WashingtonSB 51612025-2026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Making transportation appropriations for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium.

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

291 provisions identified: 207 benefits, 54 costs, 30 mixed.

Recruitment bonuses for new state troopers

The law raises funding for the expedited trooper recruitment program from $2.243 million to $2.918 million. Eligible cadets get $5,000 after academy completion and $5,000 after successfully completing one year of probation. Eligible lateral hires, previously employed as general authority peace officers, get $8,000 after accelerated training. They also get $6,000 after the first-year service or probation milestone and $6,000 after two years of service. Payments require an agreement with the workers’ bargaining representative and available funding.

Major funding removes fish passage barriers

The law provides $1.031426 billion solely for Washington's Fish Passage Barrier Removal project. Funding includes $314.215 million in federal money and $717.211 million in state money. The work aims to meet the federal U.S. v. Washington court order by 2030.

More funding to restore fish passage

The law dedicates $1.092446 billion to fish passage barrier removal in the 2025–2027 budget period. The work must support full compliance with the federal court order by 2030. The transportation department must coordinate state and local culvert work across watersheds and prioritize habitat gains. Project choices also consider tribal priorities, readiness, and other investments; the department must track locations, habitat gains, and compliance costs. State money can help secure qualifying federal grants only when doing so does not threaten the 2030 deadline.

Funding to pay transportation bond debt

The law provides $1.751621 billion for transportation bond payments, interest, and related charges and sale discounts. This includes $1.604659 billion for highway bond retirement and $90.015 million for toll facility bond retirement. Up to $5.5 million of the toll facility amount can come from bonds authorized under RCW 47.10.896. This money pays state transportation debt, not household benefits.

Local transportation projects and fuel-tax funding

The law provides $962.694 million for local transportation construction projects and activities during the 2025–2027 budget period. Money is limited to the LEAP Transportation Document 2025-2 project list, except where the law states otherwise. It also provides $443.86 million in required fuel-tax revenue distributions to Washington cities and counties. These funds go to local governments, not directly to households.

Billions fund Washington roads and bridges

The law provides $4.678459 billion for highway improvements and $978.254 million for highway preservation during 2025–2027. Another preservation provision lists $903.386 million for road and bridge work. Unless otherwise allowed, designated funds are limited to projects and amounts in the approved transportation project lists. Those lists were developed April 26, 2025. Extra federal funds gained through savings, forecast changes, or redistribution must support highway and bridge preservation.

More funding for highways and bridges

The law provides $5.375986 billion for state highway improvements in the 2025–2027 budget period. Most funds must follow the projects and amounts in the state's LEAP transportation lists. Certain added federal funds must support highway and bridge preservation. The law dedicates $580.188 million to the I-5 Columbia River bridge project. That includes $368.461 million in federal funds, $127.504 million in private/local funds, and $84.223 million in state funds.

Funding for fuel tax refunds continues

The law appropriates $1.877014 billion from the Motor Vehicle Account for motor vehicle fuel tax refunds and required transfers. Another appropriation provides Licensing $206.302 million from that account for fuel tax refunds and transfers. These amounts fund both refunds and transfers, not just payments to households. The provisions do not set individual refund amounts or state who qualifies.

Transportation money shifts among state accounts

Move Ahead WA receives transfers of $879 million, $164 million, and $212 million from three existing transportation accounts. Bond-proceeds transfers are maximum authorized amounts and remain limited to project types allowed by the bond laws. Another $3.6 million moves from the Electric Vehicle Account, while $22.896 million repays Alaskan Way Viaduct project debt service. Driver education receives $2 million in fiscal year 2026, with $2 million returned in fiscal year 2027. A $625,000 General Fund transfer for the State Patrol requires its specified notice. The law also directs transfers for ferry, transit, local road, mobility, and other listed transportation purposes.

Driving cost help for foster youth

The law transfers $2.2 million to support driver licensing for youth in foster care at any eligible age. Help may cover training, insurance, registration, towing, repairs, gas cards, and other costs of driving legally and safely. Youth must meet the program's age and eligibility requirements. The law does not set a payment amount for each youth.

E-bike rebates help eligible buyers

The law provides $7 million to continue e-bike purchase rebates for eligible buyers age 16 or older. Households earning no more than 80% of their county's area median income qualify for rebates up to $1,200. Other eligible buyers qualify for up to $300, with one rebate per household. Purchases must use a qualifying retailer; e-bikes, equipment, and services must meet program purchase, application, and reimbursement requirements. No more than 5% of appropriated amounts can administer the rebate and e-bike lending and ownership grant programs.

More access to driver licensing help

The law provides $2 million to continue DOL2Go mobile driver licensing and identification services in rural and underrepresented communities. It also provides $2.2 million to organizations that offer driver's license assistance and support. The organization funding does not set individual eligibility rules, services, or payment amounts.

Purchase rebates for Washington e-bike buyers

The law provides $5 million for e-bike rebates, limited to one rebate per household. It reserves $3 million for rebates up to $1,200 for households earning no more than 80% of county median income. Another $2 million supports rebates up to $300 for other eligible buyers. Buyers must live in Washington and buy from a qualifying Washington retailer, including any eligible equipment or services. Program administration is capped at 5%.

Health benefits funded for state employees

Agency budgets fund the 2025–2027 health care coalition agreement for covered state employees. They also fund health benefits for represented employees outside the coalition and nonrepresented state employees. Public Employees' Benefits Board benefits remain subject to conditions and limits in the state operating budget. This provision does not state individual benefit amounts or expand eligibility.

Accessible driver training for deaf youth

The law provides $464,000 to make driver training more accessible for deaf and hard of hearing youth in Washington. The Department of Licensing transfers the funding to the Washington Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Youth. The law does not set a payment or training-support amount per student.

Driving cost help for foster youth

The law provides $2.2 million for driver’s-license support for eligible youth in foster care, at any eligible age. Help may cover driver education, vehicle or comprehensive insurance, deductibles, registration, roadside assistance, towing, maintenance, and gas cards. It may also cover other costs of getting licensed and driving legally and safely. The law does not set an amount for each youth.

Pay support for State Patrol staff

The law provides $500,000 for recruitment and retention bonuses or pay adjustments for communication officers and covered noncommissioned staff. Communication officers get first priority, and payments require an agreement with the workers’ bargaining representative. Agreements exceeding the funding face the state’s statutory approval requirements. Another $2.178 million continues bonuses for commissioned staff with at least 26 years in the Washington State Retirement System. The law does not set individual payment amounts.

More funding for walking and biking safety

The law provides $81.752 million for listed pedestrian and bicycle safety projects and $83.393 million for listed Safe Routes to School projects. Walking and biking funds include $38.38 million in multimodal funds and $43.372 million in carbon-reduction funds. School-route funds include $16.933 million federal, $53.139 million carbon-reduction, and $13.321 million multimodal funds. Each program can use up to 1% of its carbon-reduction funds for staff and administration. Another $5 million addresses emerging local walking and biking safety issues, with state financial approval and legislative reports due December 15 of odd-numbered years.

Ferry fuel budget guides possible surcharges

The law provides $75.02 million in federal funds and $29.385 million in state funds for ferry fuel during 2023–2025. This fuel budget is used to calculate any ferry fare fuel surcharge. The provision does not set a surcharge rate or calculate a passenger's fare change. The funding remains tied to enactment of section 703 of the 2023 transportation law.

Funding operations at Washington toll facilities

The law provides $167.93 million to operate and maintain toll facilities during the 2025–2027 budget period. Funding comes from accounts for Puget Sound Gateway, State Route 520 and its civil penalties, and Tacoma Narrows Bridge. It also comes from the Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement and Interstate 405/State Route 167 express toll lane accounts. This appropriation does not set or change toll rates.

Funding transportation computers, equipment, and facilities

The law sets transportation technology funding at $128.991 million, including $122.714 million from the Motor Vehicle Account. That account reserves $2.006 million for hardware cost increases; the department must review leasing with WaTech before replacing hardware. Another $20 million replaces obsolete equipment and fuel sites, with annual reports beginning December 1, 2024. Reports cover replacement progress, purchasing practices, fuel-site priorities and funding, and support for zero-emission vehicles. A $500,000 office-space study must assess costs, savings, shared offices, property-sale value, and at least 30% space reduction by 2030; its report was due October 1, 2024.

Funding transportation technology and agency support

The transportation department gets $146.84 million for its information technology program. Funding for charges from other agencies rises from $119.7 million to $129.45 million. The Motor Vehicle Account share rises from $112.419 million to $122.169 million; other listed account amounts stay unchanged. The law also provides $1.512 million from the motor vehicle account and $488,000 from the ferry operations account. Those funds support monitoring, assistance, engagement, and reporting under the referenced 2024 law.

Vouchers help fleets buy clean vehicles

The law provides $125.851 million for purchase-time vouchers for zero-emission work vehicles, equipment, and related charging or fueling infrastructure. Eligible vehicles include classes 2b through 8, plus cargo-handling and off-road equipment. State-supervised administrators set voucher amounts and added eligibility rules, with equity-based support, a central portal, fleet help, and voucher preapproval. The program must simplify eligibility and coordinate with incentives elsewhere. School buses and transit vehicles eligible for state zero-emission grants cannot receive vouchers, but can receive fleet help.

Ferries get capital and terminal funding

The law provides $893.712 million for Washington ferry capital projects during 2025–2027. Funds are limited to projects and activities in the law's official project list, except where the law expressly allows otherwise. Another $2.549 million funds security services at Colman Dock. The law also provides $1.064 million for peak-time traffic control at Seattle, Fauntleroy, Kingston, Edmonds, Mukilteo, and Bainbridge Island terminals. That traffic control focuses particularly on Sundays and holiday weekends.

Funding for toll operations and debt

The law provides $144.905 million for toll operations and related accounts during 2025–2027. Allocations include $55.639 million for the SR 520 corridor, $2.378 million for its civil penalties account, and $36.51 million for Tacoma Narrows. They also include $24.614 million for the Alaskan Way replacement project and $25.764 million for I-405/SR 167 express lanes. State toll-bond retirement funding rises from $26.562 million to $26.955 million, raising that section’s total from $219.052 million to $219.445 million. Up to $35.25 million in federal funds may prepay qualifying bonds when sufficient debt-service savings result; these provisions do not specify toll-rate changes.

Funding for Washington rail repairs

The law provides $311.877 million for rail capital projects during 2025–2027. Funds must support projects in LEAP Transportation Document 2025-2, except where the law allows otherwise. It designates $73.842 million for Palouse River and Coulee City Railroad repairs. That amount includes $18.731 million in state funds, $54.785 million in federal funds, and $326,000 in local funds.

Major funding for Puget Sound highways

The law provides $902.177 million for the SR 167/SR 509 Puget Sound Gateway project during 2025–2027. Construction must move forward as one corridor investment, with money assigned to segments ready to proceed. Project savings must stay on the corridor until completion, and spending must avoid gaps. Related funding covers trail design and a shared-use path segment.

