The Interstate Bridge Replacement has been much discussed. I decided to push the hot buttons.
Hot button No. 1 — Light rail. Using the estimate of $7.5 billion ($6 billion estimate is from 2022) total cost, let’s say we save $1.5 billion by removing light rail. The likely result is loss of federal funding. All the costs would fall on the two states who have each budgeted $1 billion. We have now added $2 billion more to each state, and the cost to each state’s taxpayers would now increase.
Hot button No. 2 — Tolls. To fund this now $6 billion bridge, both states need to significantly increase their taxes and fees. In Washington that is higher sales, business, property, and gas taxes. Would someone in Spokane object to higher taxes for a bridge they might never use?
Another issue is each state’s funding for transportation is down. Efficient new cars, hybrids and electric vehicles are decreasing gas tax revenue. U.S. states are beginning to replace gas taxes with road usage fees. Taxpayers would pay for miles driven. For a new bridge without tolls (and light rail), fees would need to be much higher.
