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Governor Signs Short-Term Transportation Bill Near Cheney

Washington’s governor made a trip to rail-lines in Eastern Washington Thursday to sign legislation that funds transportation projects. Outside Cheney, Governor Jay Inslee also drove a small train on tracks that will benefit from the new bill.

The transportation funding signed by Inslee will go towards existing projects, maintenance, and agencies through 2017. It includes boosts of money for the North Spokane Corridor, Puget Sound ferry operations, state route 520, and more. It also gives one-and-a-half million ($1.5 million) dollars for improvements to the freight track outside Cheney.

Inslee: “First time I ever drove a locomotive. It just showed you how much we need this investment because we were on the Geiger Spur that has new, concrete ties, smooth as silk. You hit those old wood ties that are 40-50 years old and it was rockin’ and rollin’ like a carnival ride.”

Inslee calls this bill a first step, and notes the legislature still has not passed a revenue package, or a comprehensive transportation plan that could include a gas-tax increase. That transportation budget would finance six major projects statewide.

The legislature has until June 30th to pass a full two year budget, or risks a government shutdown.

Copyright 2015 Spokane Public Radio

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