More funding for Spokane-area roads

The law provides $372.891 million for the US 395 North Spokane Corridor during 2025–2027. That includes $300,000 to assess whether traffic-noise controls can reduce harm to the East Central Neighborhood. Another $200,000 funds planning and intersection work along State Route 904 and nearby roads, including Medical Lake/Four Lakes Road/West 3rd Avenue. The transportation department must work with Spokane County and Cheney on the State Route 904 work.

More money for local transportation improvements

The law provides $310.845 million to the Transportation Improvement Board for local transportation improvements in 2025–2027. Funding includes accounts for small-city pavement and sidewalks, Complete Streets, carbon reduction, and Move Ahead WA. County road programs receive $93.251 million. That includes $9.333 million from Move Ahead WA, $51.573 million for rural arterials, $2.103 million from the Motor Vehicle Account, and $30.242 million for county arterial preservation. Cities and counties also receive $26.786 million from the Multimodal Transportation Account and $23.438 million from the Motor Vehicle Account.

Operating funds for Washington ferry service

The specified ferry operating program has a stated total appropriation of $738.486 million. Listed funding includes $541.178 million in state money and $197.187 million in federal money. Another $50,000 funds a study comparing ferry self-insurance reserves with commercial insurance over the short and long term. Study results are due to legislative transportation committees by December 15, 2026. These provisions do not set fare changes.

Seattle bridge corridor gets construction funding

The law provides $586.517 million for the State Route 520 Seattle corridor's West End improvements. This includes $1.1 million reserved for noise reduction. After the Montlake Phase ends, the transportation department must begin selling or transferring project land no longer needed for transportation.

Reduced funding for walking and biking

Urgent local walking and biking safety assistance falls from $5 million to $2 million; spending requires state budget-office approval. Revised pedestrian and bicycle safety funding includes $27.707 million from the multimodal account and $27.686 million from the climate active transportation account. Revised Safe Routes to School funding includes $26.02 million in federal funds, $24.26 million in climate funds, and $15.586 million in multimodal funds. These amounts are reserved for their respective safety projects. Each program can use up to 1% of its climate active transportation funds for administration and staffing.

Less funding for ferry capital improvements

Ferry capital funding falls from $697.098 million to $590.506 million for projects in the April 26, 2025 LEAP project list, with stated exceptions. Funding solely for a 144-car hybrid-electric ferry falls from $21.688 million to $18 million. That vessel funding is tied to enactment of chapter 429, Laws of 2023. Funding solely for modernizing ferry ticketing and reservations falls from $8.032 million to $2.032 million. These provisions do not specify fare changes.

Less funding for local street improvements

The Transportation Improvement Board's capital budget falls from $287.045 million to $254.545 million. Its transportation improvement account falls from $240 million to $220 million. Complete Streets grants fall from $14.67 million to $4.67 million. Climate active transportation funding falls from $19.067 million to $16.567 million. These cuts reduce project funding, not residents' tax rates or individual benefits.

Less funding for transit and ridesharing

For 2025–2027, public transportation funding falls from $725.795 million to $600.535 million. Revised account amounts include $2.257 million for carbon reduction, $378.704 million for climate transit, $61.73 million for regional mobility, and $119.509 million for multimodal transportation. Bus and facility grants fall from $38 million to $35.723 million; rideshare grants fall from $11.598 million to $9.925 million. Rideshare grants fund vehicles, incentives, and outreach—not vanpool operations or extra employees. Awards cannot replace existing rideshare funding, and fuel type cannot affect selection; no specific fare or route changes are stated.

Smaller transfers for transit and active transportation

The law reduces transfers from the Carbon Emissions Reduction Account into two transportation accounts. The Climate Active Transportation Account transfer falls from $178.885 million to $112.748 million. The Climate Transit Programs Account transfer falls from $408 million to $374.11 million. These are account-transfer reductions, not specified cuts to individual grants, benefits, or services.

Fuel tax refund funding decreases

Funding for Department of Licensing fuel-tax refunds and transfers falls from $253.18 million to $205.018 million. The provision changes the appropriation, not a stated individual refund formula. It does not specify changes to who qualifies or how much any household receives.

Smaller fuel-tax distribution and refund budgets

Fuel-tax distributions to Washington cities and counties fall from $461.954 million to $451.996 million. The budget for fuel-tax refunds and statutory transfers falls from $1.955782 billion to $1.913772 billion. These are appropriation changes, not stated changes to residents' fuel-tax liability. The provisions do not specify individual refund amounts or eligibility changes.

State worker raises with funding limits

The law funds the listed state employee bargaining agreements for 2025–2027, including through accounts outside the regular appropriation process. It also funds general raises described in the operating budget for covered unrepresented or separately bargaining agency and higher education employees. Positions supported by capped grants or dedicated sources with too little revenue get no extra funding from other sources. Agencies may still spend money on benefits guaranteed by agreements already in effect when this section takes effect. This provision does not state individual raise amounts or timing.

Small businesses favored in transportation bidding

Transportation department small works bidding is generally limited to certified public works small businesses, with a review due December 1, 2026. A separate roster rule allows bidding limits favoring firms certified under federal small business rules. Its review deadline was December 1, 2024. Both rules allow other firms to bid when the department finds too few bidders for a project. These limits favor certified firms but restrict access for other businesses.

Transportation grants with local tax safeguards

The law provides $62.698 million and $78.525 million for special-needs transportation grants during 2025–2027. Grant selection cannot depend on vehicle fuel type. For awards not yet under contract, recipient transit agencies cannot delay, divert, replace, or suspend approved local transit sales and use tax collection. The grants fund providers, not set payments to individual riders.

Alaskan Way funds shift toward transportation accounts

The law increases transfers out of the Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Project Account into two transportation accounts. The Motor Vehicle Account transfer rises from $25 million to $37.992 million. The Transportation Partnership Account transfer rises from $47.899 million to $76.899 million. The latter includes $22.899 million repaying debt service for the SR 99/Alaskan Way project. Receiving accounts gain money while the project account sends more out; the provisions do not identify household cost or service changes.

Ferry fuel funding informs possible surcharges

For 2025–2027, the law provides $74.374 million in federal funds and $45.523 million in state funds for ferry fuel. This budget supports operations and is used to calculate any fare fuel surcharge, but the law sets no surcharge amount. Washington State Ferries must also test renewable diesel on a representative group of diesel vessels. A report due September 15, 2026, must cover performance, fleet-wide use recommendations, and possible purchasing options.

Regional transit grants carry funding caps

The law provides $135.229 million for regional mobility projects, including $58.447 million carried over from 2023–2025. One grantee generally cannot receive over 25% of this funding or directly benefit from over 30% of the 2027–2029 program. Both caps allow exceptions after all other funding is awarded. For 2027–2029 grants, transit agencies must let private transportation providers apply to use park-and-ride facilities; the department must also consider regional planning organizations’ applications submitted during 2025–2027. The department must review projects at least twice yearly, assess termination after one year without activity, and promptly close completed grants. Savings may advance projects on the 2025–2027 priority list with state budget-office and legislative transportation committee approval.

Road and ferry account funding shifts

The law reduces the Connecting Washington transfer to the Move Ahead WA Account from $200 million to $95 million. It ends a separate $100 million transfer from the Move Ahead WA Flexible Account to that account. It also removes a $50 million transfer from Move Ahead WA to the Motor Vehicle Account. Instead, Move Ahead WA sends $48 million to Puget Sound Capital Construction, $78 million to Transportation Partnership, and $13.5 million to the Transportation 2003, or Nickel, Account. Some accounts gain transfers while others lose planned funding; the provisions do not name resulting household service changes.

Toll bridges get tax and maintenance funding

The law provides $159.48 million to pay deferred project taxes for State Route 520 and $57.593 million for State Route 16. Lawmakers intend toll revenue to repay non-toll funds by December 31, 2050, and December 31, 2032, respectively. It also reserves $1.3 million for unforeseen Tacoma Narrows Bridge costs and $12.82 million for State Route 520 Bridge costs. The budget office can release these reserves only after all other designated operations and maintenance funds are exhausted. These provisions do not set new toll rates.

Youth fare support requires local tax collection

The law provides $188.9 million for transit support grants linked to zero-fare policies for youth. Transit agencies must have the required zero-fare policy in effect to receive two-year distributions. For awards not yet under contract, agencies cannot delay, divert, replace, or suspend approved local transit sales and use tax collection during 2025–2027. The law does not state individual riders’ savings.

Clean vehicle access and charging support

The law carries forward $3.4 million for a clean alternative-fuel vehicle access pilot. It serves eligible people in underserved communities and low- to moderate-income workers lacking ready transit access or located in high-emission corridors. Another $25 million funds clean-fuel vehicle charging and refueling infrastructure. Neither provision sets a household payment amount or guarantees a set amount of vehicle access.

Clean vehicle access for underserved communities

The law provides $3.2 million for a pilot offering access to clean-fuel vehicles. Funding includes $1.2 million from the Multimodal Transportation Account and $2 million from the Carbon Emissions Reduction Account. Eligible groups include underserved communities and low- to moderate-income workers not readily served by transit. People in transportation corridors with emissions above federal or state standards also qualify. The law does not set an individual award amount.

Continued e-bike lending and ownership help

The law provides $3.568 million to continue the e-bike lending library and ownership grant program. The program must follow the requirements referenced in the act. This provision does not state individual eligibility rules or grant amounts. Combined administration of this program and the e-bike rebate program cannot exceed 5% of their appropriated funds.

Driver test materials gain three languages

The Department of Licensing receives $50,000 to translate the driver licensing manual and knowledge test into Dari, Farsi, and Somali. The funding expands language access for applicants who use these languages. It does not provide a cash payment or change licensing fees.

Expense help for stranded ferry passengers

The law provides $100,000 to reimburse walk-on ferry passengers for emergency expenses when the day’s last sailing is canceled. Applicants must sign a release of claims prepared by the department. The department must set the application process and a per-person daily limit. The law does not state that limit.

Ferry riders get fare and security protections

Ferry fuel surcharges imposed during the 2023–2025 or 2025–2027 budget periods cannot start until after the next regular legislative session. The Transportation Commission must review an imposed surcharge at least quarterly. It must end the surcharge when it is no longer needed to cover higher fuel costs. The law also provides $2.548 million solely for security services at Colman Dock.

Free county ferry rides for youth

The law provides $275,000 to support youth zero-fare policies on county ferries. Covered services are in Pierce, Skagit, Whatcom, and Wahkiakum counties. Eligible youth ride free under those policies; the provision does not set a single youth age rule.

Identification help for Pacific island citizens

The law provides $300,000 to help Washington residents from Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau obtain federally accepted travel identification. Help includes outreach in appropriate languages, case support, and financial assistance, including help obtaining foreign passports. Financial help requires receiving or qualifying for public assistance under Title 74 or Washington’s WIC program. The law does not set an individual payment amount.

