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January 4, 2010

The Honorable Dave Reichert1730 Longworth House Office BuildingWashington, D.C. 20515

Dear Congressman Reichert:

We appreciate your ongoing support for federal funding for Washington’s transportation needs.Your support has been critical in advancing a number of state, local, and tribal projects that arecritical to preserving the existing infrastructure, reducing congestion, improving safety, andfostering economic vitality.

I want to express my strong concern regarding the proposed House rule XXI, clause 3, that

ultimately could significantly reduce federal transportation funding for Washington State. Thelanguage could change how funding is both authorized and appropriated during the 112 th

Congress. The focus of the rule is to allow Congress to appropriate transportation funding levels atless than authorized levels. Currently, the authorized levels exceed projected Highway Trust Fundrevenues, and general funds are used to supplement the Fund.

If fully implemented, this rule could reduce Washington’s federal transportation funding by anestimated $121.7 million annually.

The good news for us is that we plan conservatively. We’ve anticipated declining federal fundingand already scaled back our investment in projects which preserve the existing infrastructure,reduce congestion, improve safety, foster economic vitality and reduce emissions. Unlike most

states, we will not have to scale back projects much in the next two to four years if federal fundingis reduced.

The bad news is that our conservative projections are coming true. The declining federal fundsmeans our backlog of projects valued conservatively at more than $1 billion over the next tenyears will continue to be deferred, even as our infrastructure continues to age. We rely on federalfunds in particular for our infrastructure maintenance and preservation, and any reduction infederal funding simply defers that work and costs us - and travelers - more in the long run.

In addition to the negative effects on private sector construction-related employment , it will become particularly more difficult to advance large projects such as the I-5 Columbia River Crossing, the US 395 North Spokane Corridor, the I-90 Snoqualmie Pass corridor, and the I-405

improvement projects.

There is a compromise being offered by Representative LaTourette (attached). We believe thisamendment would require the appropriations committee to honor the authorized funding levels(unlike the original Rule language), but would still enable floor amendments to reduce the fundinglevel (violating the authorization guarantees), and would enable consideration of conferencereports that reduce the funding level (again, violating the authorization guarantees).

Compared to the original rule, the amendment language goes further in preserving the ability for Washington to secure authorized levels of transportation funding which is so critical to advancing

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Representative ReichertJanuary 4, 2011Page 2

 projects needed by our communities and businesses. We ask that you consider supporting the

LaTourette amendment. 

What WSDOT, local agencies and tribes most need is a multi-year transportation bill funded at

roughly double the current funding levels. That’s what it will take to make significant progress onour collective backlog of projects that benefit our communities and businesses.

We appreciate Congress’ concern for the deficit and the desire to reduce federal spending, and wedon’t envy you the decisions you are facing.

If you have any questions about this please contact me at (360) 705-7054, or Larry Ehl at (360)705-7507.

Sincerely,

 Paula HammondSecretary of Transportation

PH:cc: Larry Ehl, WSDOT