HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 4246CITY OF RENTON, WASHINGTON
RESOLUTION NO. 4246
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF RENTON, WASHINGTON, IN STRONG SUPPORT
OF A 2015 TRANSPORTATION REVENUE-AND-REFORM PACKAGE.
WHEREAS, a healthy transportation system is a critical foundation of our state and local
economies and our quality of life, as well as our global position as a leader in aerospace and
airplane manufacturing and as the nation's most trade-dependent state; and
WHEREAS, Washington State's transportation system is suffering from disrepair, with a
backlog of maintenance and preservation needs, and data showing that the hours of congestion
and delay on critical freeway corridors such as 1-405 are getting significantly worse. The same
13-mile Tukwila to Bellevue trip which drivers needed 40 minutes to "reliably" complete on
time just a few years ago, now requires 50 minutes, and congestion backlogs along 1-405 can be
up to 12.5 miles long, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation's
(WSDOT's) 2014 Congestion Report; and
WHEREAS, failing roads and bridges, congested highway corridors, and bottlenecked
interchanges undermine the mobility of vehicles, buses, and freight haulers to move people and
goods; and
WHEREAS, in early 2012, the Connecting Washington Task Force released a report
identifying $50 billion in unfunded transportation needs and recommending an investment of
$21 billion in funding during the next 10 years for maintenance, preservation, and strategic
investments; and
WHEREAS, through the passage of ESSB 5987 and ESSB 5988, the Washington State
Senate has approved a 16-year, $14 billion package that makes a very good down payment on
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RESOLUTION NO. 4 2 4 6
transportation package investments. The Senate-approved package also includes eight
different reform bills to help ensure the state designs, permits, and builds transportation
projects in the most efficient way possible; and
WHEREAS, the package provides critical funding for key highway corridor projects
throughout the state and, specifically for Renton, most notably a $1.24 billion investment to
rebuild the 1-405/State Route 167 interchange and add lane capacity to 1-405 between Renton
and Bellevue; and
WHEREAS, the transportation package also provides a direct distribution of $375 million
over 16 years for Renton and other cities and counties throughout the state to maintain local
roadways and transportation systems; and
WHEREAS, the package also includes local transportation financing options that will
better allow cities and counties to address their backlog of mobility and maintenance needs;
and
WHEREAS, the transportation package also invests in grant programs vital to cities and
counties, including the Transportation Improvement Board {TIBL Freight Mobility Strategic
Investment Board (FMSIBL "Complete Streets/' Safe Routes to Schools, and Bicycle-Pedestrian
Safety;
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RENTON, WASHINGTON, DOES
RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION I. The above recitals are found to be true and correct in all respects.
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RESOLUTION NO. 4246
SECTION II. The City Council takes an official position in strong support of a
comprehensive and balanced transportation investment package, including direct funding,
grant funding, and financing options for local governments.
SECTION Ill. The City Council urges that in the refinements to a transportation
package by the House, and in House-Senate negotiations, the Legislature looks to ensure the
most expedited construction start time possible for addressing the state's most congested
freeway interchange (1-405/167) and stretch of freeway (1-405 Renton to Bellevue).
SECTION IV. The City Council urges the Legislature and the Governor to enact and sign
into law a 2015 transportation revenue-and-reform package.
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL this 23 rd day of __ M_a_r_ch ______ , 2015.
APPROVED BY THE MAYOR this 2 3 r d day of ___ M_a_r_c_h ____ _, 2015.
Approved as to form:
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Lawrence J. Warren, City Attorney
RES.1667:3/16/15:scr
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Denis Law, Mayor