Income-based toll relief for qualifying drivers

The law requires an income-based toll-relief program at facilities where tolling begins in fiscal year 2026 or later. The law does not set the income limit or discount amount. Transportation agencies must assess the financial and legal effects of extending relief to facilities already charging tolls.

Local help for low-income road users

The law provides $750,000 for local civilian programs addressing nonmoving violations without punishment. Locally designed programs may offer helmet vouchers, repair vouchers, fee offsets, or fix-it tickets for low-income road users. Help depends on the services offered by a participating local program. The transportation department must post grant recipients, locations, and project types online by December 1 each year.

Medical transport gained temporary carpool lane access

Through June 30, 2025, qualifying blood-transport vehicles were treated as emergency vehicles for access to passenger-count restricted lanes. They had to serve a regulated blood establishment, carry blood, tissue, or blood components, and be marked on all sides. The law also extended the carpool-lane pilot to for-hire nonemergency medical vehicles while used for medical trips. Those vehicles had to meet the referenced 2023 law's requirements. Both provisions ended June 30, 2025.

Registration warnings for overdue vehicle owners

The Department of Licensing gets $150,000 to send periodic notices to owners with significantly expired vehicle registrations. Notices must explain registration rules and possible penalties for driving with expired registration. The law does not define how long a registration must be expired.

Pilot speed cameras cannot issue tickets

Authorities cannot issue tickets based on speed information collected by the highway speed-camera pilot. The transportation department can mail vehicle owners notices showing the speed and the fine that could have applied. Photos and identifying data are only for the State Patrol and transportation department to carry out the pilot. They are not public and cannot be used in a pending court case.

Medical transport vehicles keep carpool decals

Licensing must keep issuing decals for nonemergency medical transportation vehicles in the carpool-lane access pilot. Participating operators retain access to the pilot's decal process. The provision does not expand the pilot or state a household fee.

Ferry workers get training and staffing support

The law provides $13.856 million for ferry engine, deck, and terminal staff overtime and job-familiarization costs. Another $93,000 covers training housing and prepaid worker identification credentials, mariner credentials, and medical exams for incoming workers and trainees. It provides $8.873 million for mate-license scholarships, sailor advancement, engine-room training, recruitment, a worker ombuds, and operations staffing. Individual scholarship or payment amounts are not specified. The overtime provision also required fiscal year 2024 and 2025 staffing estimates with the annual budget and updates by January 1, 2024.

Transportation fellowships and internships for students

Beginning May 20, 2025, the law provides $540,000 to continue transportation master’s-degree fellowships and transportation department engineering internships. It also funds outreach encouraging students to pursue transportation, engineering, and related careers. The law does not set individual stipends or guarantee a job.

Transportation training and construction business support

The law provides $7.4 million for transportation workforce diversity and support for minority- and women-owned highway construction businesses. This includes $2 million from the Motor Vehicle Account and $5.4 million in Move Ahead Washington funding. PASS and COMPASS preapprenticeship programs may provide housing help to qualifying youth leaving foster care or juvenile rehabilitation. The programs may also help participants obtain required maritime documents and Coast Guard certification. The department must report on workforce-diversity efforts every even-numbered year; individual assistance amounts are not fixed.

Vanpool help for state employee commutes

The law provides $1.124 million for a statewide vanpool benefit for state employees. Transportation department employees at remote job sites must have access to a subsidized vanpool or last-mile alternative without added charges. The law does not state each employee’s savings.

Electric fishing vessel grants for tribes

Beginning May 20, 2025, the law carries forward $4.92 million for tribal electric fishing vessel grants. Tribes, tribal enterprises, and tribal members can seek funding. Grants support buying electric fishing vessels or converting existing vessels to electric power. Individual award amounts are not specified.

More contracting support for small businesses

The law provides $3.02 million to help women- and minority-owned transportation contractors get certified and compete, prioritizing areas outside Puget Sound. Agencies must develop certification thresholds: emerging businesses have gross receipts up to $3 million; rising businesses, up to $10 million. They must review all state-funded contracts over $50 million for business participation goals and report recommendations by November 1, 2025. The transportation department also gets up to $75,000 to hire Western Washington University to study small businesses' economic benefits on department projects. These measures do not guarantee any business a contract or payment.

Payments for registered tow truck operators

The Department of Licensing receives $470,000 to implement payments to registered tow truck operators for private property impounds. Funding is contingent on enactment of Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5801 by June 30, 2025. The appropriation lapses without that enactment. This provision does not set a payment amount for each impound.

Bridge users get preservation and access protections

Preservation funding covers Mabton, Omak, Abernathy Creek, and Mukilteo bridge projects, plus State Route 112 maintenance. It also covers Land Mobile Radio upgrades, Port Angeles Graving Dock settlement and remediation, and Bridge Jumping Signs; amounts are not listed here. During Elwha River bridge replacement planning and construction, the department must maintain existing-route public access as much as practicable. Another $1.05 million funds Washington's share of vessel-collision risk work at the Lewis and Clark and Astoria-Megler bridges. That work includes a risk study, an air-gap sensor, and expansion of the virtual coordination center.

Civilian intervention grants receive continued funding

The law provides $750,000 to continue the civilian intervention grant program. The funding follows the program requirements established in the 2023 law. This provision does not set individual grant amounts or identify household eligibility.

Clean-energy planning on state highway land

The law provides $150,000 to explore highway-land uses such as clean energy, broadband, communications, and alternative fueling. The department must review utility policies and update roadside vegetation plans for carbon storage and pollinator habitat. Findings and update status have a listed deadline of January 15, 2025. Another $572,000 funds tracking and increasing state agencies' clean-fuel credit revenue, with a required detailed revenue projection. The law also provides $56,000 to carry out the 2023 clean-energy siting law.

Cleaner equipment for signals and fire crews

The law allocates $200,000 from hydrogen infrastructure funding for traffic-signal backup demonstrations. Projects must provide long-term power equipment and fuel at critical intersections during emergency power disruptions or shutoffs. It also carries forward $400,000 solely for Bellevue and Redmond to each buy an electric fire engine. These funds support public equipment, not household payments.

Cleaner school buses for Washington students

Beginning May 20, 2025, the law provides $54.055 million for zero-emission school transportation grants. Grants replace diesel school buses and other student vehicles and pay for needed fueling equipment. The Department of Ecology must prioritize districts serving tribes and vulnerable populations in overburdened communities. Up to 5% can fund technical assistance and grant administration.

Communities get input on aviation planning

The law provides $1.931 million to support Washington's commercial aviation work group. During 2025–2027, the group must review transportation needs and capacity studies and identify missing information. It must identify areas unsuitable for further review because of military activity, environmental harm, or effects on overburdened communities. It must also meaningfully engage overburdened and vulnerable communities about aviation's environmental justice effects.

Communities receive help cutting carbon pollution

The law provides $3 million for carbon-reduction outreach, education, and technical help in overburdened communities and their partner organizations. The transportation department must coordinate with its environmental justice team and environmental services office. The work helps communities develop strategies and access funding to carry them out. The department may pay community members for requested participation and input, but no individual amount is set.

Communities receive impaired-driving enforcement support

The Traffic Safety Commission gets $1.5 million for a local pilot improving compliance with existing ignition-interlock installation requirements. Locations are chosen based on compliance rates and their willingness and ability to dedicate probation or compliance staff. Pilot reports are due December 1, 2025, and June 30, 2027. Another $1 million supports added impaired-driving and other enforcement, plus tribal traffic-safety work informed by Indigenous knowledge. Reports on that funding are due December 1, 2025, and December 1, 2026.

Continued planning to reconnect South Park

The law carries forward $140,000 for Seattle's equitable development planning to reconnect South Park, which State Route 99 divides. Seattle's planning office must follow the referenced 2024 law. Its final report and recommendations are due June 30, 2027. This money supports planning, not a promised construction project or household payment.

Digital tools identify road safety risks

The law provides $500,000 for video-based safety screening at qualifying intersections, shared proportionally statewide across urban and rural highway and county-road locations. Grant recipients must submit violation data, walking and biking facility data, and recommended next steps; the state report is due December 1, 2026. Another $500,000 helps Seattle share machine-readable information about work zones, schools, emergency zones, pickup areas, and vulnerable road users. Seattle must coordinate with first responders, relevant agencies, affected groups, and the nonprofit steward of the program's data standards. Seattle must prepare a public standardized data-feed pilot as feasible.

Fife gets highway cleanup and outreach

The law provides $1.2 million for a state contract with Fife addressing highway encampment safety and health risks. Work covers state land along the SR 167/SR 509 Puget Sound Gateway corridor in and near Fife. Fife must coordinate with agencies and service groups to direct people toward housing outside highway rights-of-way. Funds can reimburse outreach, cleanup, specialized crews, and qualifying police or State Patrol safety costs.

Funding for park and recreation roads

State Parks receives $1.186 million from the Motor Vehicle Account solely for road maintenance during 2025–2027. From July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2027, cities as well as counties can receive grants for designated wheeled all-terrain vehicle travel or tourism routes. Eligible roads must be within the recipient's jurisdiction. Grants can fund road improvements, maintenance, safety brochures, or mapping tools. The law states no amount for these route grants.

Funding reconnects communities divided by highways

The law provides $33.2 million for the Sandy Williams Connecting Communities pilot to reconnect places divided by state highways. Projects serving historically marginalized communities or communities facing heavy burdens get priority. The department can consult the Cooper Jones safety council about locations with frequent serious injuries or deaths among vulnerable travelers. Up to 1% can support the program. Seattle also receives $170,000 to finish updating its 2020 I-5 Lid Feasibility Study; this funds planning, not a construction commitment.

Funding repairs to State Patrol facilities

The law provides $3.195 million only for listed State Patrol facility projects. It includes $500,000 for emergency repairs, $800,000 for roofs, and $1.3 million for generator and electrical replacement. It also includes $175,000 for pavement and $120,000 for vehicle identification number inspection shelters. Another $300,000 carries forward funding for exterior preservation.

Highway drivers get barrier and striping upgrades

The law provides $25 million to repair or replace state highway traffic barriers. This money also supports systems needed to make, build, and install the barriers. Another $11.5 million pays for highway lane striping. The transportation department must use the most reflective paint available to improve visibility, especially at night.

Highway encampments receive cleanup and outreach

The law provides $9 million to address safety and public health risks at encampments on transportation department property. At least $2 million must support more frequent litter removal. The department may also fund outreach, cleanup, safety work, and law-enforcement safety support. It must work with local officials and service groups to direct people toward housing alternatives outside highway property.

Highway land planning and Edmonds habitat rights

During 2025–2027, Edmonds gets first purchase rights for the specified property if the transportation department takes possession and finds it unnecessary for transportation. The city must pay fair market value and intend to restore near-shore habitat for salmon and related species. Separately, the law carries forward $350,000 to explore alternative uses of state highway land under the referenced 2024 law. That exploration does not approve a specific use.

