventually cost nearly $200 million. The full Senate plans to vote Wednesday, pressing for quick action in the House, where a 49-49 tie between Democrats and Republicans is working against speedy consideration of anything.

"We have a narrow window of opportunity to get started on these projects, and if it isn't approved until later in the spring, we will lose the summer construction season," said Senate Transportation Chairwoman Mary Margaret Haugen.

Haugen went public with the plan Monday. It's a supplemental transportation budget that actually trims the current $3.1 billion spending level by $68 million, primarily because a number of previously approved projects are behind schedule and can't be completed in this fiscal year, which ends June 30.

The plan, SB5061, includes $1.3 million as the initial commitment for 11 projects that will be financed from Referendum 49 money. The total pricetag will be $197 million, with most of the

oney coming in the next two-year budget cycle.

Staffers told the committee the down payment, and the implied legislative commitment to fully fund the projects in the main 1999-2001 transportation budget, will "jump start" projects that are ready to go to bid.

If the Legislature doesn't move quickly, contractors will miss the prime construction season, Department of Transportation officials told the panel.

The $2.4 billion referendum was approved by voters in November.