Washington lawmakers could vote today on whether to raise fuel taxes and truck fees to help fight traffic congestion.
A compromise deal between Gov. Gary Locke and legislative negotiators calls for a 9-cent-a-gallon fuel tax hike, phased in over two or three years - the first fuel tax increase since 1991. The current tax is 23 cents.
In addition, the proposal calls for a 25-percent increase in trucking fees.
The new revenue would help pay for highway improvements across the state, as well as ferries, rail and other mass transit. The bill calls for several of the state's urban counties, which need the most help in attacking congestion problems, to ask voters to approve local taxes to help pay for projects. Traffic congestion in the Puget Sound region has become second-worst in the nation, according to the Spokane Spokesman-Review.
The compromise was reached as the state Legislature is in its third overtime special session this year. Observers say it will be close; in the House, the two parties are locked in a 49-49 tie.
A compromise deal between Gov. Gary Locke and legislative negotiators calls for a 9-cent-a-gallon fuel tax hike, phased in over two or three years - the first fuel tax increase since 1991. The current tax is 23 cents.
In addition, the proposal calls for a 25-percent increase in trucking fees.
The new revenue would help pay for highway improvements across the state, as well as ferries, rail and other mass transit. The bill calls for several of the state's urban counties, which need the most help in attacking congestion problems, to ask voters to approve local taxes to help pay for projects. Traffic congestion in the Puget Sound region has become second-worst in the nation, according to the Spokane Spokesman-Review.
The compromise was reached as the state Legislature is in its third overtime special session this year. Observers say it will be close; in the House, the two parties are locked in a 49-49 tie.
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