Highways get weed and graffiti funding

The law renews $469,000 in funding to carry out Washington's noxious weed law. It provides $1 million for the graffiti reduction pilot established by a 2024 law. That appropriation has a lapse condition tied to enactment of the enabling law by June 30, 2024. The transportation department must schedule highway mowing after litter pickup as much as practical. Mowing can still proceed when litter pickup has not occurred.

Highways studied for wrong-way driving prevention

The law provides $2 million to identify urban and rural highways for wrong-way driving prevention strategies. The transportation department must consult the Traffic Safety Commission. A report on crashes or wrong-way violations at selected locations was due June 30, 2025. This funding supports planning and does not specify which safety measures must be installed.

Interstate 90 travelers get traffic camera upgrades

The law provides $1.463 million for traffic cameras on Interstate 90 between mileposts 34 and 82. The department must replace 22 existing cameras and install 10 new cameras, including five pole installation sites. It must consult news organizations about options for accessing camera feeds. The provision does not guarantee news organizations access.

Local approval required for highway transfers

From July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, highway route transfers require approval from the receiving city or county. The transportation department cannot execute a transfer without that approval. It can continue discussing potential transfers after considering the route jurisdiction study, whose final report was expected by December 2025.

More carpool lane access for services

During 2025–2027, qualifying transportation-service vehicles with capacity for at least eight passengers can use carpool lanes regardless of actual occupancy. This covers auto transportation, passenger charter, nonprofit, and private employer services, but excludes stretch limousines and stretch sport utility vehicles. Blood-service vehicles and wheelchair-accessible taxis must be clearly marked on all sides. Nonemergency medical vehicles must meet the referenced 2023 requirements and be in medical use. Express-lane tolls still apply when vehicles fail the department's occupancy requirements.

More funding for abandoned vehicle disposal

Funding for abandoned recreational vehicle disposal reimbursements rises from $3.082 million to $4.591 million. Only costs allowed and approved by the department's program qualify. The law does not set a payment amount for each recipient.

More impaired-driving and tribal safety funding

The law provides $2 million to the Washington Traffic Safety Commission for impaired-driving and other enforcement. It supplements existing money for high-visibility enforcement and tribal traffic-safety support informed by Indigenous knowledge. A preliminary report is due December 1, 2025, and a final report is due December 1, 2026.

More State Patrol training and testing

The law provides $3 million for toxicology laboratory staff and equipment to reduce the DUI testing backlog. Reports are due every six months starting December 1, 2025, comparing processing times with June 2025. Academy funding rises from $5.905 million to $9.563 million. It supports a third training class and starts a fourth, with expected graduations in June 2025 and January 2026.

More support for safer highway travel

The law states an intent that commercial vehicles carry chains statewide during winter months. The State Patrol and transportation department are to develop checks at weigh stations. Through June 30, 2027, electronic highway signs must promote slowing down, moving over, and paying attention near flashing emergency lights. Traffic Safety Commission federal funding rises from $35.745 million to $39.745 million. Its total funding rises from $45.333 million to $49.333 million.

Officers support ignition-interlock compliance pilot

The law provides $750,000 for a local pilot using dedicated probation or compliance officers to enforce ignition-interlock installation requirements. The Traffic Safety Commission selects locations based on compliance rates and their willingness and ability to dedicate staff. The money supports compliance work, not payments to drivers.

Patrol gains ignition interlock enforcement funding access

From July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2027, the ignition interlock device revolving account program includes State Patrol enforcement work. This gives the account an added enforcement use for the two-year budget period. The provision states no funding amount.

Pedestrians and cyclists receive safety funding

The law provides $5 million to address urgent pedestrian and bicyclist safety problems. Spending requires approval from the Office of Financial Management. The transportation department must report by December 15 of each odd-numbered year on work during the previous two-year budget period. Another $3.08 million funds pedestrian signals at nine locations on State Route 7, from 124th Street South to 189th Street South.

Planning less driving and bike connections

The law provides $750,000 for state and regional agencies to implement vehicle-travel targets and supporting actions. Targets must consider land use, safety, and vulnerable populations; this provision does not set individual driving limits. Another $200,000 funds an early plan for bike highways connecting population centers, using existing transportation resources where useful. Initial findings and next-step recommendations have a deadline of June 30, 2025.

Police academies get driving and shared-training support

Using existing resources, the State Patrol must offer at least 14 emergency vehicle driving courses each year at its Shelton track. Courses are exclusively for Criminal Justice Training Commission basic law enforcement academies. The Patrol's academy master plan must also study whether training can share space with other state agencies. It must consult Corrections, Fish and Wildlife, the Liquor and Cannabis Board, and the Criminal Justice Training Commission about shared training and cost savings. The master plan has $200,000 in funding, but this does not commit money to future academy expansion.

Public sidewalk maps show accessibility conditions

Beginning May 20, 2025, the law provides $7.3 million to the University of Washington for statewide sidewalk accessibility mapping. The project must cover specified city, county, state, and other roads. It must publish a public dataset under an open license and open data standard, with tools to publish it. When practical, the results must be usable by transportation agencies, tribal governments, and the public.

Research examines lighting and crash safety

The law provides $235,500 to research street lighting and safety, using public input and information from governments and affected groups. Results and policy recommendations were due January 1, 2025. Another $200,000 funds research and development of a law-enforcement light-meter pilot at locations of serious injuries or deaths involving vehicles. That money remains unavailable for allocation until the Traffic Safety Commission submits a spending plan to transportation lawmakers and the governor's office.

Road alerts highlight crashes and emergencies

The law provides $10,000 for State Patrol's yellow-alert pilot for hit-and-run crashes causing death or substantial bodily harm. After a report to police, State Patrol must share identifying information through road message boards or other public systems. Each alert must remain shared for at least 24 hours. Through June 30, 2025, the transportation department must also post messages urging drivers to slow down, move over, and watch flashing emergency lights.

Road improvement funding for West Richland

The law provides $15.988 million for the SR 224/Red Mountain Vicinity Improvement project. The transportation department must fund West Richland to complete the project within the Legislature's scope and total amount. It cannot add pavement preservation between West Richland city limits and Antinori Road.

Road users get targeted safety investments

The law provides $6 million for low-cost highway improvements, with priority for safety or congestion relief. The transportation department must identify lower-cost safety options before starting full project design and engineering. Reports on completed projects are due December 15 of each odd-numbered year. State Route 900 safety planning receives $24,000 in state funds and $304,000 in federal funds. The department must work with King County and the Skyway Coalition on safety design, community needs, engagement, and walking and biking activities.

Safety funding for all-terrain vehicle roads

From July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, the transportation department may transfer multiuse roadway safety funds to Natural Resources and Fish and Wildlife. Transfers cover road-surface repairs, designation signs, brochures, or maps on roads those agencies jointly manage and open to wheeled all-terrain vehicles. At least $80,000 must remain available for eligible local-government grants during the budget period. Affected counties must submit support letters before any transfer.

Safety planners get anonymous driving data

The Traffic Safety Commission gets $600,000 to buy anonymized vehicle data from a qualified vendor. The data covers speeds and driver behavior statewide and in selected areas. Area selections must use demographic characteristics and crash history. The commission must report annually, beginning by June 30, 2025, through June 30, 2027. The purchased data must be anonymized rather than identifying individual drivers.

Salmon habitat gets property and contracting options

Edmonds gets the first right to buy specified property at fair market value for near-shore salmon and related-species habitat restoration. This applies only if the transportation department takes possession during 2023–2025 and confirms it no longer needs the property. The Fish Passage Barrier Removal Program must explore private partnerships and grouped contracts to meet a federal court injunction. It must consult the Office of Innovative Partnerships. Its appropriations may be combined with state and local money to match competitive federal grants.

School walking grants seek broader geographic reach

The transportation department must review selection rules for future pedestrian safety and Safe Routes to School grants. The revised rules must seek greater geographic diversity among communities receiving grants. They must also follow the Healthy Environment for All Act. No applicant is guaranteed funding.

Seattle highway cleanup and graffiti funding

The law provides $1.025 million for safety improvements and debris cleanup on state highway land in Seattle. Work must exceed the level in place on January 1, 2019. The department must maintain a dedicated garbage, hazardous-debris, and safety crew, and can request State Patrol help. Separately, the department gets $180,000 solely for graffiti removal using spray drones.

Snow removal backup and winter planning

The law sets aside $5 million for snow and ice removal after the transportation department spends its base budget. Before using this backup money, the department must notify the state budget office and transportation lawmakers. Another $100,000 funds winter safety recommendations for Interstate 90 between North Bend and Cle Elum. The report must rank options, estimate costs, address tire and chain compliance, and seek fewer snow-related closures. It was due December 1, 2024.

Speed technology tested on Washington roads

The law provides $300,000 for anonymized speed and driving data from a qualified vendor, statewide and in areas chosen by demographics and crash history. Annual reports begin June 30, 2025, and continue through June 30, 2027, when that funding ends. Another $1 million funds two to three highway cameras at high-speed or high-crash locations, with public notice, engagement, and data collection. The transportation department must work with State Patrol and the Traffic Safety Commission; a camera progress report was due June 30, 2025. A separate $100,000 funds a 12-month department-fleet pilot using GPS and mapping to monitor speed limits, starting by January 1, 2024, with results and lawsuit-related recommendations due June 30, 2025.

Spokane and Tacoma get highway cleanup

The law funds city-state partnerships addressing safety and health problems linked to encampments on state highway property. Spokane gets $1 million: $555,000 for state maintenance staff and cleanup, plus reimbursements up to $445,000 for city cleanup and landfill costs. Tacoma gets $1.015 million: $570,000 for state staff and cleanup, plus reimbursements up to $445,000 for city cleanup and landfill costs. Both partnerships operate alongside the broader state highway encampment response.

Support for maritime training and harbor safety

The law provides $60,000 for basic maritime safety training with Crawford nautical training. The program must meet United States Coast Guard requirements. Another $70,000 funds a transportation department contract with the Puget Sound harbor committee to develop its harbor safety plan. The law does not specify training enrollment rules or participant costs.

Three cities receive highway cleanup funding

Spokane's highway encampment partnership gets $1 million: $555,000 for state staff and cleanup, plus up to $445,000 for eligible city costs. Tacoma's partnership gets $1.015 million: $570,000 for state staff and cleanup, plus up to $445,000 for eligible city costs. Both cities must sign reimbursement agreements covering eligible cleanup-crew and landfill expenses. Seattle gets $1.025 million for debris cleanup and safety improvements on state highway property. Seattle's work requires a dedicated crew and must exceed the level in place January 1, 2019.

Transportation planning addresses climate and disasters

The law provides $93,000 for the transportation department to carry out Washington's climate-resilience strategy. The department must also work with the Emergency Management Division to identify key transportation corridors and disaster-resilience improvements. That work must identify opportunities for federal funding. Findings and recommendations were due December 1, 2023.

Travel coordination and World Cup access

The law provides $1.279 million to operate and maintain the virtual transportation coordination center. State money can match federal grants. By December 1, 2026, the department must report recommended expansion areas and corridors, plus amounts and receipt dates of partner contributions. Another $3.65 million supports travel during the 2026 World Cup. That work includes digital travel ads, civil-rights and language-access compliance, and disability-access compliance and training.

