Lawmakers in Olympia are grappling with a number of expensive issues, all while being somewhat restrained by a lack of funds.
One such issue is that of transportation, with call for a massive spending bill to fund projects across the state.
It’s difficult to justify providing millions of dollars to the Washington State Department of Transportation, which has been at the center of a few veritable disasters in recent years.
Bertha, as the enormous drill is named, remains trapped underground in Seattle, while the costs of the multimillion dollar project continue to skyrocket. Meanwhile, the 520 bridge project continues to shoot past cost projections, all on the the taypayers’ dime.
State Rep. Ed Orcutt, who represents our 20th District in Olympia, is the ranking Republican on the House Transportation Committee.
Last week, in an interview with The Chronicle, he repeated his longstanding stance on the issue of a new transportation package from the Legislature.
“These mega projects will suck all the money out of the state,” Orcutt, R-Kalama, said. “These projects will get done and the congestion is going to be right back where it was because Seattle just keeps growing and growing.”
Orcutt again said the state must fund more rural projects in areas such as Lewis County if it hopes to receive a new wave of funding in the form of legislation.
He referred to the possible new Interstate 5 interchange north of Centralia as one example, noting how it would provide access to the fledgling Industrial Park at TransAlta.
While the merits of that specific project are up for debate, the core of his message rings just as true today as it has in the past.
It’s not acceptable for massive projects such as Bertha and the 520 bridge to surpass cost estimates by millions of dollars. Contractors are liable to a certain extent, but the state has a responsibility to effectively predict costs and wisely invest the limited funds of taxpayers.
Until the Legislature proves transportation leaders can do that, it’s difficult to support the issuing of another blank check to the state department of transportation.
“We’ve gotta get good controls on costs and I think the public is demanding a fix for the problems on costs,” Orcutt said.
We agree wholeheartedly, and we’re confident in the representation of Orcutt on an important committee that impacts anyone who travels on the state’s roads and highways.
