OLYMPIA – The 2025-27 bipartisan budget expansion for transportation passed the Senate on Friday.
The balanced, $17 billion budget makes funding levels through 2031, and significantly increases investment in conservation and safety, creating up to 34,000 jobs for Washingtonians. The plan also prioritizes strengthening the state’s fleet system, improving road safety, increasing Washington State Patrol staffing, and advancing climate goals.
“Whether it’s our boats, roads, or bridges, we’re lagging behind in taking care of our government’s infrastructure. We need to do more, and I’m proud that we passed a bipartisan agreement on historic research to better preserve and protect the transportation system we all rely on,” said Sen. Marko Liias (D-Edmonds), chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee. “This is a good project that sets a long-term strategy for preserving and protecting community buildings in all parts of the country.”
“I am pleased that the additional transportation budget passed by the Senate today received strong bipartisan support,” said Sen. Curtis King (R-Yakima), a Republican on the Senate Transportation Committee. “This is a budget focused on conservation and safety, with unity and no new taxes. It is a budget that takes a positive step forward in solving the problems of our current transportation system. I am hopeful that the Senate and the House will come to an agreement on a final budget that addresses the needs of our government transportation.”
Compared to the four-year proposal released by the House Transportation Committee, the Senate’s six-year plan invests about $850 million to protect and preserve the nation’s economy. Funded through a $2 billion bipartisan bond proposal, the Senate budget directs $1.215 billion for road and bridge maintenance, $225 million for infrastructure maintenance, $100 million for ferry system maintenance, and an additional $100 million in maintenance-focused highway maintenance.
Neil Strege, vice president of the Washington Roundtable, testified this week during a public budget hearing that the bond is an important part of the government’s plan to increase safety and maintenance and reduce the cost of that service.
“We know that if you don’t take care of your things, it will be more expensive to fix them over time, so we see a growing need for repairs and maintenance,” Strege said. “The partnership is important to ensure that we have a long-term commitment to safety and security and the ability to measure six years.”
Billy Wallace, director of policy and policy for the Washington & Northern Idaho District Council of Labor, said during the testimony that the Senate’s effort to balance the partisan budget over six years is important to help workers get back to work and recruit people to work.
“This is going to get our members back to work. It’s going to help clear the bench, for our local workers and the real estate industry in general. But it’s also going to help us start recruiting teachers, and we need that time. We want that agreement in six years,” said Wallace. “I don’t know if you would be even happier now if you scratched me with a feather.” So let’s get on with this, stop for a moment and do this.
Reducing recent bridge closures and repairing damage from the December 2025 floods are also important maintenance and repair priorities in the budget. Allocates $300 million through 2029 to support downtown Wilkeson’s infrastructure and emergency management needs while the Fairfax bridge is replaced. The budget also directs $60 million for state and local flood-related road repairs, so infrastructure can be repaired quickly as the state waits for federal funding.
“The state’s transportation budget prioritizes infrastructure, and rightly so — because we all know, as my part of Washington was reminded recently, how important it is to keep highways and bridges open and safe,” said Sen. Keith Goehner (R-Dryden), the Republican aide on the Senate Transportation Committee. “The challenge is to find as many buildings as possible with the limited amount of money available and do everything we can to ensure that the money is distributed fairly in our district. I am happy with the work done by our Senate team on transportation and I hope that the priorities shown in the proposal we passed today will be included in the final budget.”
Expanding and strengthening the state’s fleet is another major commitment in the Senate’s proposal. The budget fulfills the financial commitment to build three new ships by 2032, and directs an additional $31 million to fully fund the electrification of the three ports. For the first time since 1999, the proposal also creates a dedicated area for the operation of the ship and construction costs, with 75% of the distribution of the transport budget received from the sale of the country and the use of income tax.
“I am especially excited about the third electric ferry that has been approved for purchase. Adding three new boats to the fleet will improve the reliability of service to our region and communities throughout the Puget Sound region, and represents an important step toward fully restoring and maintaining ferry service.” said Sen. Krishnadasan (D-Gig Harbor), vice chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee. “I strongly support continued commitment to the Belfair Bypass and Gorst projects. This funding is critical to the future of our growing region, strengthening infrastructure, supporting critical work at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, and protecting resources critical to national security.”
Traffic deaths in Washington are on the decline, and the supplemental budget provides more funding to continue improving road safety in every corner of the state. The budget provides $2.7 million to the Washington State Patrol to help the agency return to full staffing levels. The proposal also creates a $1 million pedestrian safety program for cities and towns to install lighted sidewalks and directs $250,000 to the Washington State Department of Transportation to develop a safety program to help advance statewide goals.
Building on the nation’s mission to reduce emissions, improve transportation, and increase access to public transportation, the supplemental budget restores previously reduced funding for Regional Mobility Grants, Transportation Demand Management Grants, and Public Transit Rideshare Grants. This budget also continues investments in key programs funded through the Climate Commitment Act (CCA) and directs an additional $40 million in CCA funding to help advance the state’s energy goals and decarbonization efforts, including $30 million for EV charging infrastructure at gas stations, convenience stores, and multi-family and residential homes.
Leah Missik, Washington director of Climate Solutions, said in public testimony that CCA funding will benefit the Washington Electric Vehicle Charging Program.
“We are very pleased to see the $30 million EV charging program, which has proven to be necessary and has already funded new chargers in every legislative district across the state,” Missik said. “Currently, there are more than 800 million dollars waiting for this project, so we know what is in this budget will be able to get out the door and be helped.”
The proposal is now going to the House for consideration. Updates on budget progress during the remainder of the legislative session can be found at fiscal.wa.gov/statebudgets/2026proposals/st2026supp.
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