Tribal consultation required for freight corridor

The transportation department must consult the Suquamish Tribe from the earliest planning stage of the State Route 3 Freight Corridor. Consultation covers land acquisition, construction, funding decisions, and programs. This gives the Tribe a chance to assess effects on its resources, rights, and interests. Tribal consultation is required in addition to public participation.

Two cities get electric fire-engine funding

The law provides $400,000 from the Carbon Emissions Reduction Account for Bellevue and Redmond. The money is solely for each city to purchase an electric fire engine. It funds city equipment, not payments to residents.

University research on transportation and bridge noise

The law provides $657,000 for University of Washington research on reducing noise from State Route 520 bridge joints. The study covers materials, durability, and costs; safe field tests must use existing work periods or scheduled closures. A draft is due March 1, 2026, and the final report is due December 31, 2026. Beginning May 20, 2025, another $200,000 supports transportation research at the university's Mobility Innovation Center. That center must partner with the transportation department, private businesses, and local transportation agencies.

Wildlife crossings get federal matching funds

The law provides $1 million in state matching funds for a federal wildlife-crossing grant application. The proposed underpasses are on US 97 between Tonasket and Riverside. The project aims to help wildlife cross and reduce conflicts with road users.

Work zones receive speed camera funding

The law provides $10.621 million to implement the existing speed safety camera law in state highway work zones. A pilot report is due December 1, 2025. It must cover camera locations, staffing, violations issued, expenses, and cost-efficiency measures. The transportation department, State Patrol, and Traffic Safety Commission must report on camera data and results by July 1, 2027.

Bicycle lessons and safer walking routes

The law provides $16.8 million for statewide school-based bicycle education grants. The transportation department may partner with a statewide nonprofit to deliver the lessons. It also provides $5 million to address emerging pedestrian and bicycle safety problems. Spending that safety money requires approval from the state budget office.

Ferry labor rules face fairness review

During negotiations for 2025–2027 ferry labor agreements, the department must review barriers affecting newly hired workers. The review covers seniority, assignments, and shifts, including effects on women, people of color, veterans, and other underrepresented workers. It must consult the specified state offices and use the December 2022 workforce study's findings where practical. Lawmakers state that future negotiators may use the findings to address barriers. The review does not guarantee changes to labor agreements.

Ferry workers get staffing and inclusion reviews

During talks for 2027–2029 ferry labor agreements, the department must identify barriers and unequal effects facing newly hired workers. The review includes women, people of color, veterans, and other historically underrepresented groups. State and labor leaders must hold a forum addressing pay and staffing, with improved ferry service among its goals. A report on applying the 2022 study's findings and recommendations is due January 1, 2027. The law does not set new pay amounts.

Funding bicycle education for school children

The law provides $27.2 million for statewide school-based bicycle education grants. The transportation department can partner with a statewide nonprofit to run the program. Up to 1% of the appropriation can pay for program support. Funding goes to the program, not directly to families.

Airport grants, parking, and air-service studies

The law provides $16.055 million for the state aviation program from state, federal, and private or local sources. It specifies $300,000 for the second phase of Bremerton National Airport's commercial air-service feasibility study. It also specifies $750,000 for an overflow parking lot at Yakima Air Terminal. The transportation department cannot require matching contributions for either project. Move Ahead Washington aviation grants receive $2.1 million, with priority for projects eligible for federal funding; the Bremerton study does not establish flights.

Charging repairs and cleaner fueling sites

The law provides $33.746 million for the clean alternative-fuel charging and refueling program. That includes $3.746 million from the Electric Vehicle Account and $30 million from the Carbon Emissions Reduction Account. Another $8.342 million in federal funds repairs or replaces broken public electric vehicle chargers. The West Coast corridor project gets $3.164 million in federal funds for two medium- and heavy-duty charging sites and one hydrogen site along I-5. These funds support infrastructure, not direct payments to drivers.

Clean fleet advice and revenue tracking

The law provides $500,000 to Washington State University’s Extension Energy Program for public-agency alternative-fuel vehicle advice and education. A report on use of that help is due to legislative transportation committees November 15, 2025. The transportation department must also register for clean fuels credits and track revenue from covered transportation-budget investments. Potential sources include ferry electrification, active transportation, transit, alternative-fuel infrastructure, connecting communities, and multimodal projects. This requirement does not create a household credit.

Clean vehicle vouchers and school buses

The law provides $7.849 million for zero-emission vehicle and equipment incentives, infrastructure, and fossil-fuel school bus replacement. This includes $660,000 for early school bus grants and $4.149 million for purchase vouchers, including staff and administration. Ecology implements bus grants by contract; an experienced outside administrator runs vouchers under transportation department oversight. Voucher categories include class 2b–8 vehicles and cargo-handling and off-road equipment, subject to added qualification criteria. School buses and transit vehicles eligible for state grants cannot receive vouchers, but can receive fleet assistance. Program design must include simpler eligibility, equity-focused financial help, vehicle and infrastructure incentives, a central portal, fleet assistance, and voucher preapproval.

Cleaner aviation research and airport planning

Snohomish County and Washington State University receive $5.1 million to plan and establish a sustainable aviation evaluation center. Its testing and research must consider sustainable aviation fuel, hydrogen, and battery-electric energy storage to address health and environmental impacts. Eligible costs include planning, construction, land, testing, research, and fuel storage. Another $500,000 funds Snohomish County planning for on-site or off-site Paine Field improvements to meet future passenger demand. The airport study does not fund construction or an immediate service expansion.

Cleaner freight projects at seaport facilities

The law provides $24.8 million for a zero-emission shore-power demonstration at Northwest Seaport Alliance facilities. Local money must complete project funding, and required agreements must be secured. Another $5.277 million funds a demonstration of zero-emission trucks that move cargo to and from port facilities. These funds support port projects, not direct household payments.

Columbia River bridge gets conditional matching funds

The law provides $15 million solely for the Columbia River bridge replacement between Hood River and White Salmon. The money must remain unallotted, meaning it is not yet available to spend. The Office of Financial Management may release matching money as the Oregon Legislature appropriates funds.

Continued work to restore passenger trains

The transportation department must keep pursuing Amtrak Cascades service levels from before COVID and its federal recovery-funding commitments. It continues intercity rail service and coordinates corridor improvements, federal funding, new trainsets, and service enhancements with partners. Planning must align with federally recognized corridor development programs. The provisions retain report deadlines of September 1, 2023, and December 1, 2024. They do not guarantee a specific schedule or fare.

Coordinating western Washington transportation systems

The law provides $1.279 million to run and maintain the virtual transportation coordination center. State money can match federal grants, which the department is encouraged to seek. The department must also coordinate western Washington planning across Interstate 5, rail, future high-speed rail, and commercial aviation. Planning must consider changing demand, connections between travel modes, upkeep, and system resilience. Each scenario's performance and costs must be reported to the Joint Transportation Committee.

County road accounts cover staff and bridges

From July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2027, two county-road accounts gain added spending uses. The rural arterial trust account and county arterial preservation account can pay county road board staffing and contracting costs. Both can also fund grants associated with bridge ratings. The law sets no amount for these uses.

Delivery fee study, not a charge

The law provides $300,000 to study a possible fee on taxable retail goods delivered by motor vehicle. The study examines revenue at different fee levels, revenue distribution, setup costs, and effects on consumers and businesses. It must also review similar programs in other states. The report was due June 30, 2024. This provision does not impose a delivery fee.

Elwha bridge replacement must preserve access

The law includes funding to begin planning, engineering, and construction of the Elwha River bridge replacement. The transportation department must maintain public access on the existing route as much as practical during the work. The provision states no specific funding amount or completion date.

Ferry repairs and wait-time tools funded

The law raises emergency ferry capital repair funding from $24.26 million to $25.135 million, an $875,000 increase. Another $500,000 covers operating costs to move vessels for emergency repairs. Both repair-related allocations require approval from the state Office of Financial Management before spending. For 2025–2027, $302,000 state and $302,000 federal funds support a ferry terminal wait-time information system. Ferry officials must consult the state chief information officer about automated vehicle-detection technology.

Ferry Wi-Fi tests and customer feedback

Washington State Ferries must test vessel and terminal Wi-Fi using existing resources, focusing on locations with poor coverage. The pilot must consider paid service; free Wi-Fi is not promised. A viability report, recommendations, and cost estimates are due January 1, 2026. The law also provides $75,000 for a University of Washington study of easier, more inclusive customer feedback. That study must include underrepresented riders, different trip needs, and comparable ferry systems, with recommendations due December 15, 2026.

Flexible repayment for qualifying rail borrowers

The transportation department can change repayment schedules and interest rates for qualifying existing Essential Rail Assistance Account loans. Eligibility requires the recipient's total program loan value to have been over 10% as of June 30, 2023. Changes can cover up to 15 years. The law does not guarantee a lower interest rate or payment.

Freight account can cover board operating costs

From July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2027, the freight mobility investment account can pay freight mobility board administrative costs. The law adds this temporary spending use without stating a dollar amount.

Freight rail gets loans and track reimbursement

For 2025–2027, the law provides $2.68 million for approved Freight Rail Investment Bank loans. Repayment cannot exceed 15 years, and interest can only cover loan-administration costs. Highline Grain, LLC also gets a final $1.469 million reimbursement: $369,000 and $1.1 million from two transportation accounts. It covers approved Palouse River and Coulee City Railroad work between the Cheney rail interchange and Geiger Junction in Spokane County. The reimbursement must follow freight rail assistance program practices.

Funding aviation programs and cleaner technology

The law sets aviation funding at $22.323 million: $17.134 million state, $5.129 million federal, and $60,000 private or local. It reserves $1.9 million for Move Ahead WA aviation grants, prioritizing projects eligible for federal funding. Another $1.376 million supports sustainable aviation grants. Recommended projects must advance sustainable aviation technology and future innovation. The department was required to identify projects for legislative funding by October 1, 2024.

Funding county roads and workforce planning

The law provides $1.063 million for a transportation department contract with the Washington State Association of Counties. Work covers fish passage barriers, road data, environmental justice guidance, public works recruitment and retention, and a transportation revenue study. The money is set aside from statewide fuel taxes distributed to counties. A report on completed work and spending has a deadline of December 15, 2024.

Funding expands hydrogen fueling for transportation

The law provides $14.986 million for hydrogen transportation infrastructure grants or state matches for secured federal funds. Funding can serve medium- and heavy-duty vehicles and cover up to two years of station operating costs. Eligible sites include state hydrogen corridors and property near or on transit agencies, ports, or public utility districts. Of this funding, $2.5 million supports Community Transit's hydrogen fuel-cell demonstration. The transportation department must seek other public and private money to help stations begin commercial operations.

