Aging infrastructure,
bottlenecks at key ports and continued concerns about the financing of future
projects are just a few of the top transportation worries for Washington state
employers. That’s according to a new report published today by AWB, issued today during AWB’s 2013 Legislative Day in
Olympia.
“In many ways, transportation is
the lifeblood of our economy. We rely on our bridges, roadways, water, rail and
airways to move people, goods and services on a daily basis. Any delays can
have big economic impacts for business and our overall competitiveness as a
state,” said AWB President Don Brunell.
The report captures the findings
of focus groups held with purchasers and suppliers of transportation and
logistics services around the state in the fall of 2012. AWB member companies
were invited to share their thoughts, ideas and concerns about the economic,
regulatory and workforce challenges faced by their industry. Sessions were held
in Moses Lake, Spokane, the Tri-Cities, Vancouver, Renton, Seattle, Bremerton,
Yakima and Mount Vernon.
“Transportation infrastructure
is a critical piece in building a strong economy and providing jobs,” said Mike
Ennis, AWB government affairs director for transportation policy. “Traffic
congestion, choke points, and crumbling roads create risk, drive up costs and
act as a drag on the economy. It’s clear from this report and other feedback
we’ve received from our members that the current transportation revenue streams
are not adequate,” said Ennis.
“This session, we are working
closely with lawmakers and other key stakeholders to find solutions that will
preserve the projects currently in place and prioritize those next in the
queue.”
Among the report’s key findings:
·
Infrastructure Needs: Several transportation projects have
been identified in the state that are critical to business growth, including
the North South Freeway in Spokane; completion of State Routes 520 in Seattle
and 167 in south King and north Pierce counties; and the Columbia River
Crossing in Vancouver.
·
Funding: There is a lack of maintenance and
operation funding for existing transportation infrastructure and the decline in
the purchasing power of gas tax revenue has put new projects in jeopardy.
·
Overregulation: Overregulation for the transportation and
logistics industry makes it difficult to provide efficient services to business.
·
Environmental Mitigation: Costs of
environmental mitigation studies and programs are redundant leading to
increased project costs and long delays in project completion.
·
Port Bottlenecks: Bottlenecks at the Port of Seattle
continue to frustrate efforts to get goods to market in a timely manner.
·
Workforce Needs: The combination of an aging workforce and a
dwindling pipeline of new workers is threatening the viability of the
transportation industry.
To view the report in full, visit the AWB Institute here.
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