Funding for charging and hydrogen stations

The law provides $1.5 million for a combined fast-charging and hydrogen station near Wenatchee or East Wenatchee. It must be near a state route or on or near public property; a local hydrogen-producing utility must own or manage it and provide technical help. Funds can also support fuel-cell vehicles using the station. Another $2.1 million funds charging equipment at Mount Vernon Library Commons. The law provides $14,000 for heavy-vehicle hydrogen fueling grants and matching secured federal funds, and directs pursuit of federal funding.

Funding listed freight transportation projects

The law provides $44.287 million for Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board projects on the LEAP transportation project list. This includes $19.335 million from the freight mobility investment account and $24.952 million from the freight mobility multimodal account. The funds are limited to the listed projects and do not provide household payments.

Funding prioritizes approved abandoned vehicle reimbursements

The Department of Licensing receives $3.109 million for its abandoned recreational vehicle disposal reimbursement program. Payments must be allowable and approved under the program. The department must prioritize approved reimbursements instead of building an account reserve. The law sets no individual reimbursement amount.

Funding supports targeted local transit services

The law carries forward $425,000 for the same special-needs transportation purpose funded in the 2023–2025 budget period. Pierce County receives $350,000 for public transportation on the Key Peninsula. RiverCities Transit receives $950,000 specifically for weekday service between Longview and Vancouver. These funds support transportation programs and services, not set household payments or fare reductions.

Funding to manage transportation projects

The law lists $65.609 million for transportation program support, including $63.536 million and $1.001 million from two state accounts. It also references federal and Move Ahead WA Flexible Account funding. Separate amounts provide $306,000 for a land-use permit liaison who must help speed department approval decisions, and $500,000 for a federal fund exchange pilot. Another $150,000 continues performance-based project reviews, with a report deadline of September 1, 2024. These funds support agency work rather than household payments.

Funding transportation debt and unpaid bills

The law provides $39.742 million to repay toll facility bonds using revenue required by law. It also provides $5.13 million for transportation bond-sale costs and financial service fees across seven transportation accounts. State agencies and institutions can use appropriations to pay for supplies and services from earlier budget periods. Those older payments require Office of Financial Management approval. This money pays public obligations, not household benefits.

Funding two major local transportation projects

The law provides $45 million for the Confluence Parkway Infra Match project. It states an intent to provide another $35 million in 2027–2029 only if federal funding for Phase 2 is secured. The law also provides $40 million for the Hood River–White Salmon Columbia River bridge replacement. It states an intent to provide another $30 million in 2027–2029 and future budget periods only if federal funding and an Oregon construction match are secured. Those future amounts are intentions, not current appropriations.

Gorst and Issaquah-area drivers get widening funding

The law provides $13.5 million for State Route 3/Gorst widening, including $7.5 million for low-cost improvements. Funding includes $8.5 million in state money and $5 million in federal money. The department must consult the Suquamish Tribe from early planning and funding decisions through project approval, even without a tribal request. For 2025–2027, another $15 million funds State Route 18 widening from Issaquah/Hobart Road to Raging River, Phase I. That allocation includes $12.571 million from Move Ahead WA and $2.429 million from the Special Category C account.

Green transportation projects and transit planning

The law provides $12.203 million and $28.905 million for green transportation projects listed in the April 26, 2025 project document. Up to 1% of the $28.905 million can pay for administration and staffing. Another $180,000 funds a Thurston Regional Planning Council study of high-capacity travel options between Olympia and Pierce County along Interstate 5. It must assess travel patterns, ridership, access, and connections to commuter or regional light rail, while accounting for earlier and ongoing work. Participants must include tribes, transit agencies, businesses, public agencies, and users facing age, income, or disability-related barriers.

Independent review of Snake River freight

The law provides $500,000 for independent review of shifting lower Snake River barge freight to roads and rail. The transportation department must include the review team throughout its analysis. The team must gather stakeholder views and coordinate tribal consultations with the department. Findings are due quarterly, with an end-of-budget-period report due June 30, 2025, addressing stakeholder concerns. The review does not itself change freight routes.

Insurance funding for the floating bridge

The law sets aside $10.188 million from the SR 520 Corridor Account solely for floating bridge insurance costs. This funds insurance for the bridge, not payments to individual households.

Licensing accounts support records and vehicle systems

From July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2027, Licensing's technology improvement and data management account can fund responses to public records requests. The license plate technology account can repay the motor vehicle fund for money appropriated to implement digital license plates. That account can also maintain recently modernized vehicle-registration systems during the 2023–2025 and 2025–2027 budget periods. These changes set no spending amounts and do not change household fees or public-records rights.

Local roads and bridges get project funding

The law provides $750,000 solely to study the Grady Way overpass at Rainier Avenue South for Interstate 405 bus rapid transit access. Another $270,000 funds State Route 164 East Auburn Access, which the department must deliver with the Muckleshoot Tribe. State Route 14/Camas Slough Bridge gets $250,000 solely for early engineering. Eligible bridge work includes environmental review, community input, design, and cost estimates; the study and engineering allocations do not fund construction.

Local transportation planning and management funded

The law reserves $500,000 solely to administer, manage, and evaluate the federal fund exchange pilot. It provides $930,000 for a transportation department contract with the Washington State Association of Counties. That work covers fish-passage inventories and priorities, road-cost updates, community-engagement guidance and training, and public works recruitment and retention recommendations. Another $309,000 funds one full-time liaison in the local multiagency permit program. The department must report on the liaison's work to legislative transportation committees by December 1, 2026.

Low-carbon travel planning for World Cup

Beginning January 1, 2025, the law provides $1 million for low-carbon travel planning for Washington's 2026 World Cup matches. The transportation department must contract with a Seattle-based organizing committee and coordinate with local mobility agencies. Planning identifies walking, biking, and reliable-transit improvements. A progress report, including lessons for future events, has a deadline of June 30, 2025.

Lower grant match for nonprofit transportation

The transportation department cannot require nonprofit transportation providers to supply more than a 10% match for state grants. This limits the contribution providers must make to receive grant funding. The law does not set a payment for individual riders.

Metro and ferries exchange project funds

The law provides $10 million in state funds for King County Metro through a federal funds exchange pilot. It identifies $12 million in federal funds for Washington State Ferries’ share. Metro’s funds stay on hold until ferries confirms eligible projects, updates the statewide transportation improvement program, and confirms federal distribution. The Puget Sound Regional Council coordinates the pilot and controls federal programming. Metro must report on funded or planned projects and recommendations for continuing the pilot by January 15, 2026.

More ferry maintenance and apprenticeship funding

The law provides $10.417 million for ferry vessel maintenance initiatives. Funding supports a second Eagle Harbor shift, maintenance project controls, and asset-management operations. The Eagle Harbor apprenticeship program expands from two to eight apprentices. Another $500,000 pays to move vessels for emergency capital repairs, with spending approval required from the Office of Financial Management.

More flexibility to complete road projects

The transportation department can request alternative bids for parts of larger projects and present revised options to lawmakers. It can award a project when alternatives cost no more than engineers' estimates. It can transfer Highway System Preservation funds to listed high-priority preservation projects when needed for completion. Transfers must appear in the next budget request. The County Road Administration Board can revise program standards in consultation with the Legislature.

More flexibility to finish highway projects

Through June 30, 2027, the state budget director can approve certain highway project changes while the Legislature is not meeting. Connecting Washington requests must meet existing legal criteria; this authority also covers Move Ahead WA highway improvements. Requests go to transportation committees for staff review, with written decisions no earlier than 10 days after receipt. For listed state-led projects due in 2025–2027, the transportation department must check whether ready local partners can finish threatened work. That duty applies when the department cannot finish on time and a local jurisdiction can do the work.

More research and staffing for ferries

The law provides $175,000 to continue studying ferry passenger demographics, possibly within a broader travel-pattern study. Results must be compared with legally identified passenger groups, overall and by route, with a summary deadline of December 1, 2024. Another $169,000 funds one additional ferry service planner. These provisions do not set new routes, schedules, or fares.

More transit service for World Cup

The law provides $9 million for extra transit service and customer operations from June 1 through July 30, 2026. King County Metro receives 40%; specified regional agencies and other fan-zone city agencies each receive 20%, divided by service hours. Agencies must submit qualifying spending plans by December 1, 2025, or the department must redistribute their money. Another $5 million expands intercity buses for the 2026 World Cup. The department must report on that expansion's status and performance each year by January 15.

Paradise Lake interchange gets planning funds

The law provides $17.193 million for the State Route 522/Paradise Lake Road interchange and widening as one project. Funds cover design, early engineering, and land purchases. The transportation department must consider reserved or preferred lanes and ramps for buses, motorcycles, qualifying carpools, and private transportation providers. This requires consideration, not creation, of those lanes.

Patrol officers can use vehicles off duty

State Patrol officers can use Patrol vehicles for off-duty uniformed traffic-control work for transportation or another state agency. The Patrol must be reimbursed at the prevailing state employee rate for mileage and hours of use. Vehicle use and repayment must follow the Patrol chief's guidelines. The law does not specify an added payment to officers.

Pilot exchanges federal transportation project funds

A pilot exchanges federal transportation population funds for 95 cents in state funds per federal dollar. It provides $7.5 million in federal funds and makes $7.125 million in existing state funds available. Federal funds stay on hold until offered to the state and assigned to an eligible project. State funds equal to 100% of the offered federal amount must then be put on hold for that project. Projects using federal funds must meet federal requirements, including applicable disadvantaged-business goals; remaining funds can support additional project calls.

Planning and oversight for climate transportation

The law provides $404,000 for a zero-emission vehicle and equipment strategy addressing smaller fleets, owner-operators, and overburdened communities. The committee must consult designated legislative members and review the existing passenger-vehicle tax incentive; its report was due January 2, 2024. Another $600,000 funds evaluation tools measuring emissions cuts, cost per unit, community benefits, and delivery improvements; its report was due October 1, 2024. Spending from the natural climate solutions, carbon emissions reduction, climate transit programs, and climate active transportation accounts must follow RCW 70A.65.030. This work does not itself provide vehicle incentives.

Planning for statewide household travel research

The Joint Transportation Committee receives $53,000 from each of two accounts, totaling $106,000, for travel survey and research planning. It must recommend survey options, costs, timing, and agencies to provide ongoing analysis. Recommendations must consider policy questions, gaps between regional and local models, and existing regional and federal surveys. Research planning must address both near-term policy needs and longer-term projects.

Planning for western Washington travel resilience

The law provides $5.4 million plus the full specified Move Ahead WA Flexible appropriation for I-5 planning. Its amount is not stated here. Work includes a master plan, earthquake vulnerability studies, and prioritized on-ramp meter and carpool-bypass reviews from Federal Way to Arlington. An interim master-plan report is due June 30, 2026. The department must also coordinate cost-effective western Washington planning across I-5, rail, future high-speed rail, and commercial aviation. A report comparing long-term resilience options, performance, and costs is due November 1, 2025; these requirements do not guarantee construction.

Planning funds for future passenger rail

The law provides $32.576 million to plan an ultra-high-speed transportation corridor: $7.5 million state and $25.076 million federal. The department needs legislative authorization before starting a program-wide environmental review. Another $3.6 million supports Cascades corridor planning and project development. The department must seek federal funding and tell state leaders about opportunities and required state matching funds. This funding does not itself establish new passenger service.

Planning future aircraft and Bremerton flights

The law provides $300,000 for a statewide plan linking advanced air mobility aircraft with existing transportation. Recommendations were due June 1, 2025, covering landing sites, land use, cost sharing, oversight, public access, and fair siting. Statewide transportation recommendations require consultation with local governments, planning groups, and other transportation managers. Another $300,000 lets the Port of Bremerton study commercial airport service without a required matching contribution. These appropriations fund planning, not the launch of new flight service.

Planning future Cascades and high-speed rail

The law provides $2.25 million to plan a Washington–Oregon–British Columbia corridor with a maximum testing speed of at least 250 mph. A joint policy committee must develop governance, public engagement, funding, and scenario plans under the November 2021 agreement, considering disadvantaged communities. Status and final reports have deadlines of June 30, 2024, and June 30, 2025. Another $335,000 in federal funds supports an Amtrak Cascades demand and service plan using the 2019 rail plan and federal guidance, due June 30, 2024. A separate $500,000 in federal funds supports Cascades corridor planning with Oregon, continued pursuit of federal funds, and notice to state officials of opportunities and required matching funds.

Planning Interstate 5 safety and connections

The law provides $11.922 million for Interstate 5 environmental planning and a statewide master plan, building on existing corridor work. The plan covers earthquake resilience, carpool-lane performance, corridor priorities, and early safety projects; recommendations and funding needs through 2029 have a December 1, 2024 deadline. Within that funding, $300,000 studies Seattle ramp changes, mitigation costs, walking, biking, transit, and future freeway-cover design. Options include removing Seneca, Spring, and University Street ramps and combining the NE 45th and NE 50th Street ramps. Seattle transportation officials and freeway-cover stakeholders must help inform the study, whose recommendations also have a December 1, 2024 deadline.

Planning more parking sites for trucks

The law provides $2.5 million to develop recommendations for truck parking sites. The transportation department must work with cities, counties, ports, and private groups. Recommendations must identify locations, explain public benefits, and consider state help with land purchases and land-use requirements. This funds planning, not guaranteed construction grants.

Replacing state equipment and tracking fuel credits

The law provides $20 million solely to replace outdated state transportation equipment and fuel sites. Annual reports to budget officials and lawmakers begin December 1, 2025. Reports cover replacements, steady purchasing, fuel-site priorities, zero-emission vehicle infrastructure, and equipment fund resources outside appropriations. Another $572,000 supports tracking and increasing clean-fuel credits and revenue earned by state agencies. The department must provide detailed revenue projections tied directly to that work; this creates no household fuel credit.

Research into charging drivers by mileage

The law provides $4.62 million in federal grant money for road usage charge research. The Washington State Transportation Commission oversees the project. This provision does not impose or change a charge on drivers.

Retail partnerships explored at park-and-rides

The state's public-private partnerships program must keep exploring retail partnerships at state-owned park-and-ride sites. The law does not require stores to open or specify funding.

Road-use charge research, not new fees

The law provides $742,000 in federal funds for remaining Forward Drive road-use charge research. Spending is limited to the amount left in the federal grant. Work includes surveys, simulations, payment installments, mileage exemptions, vehicle-based reporting, technology research, and a final report. This provision does not impose a road-use charge on households.

Safety and travel plans for corridors

State Route 167 planning receives $1.5 million from the I-405 and State Route 167 Express Toll Lanes Account. The plan builds on the June 2023 master plan, with engineering and cost estimates updating corridor funding and timing. It is due to legislative transportation committees December 1, 2026. Another $1.5 million funds a safety and travel plan for State Route 164, from Dogwood Street East in Auburn to High Point Street in Enumclaw. Recommendations are due to budget officials and legislative transportation committees June 30, 2027; neither appropriation guarantees construction or sets tolls.

State chargers funded and business costs studied

Enterprise Services receives $12 million from the Carbon Emissions Reduction Account for electric vehicle chargers at state facilities. Installations must follow state efficiency program priorities and locations of state zero-emission vehicles or planned purchases. Commerce also receives $220,000 for an independent study of utility-side equipment costs for businesses installing chargers. The study covers installation, maintenance, and operation, using at least five Washington utilities and the state's transportation electrification strategy. Findings and their relevance to that strategy were due to the governor and legislative committees by November 1, 2024.

State funds cleaner aviation fuel research

The law provides Commerce $6.85 million solely for a Cascadia sustainable aviation fuel institute or accelerator. Its work supports regional partnerships and market adoption in Washington and Cascadia. Snohomish County receives $2 million from the Multimodal Transportation Account for Paine Field research center site preparation and preconstruction. Washington State University receives $1.2 million from the Aeronautics Account for staff and support at the temporary Paine Field center. These funds support research and industry development, not direct household payments.

State support for Pullman-Moscow airport

The law provides $2.575 million solely for the Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport. The transportation department cannot require a matching contribution. This funds the airport, not direct payments to households.

Studies on public construction and partnerships

The law provides $400,000 for recommendations on public-private partnerships, including public ownership, transparency, oversight, and funding barriers. That work builds on a 2012 study; reports were due December 15, 2023, and July 1, 2024. Another $450,000 studies public construction methods, comparing cost, competition, schedules, and cost controls. The review includes engineering, contracting, environmental, and women- and minority-owned business input. Its reports were due December 15, 2024, and June 30, 2025; these studies do not themselves change contracting law.

Studies to speed local transportation projects

The law provides $300,000 to study local delivery of state highway projects when state project-management capacity falls short. Reports on standards, funding, purchasing, and liability were due December 15, 2023, and July 1, 2024. Another $375,000 supports a work group on faster local transportation projects and possible pilot projects. It reviews permits, land use, rights-of-way, funding, partnerships, and shared technology, with reports due December 15, 2024, and June 30, 2025. Both groups must include local representatives with public works contracting and project-management experience.

Study of alternatives for barge freight

The law provides $1.9 million to study shifting freight from barges through the lower Snake River dams to roads and rail. The transportation department must coordinate with the Joint Transportation Committee’s independent review team. The work must follow the study requirements in the 2024 transportation law. Quarterly updates are required, with a final report due December 31, 2026. This study does not itself move freight or change household charges.

Studying changes to Snake River freight

The law provides $3.1 million to study a possible shift of freight from lower Snake River barges to roads and rail. The study must review freight volumes, traffic, capacity, expansion needs, improvements, and ways to reduce impacts. It must also assess financial and carbon costs using available data. The department must coordinate with the Joint Transportation Committee's independent review team and engage affected residents, governments, tribes, industries, and underserved communities. This funds analysis; it does not order a freight shift.

Studying options to restore ferry service

The law provides $100,000 to assess temporary Sidney, British Columbia ferry service; recommendations have a December 15, 2023 deadline. Another $500,000 funds an experienced third party's review of state passenger-only service on existing routes. It covers routes in the 2020 regional study and San Juan County interisland service. The review must assess ridership, operating costs, clean-fuel vessels, funding options including district subsidies, and timing. Progress and final reports have deadlines of October 30, 2024, and June 1, 2025; neither study guarantees restored service.

Support for local ferry and water-taxi service

The law provides $5 million for Kitsap Transit's passenger ferry to supplement Seattle–Bremerton service. Another $3.17 million supports temporary expanded weekday midday water-taxi service to and from Vashon Island. It also provides $146,000 to carry out the 2023 Wahkiakum ferry law. That allocation lapses if the related law was not enacted by June 30, 2023. These provisions do not set passenger fares.

Tacoma gets funding for cleaner fleets

The law carries forward $1.725 million for Tacoma Public Utilities' medium-duty zero-emission service vehicle pilot. The pilot must include charging equipment and mobile battery units. Tacoma Rail receives $5 million to replace two diesel-electric switching locomotives with battery-electric ones and install charging equipment. Local money must complete project funding, and required project agreements must be secured.

Tests and studies for future tolling

The law provides $400,000 to test private-sector toll technology for accuracy, possible cost savings, and flexible operations. Independent support is required, and findings are due July 1, 2026. Another $600,000 funds a transportation department and Transportation Commission study of possible future toll facilities. It must examine candidate projects, feasibility, gross and net revenue, operating costs, and nearby roads, with findings due October 1, 2026. These studies do not create tolls or guarantee savings.

Toll system upgrades and bridge studies

The law carries forward toll-system funds: $535,000 from I-405/SR 167, $1.245 million from SR 520, $535,000 from Tacoma Narrows, and $702,000 from Alaskan Way. It provides $500,000 for an SR 520 toll traffic and revenue study and planning with the Transportation Commission. Another $75,000 compares bridge self-insurance with commercial coverage allowed by bond rules and develops a self-insurance plan. The insurance report was due December 15, 2024; lawmakers stated an intent to implement self-insurance by July 1, 2025. These provisions do not themselves change toll rates.

Traffic operations get project and event funding

Traffic operations capital projects receive $5.621 million in state funds, $6.5 million in federal funds, and $635,000 from private or local sources. The law also provides $4 million for transportation operations during the 2026 World Cup. Event work includes traffic management center upgrades, added incident response, trail-crossing improvements, and updated travel signs. These funds support transportation operations, not payments to households.

Transit access studies prioritize underserved riders

The transportation department gets $900,000 to carry out recommendations from the 2023 frequent transit service study. It must measure demand-response service access and build data systems to study gaps in fixed-route transit access. Data collection must prioritize people with disabilities, vulnerable populations in overburdened communities, and other underserved communities. A report on data collection is due June 30, 2026. This funding does not guarantee new service or a passenger payment.

Transportation facilities get repairs and planning

The law provides $41.645 million for transportation department facilities in the 2025–2027 budget period. This includes $9.487 million for preservation and repairs and $3 million to plan the Corson Avenue headquarters property. The property plan covers space use, commercial value, a possible sale, and alternative financing.

Transportation facilities receive repair and design funding

The transportation department gets $10.011 million for facility repairs and preservation. It must rank needs by safety, security, legal compliance, work quality, condition, preservation, and operational support, and report its actions and plans. Those rankings guide its 2025–2027 budget request. Another $4.1 million funds replacement-building design at 6431 Corson Avenue South in Seattle, including building details and comparable-facility costs; construction requires a separate budget request. The law also provides $24.417 million for transportation operations capital work in 2025–2027 without naming projects here.

Transportation office improvements and legal reserves

The transportation department gets $2 million for office improvements and related costs tied to space efficiency. It must pursue consolidation and shared locations, reporting each January 1 during 2025–2027 on recent work and two-year plans. Another $6 million is reserved for extraordinary legal awards, settlements, or dispute costs not covered by self-insurance. The department must document expenses in a request. The Office of Financial Management can release that reserve only after other designated funds are exhausted.

Transportation planners get budget and permit support

The law provides $50,000 to study a separate budget program for the transportation department's active transportation division. The study covers costs, staffing, timing, budget structure, and resource transfers. Another $150,000 funds one full-time permit liaison to help agencies streamline, prioritize, and speed transportation project approvals. The provisions specify December 1, 2024, deadlines for reports and recommendations.

Transportation projects get funding exchange pilot

The law establishes a pilot exchanging federal transportation funds for state funds at 95 cents per federal dollar. Each of two program sections provides $17.5 million and makes $16.625 million in existing state funds available for exchanges. Funds stay unavailable until federal money is offered and an eligible project is identified; state funds equal to the full federal offer must then be held back. Projects using federal money must meet federal rules, including disadvantaged business participation goals. Lawmakers intend to review the pilot and not continue it in later budget periods if it is underused.

Truck drivers get parking planning and information

The law provides $1.2 million to study truck parking expansion, reconfiguration, conversions, and restroom improvements at Interstate 5 and 90 rest areas and inspection sites, including John Hill Rest Area. Another $2.2 million—$1.72 million state and $480,000 federal—supports real-time parking information with Oregon and California, including grant applications and matching funds. Both efforts specify December 1, 2023, updates and December 1, 2024, final reports. The law also provides $1 million to design parking improvements at the Interstate 5 Fort Lewis weigh station and State Route 906 Phase 3. Another $150,000 pays for durable markings creating up to 20 larger-vehicle parking spaces along State Route 906.

Truck parking solutions enter budget planning

The transportation department and freight board must consult relevant groups and list truck parking solutions in the 2025–2027 budget request. The Legislature states an intent to provide $4.95 million for improvements, but this provision does not guarantee that funding. The list can recommend additional funding for near-term and long-term parking capacity.

Walla Walla drivers get corridor funding

The law provides $39.387 million for US 12/Walla Walla Corridor Improvements during 2025–2027. The transportation department must consult nearby local governments and pursue available federal funding. Additional state matching money is only stated legislative intent, not an appropriation. That intent depends on a competitive federal award for the remaining four-lane section between Wallula and Nine Mile Hill. It also requires the Port of Walla Walla to provide right-of-way free to the state.

Ferry repairs and easier passenger payments

The law provides $5 million for emergency Washington State Ferries repairs. Spending requires approval from the Office of Financial Management. Another $6 million updates ferry ticketing and reservations. The transportation department must prioritize ORCA, Good to Go!, and mobile payment integration at the earliest possible phase. These provisions do not specify fare changes.

Funding for local transit construction projects

The law carries forward $11.8 million for transit facilities in Columbia County, Kitsap, Pierce County, and King County. Projects include base upgrades, shore power, and base electrification. It also provides $11.189 million for listed Connecting Washington transit projects, including $3.407 million carried forward. Agencies that finished listed projects before their funding timeframe can substitute transit projects costing the same or less. Kitsap Transit can receive up to $5 million in toll credits, limited to the federal match needed for passenger-only ferry grants.

Loans and grants for freight rail

The law provides $1.5 million for new low-interest freight rail loans. The transportation department must approve loans through its freight rail investment bank program. Another $6.899 million supports new statewide freight rail assistance projects on the referenced legislative project list. Individual loan amounts, interest rates, and repayment terms are not specified.

Local governments can help deliver delayed projects

Beginning May 20, 2025, the transportation department must coordinate with local governments on qualifying delayed projects scheduled for 2023–2025. Projects must be listed in the April 26, 2025 transportation project document and face delay because the department cannot finish on time. The department must determine whether local partners are ready, willing, and able to do the work. It must list qualifying projects and delivery timing for 2023–2025 and 2025–2027 for the governor and legislative transportation committees. The provision retains a November 1, 2023 reporting deadline, which predates its effective date.

More funding for freight routes

The law provides $37.322 million for the SR 3 Freight Corridor in the 2025–2027 budget period. It keeps the Lake Flora Road northern endpoint and SR 3/SR 302 southern endpoint. The project must retain safety connections for multiple travel modes serving North Mason schools and safe school routes. Another $35.528 million in federal funds speeds local preservation work on the national highway freight system. The transportation department selects those projects during its freight-plan update, consulting the freight investment board and other stakeholders.

Operating funds keep rail programs running

The law provides $83.131 million for state rail program operating costs. This includes $2 million from the Carbon Emissions Reduction Account and $81.085 million from the Multimodal Transportation Account. Private or local funds supply another $46,000. The provision does not set new fares or service levels.

Road operations and bridge assessment funding

Traffic operations capital projects receive $14.513 million: $5.548 million state, $8.465 million federal, and $500,000 private or local. Completed investments must be reported by December 15 of each odd-numbered year. Counties and cities receive $5 million for new federal bridge load ratings that account for legally allowed vehicle loads. Half comes from the Rural Arterial Trust Account and half from the County Arterial Preservation Account. Another $1.557 million upgrades highway location-reference data and performance monitoring systems.

Temporary help limits Tacoma Narrows toll increases

The law temporarily transfers $6.611 million from the Transportation Partnership Account to the Tacoma Narrows Toll Bridge Account. The money is intended to limit the impact of toll increases on bridge users. An equal repayment transfer must follow full repayment of bridge construction debt service and deferred sales tax. The law does not state how much any driver’s toll changes.

Tribal communities receive transit grant funding

The law provides $11.636 million in transit grants for federally recognized tribes, including $1.635 million carried over from 2023–2025. Grants can pay for transit planning, operations, maintenance, and capital costs. Up to $100,000 can support administration and staffing. By December 15, 2026, the transportation department must submit a ranked list of new projects totaling no more than $5.762 million.

Truck drivers get parking information investments

The law provides $5.03 million in state funds and $1.842 million in federal funds for an Interstate 5 truck-parking system. Washington must develop the system with Oregon and California. It will share real-time parking availability and help drivers use existing parking spaces. Funds can also support federal grant applications and state matching funds.

Winter ferry service and terminal traffic help

The law provides $2.6 million for winter ferry service improvements in the San Juan Islands. By December 1, 2026, the department must report on ridership, reliability, and permanent relocation of workers serving those routes. Another $600,000 supports peak-time traffic control at Seattle, Fauntleroy, Kingston, Edmonds, Mukilteo, and Bainbridge Island terminals. Traffic work focuses on Sundays and holiday weekends, with local agency contracts allowed when local law enforcement is available.

Housing near transit gets policy review

The Joint Transportation Committee receives $250,000 for an expert review of mixed-income housing and mixed-use development near transit. It covers cities in King, Pierce, Spokane, Clark, or Snohomish County with over 12,500 people and a major transit stop. The national expert must have demonstrated expertise on racially diverse communities and peer-reviewed research expertise in inclusive housing near transit. The review covers displacement, low-income affordability, local plans, housing tax and fee programs, and local and national best practices. It also examines development rules required by December 31, 2024, but does not require cities to change housing policy.

Agency budgets account for adopted pension rates

The law adjusts agency funding to reflect adopted pension contribution rates, as provided in the state operating budget. Those rates come from the pension funding council and the law enforcement and firefighters' Plan 2 board. The provision states no change to an employee's pension benefit or personal contribution amount.

Ferry careers get recruitment and training support

The law provides $855,000 for a 2025–2027 workforce pilot at Seattle Maritime Academy. Ferry officials cannot spend it until they certify a signed agreement with Seattle Central College covering facilities, training, recruitment, and increased enrollment of women and people of color. Recruitment must include the student and potential-worker groups specified in the law. The partners must submit a joint training and recruitment plan and effectiveness findings by December 1, 2025. The department must also expand outreach to underrepresented groups, apprenticeships, and internships, emphasizing programs shown to improve ferry recruitment.

Funding to implement ferry salary changes

The law provides $375,000 to implement Substitute House Bill 1264 on ferry-system salaries. The funding lapses unless that bill was enacted by June 30, 2025. This appropriation does not state how much any worker’s pay changes.

More ferry crew and overtime funding

The law provides $19.7 million for added ferry deck and engine jobs, considering cancellations, staffing forecasts, and high overtime costs. A separate $5 million staffing allocation prioritizes jobs that reduce crew-related cancellations and overtime spending. Another $6.95 million covers overtime and training to become familiar with work assignments for engine, deck, and terminal staff. The department must report hires by job class in its annual performance report. Updated 2026 and 2027 staffing cost estimates must accompany its annual budget submission, with updated estimates due January 1, 2026.

Training and recruitment support for ferry workers

The law provides $11.962 million for ferry workforce development and $1.504 million to implement the 2023 workforce law. The latter funding lapses unless that law was enacted by June 30, 2023. It also provides $855,000 for a Seattle Maritime Academy pilot during 2023–2025, requiring a college agreement and state budget-office finding that it benefits the ferry workforce. The agreement must cover joint training and recruitment, including increased enrollment of women and people of color. Another $420,000 funds recruitment, retention, diversity, training, leadership, and succession advice plus help implementing the 2022 workforce study. The department must expand outreach to underrepresented groups and apprenticeships and internships, emphasizing programs shown to improve ferry recruitment.

Transportation students get funded training pathways

The law provides $1 million to the Washington State Transportation Center for transportation department internships, road scholars training, and professional master's fellowships. Of that amount, $81,000 funds a workforce-shortage study and action plan for civil engineering, land surveying, and related fields. The plan must address workforce gaps, education and licensing, retention, outreach, partnerships, and additional training opportunities. A preliminary plan was due by November 2024, and the final report was due December 31, 2024.

Transportation workforce agreements get agency support

The law provides $1.512 million from the Motor Vehicle Account and $488,000 from the ferry operations account. Funds support developing, tracking, and monitoring community workforce agreements. They also support internal diversity, equity, inclusion, and civil-rights expertise. The department must engage relevant stakeholders; its progress report was due December 1, 2024. The funding does not create a direct worker payment.

Card payments can carry added vehicle fees

Beginning January 1, 2023, the transportation department can recover credit card processing costs for specified driver and vehicle fee collections. People paying those covered fees by card can face an added transaction charge. The law does not state the charge amount.

Drivers face possible Interstate 405 toll changes

The Transportation Commission must review toll revenue on the Interstate 405 and State Route 167 corridor. It must adjust Interstate 405 tolls as appropriate to raise money for debt payments and corridor improvements. Options include changing minimum, maximum, weekday, and time-of-day rates, or reserving direct-access ramps for transit and carpools. Decisions must stay within existing legal limits. The law sets no new toll amounts.

E-bike lending grants receive less funding

Fiscal year 2025 funding for e-bike lending and ownership grants falls from $2 million to $432,000. Public entities and tribes can apply for employee commute programs. Nonprofits and tribal governments can apply for programs serving low-income people or communities facing heavy pollution burdens. Grant recipients must report program and participation data to the University of Washington. The law does not set an amount of help per rider.

Transaction charges for some transportation payments

The transportation department can recover credit-card transaction costs when collecting fees under RCW 46.17.400, 46.44.090, and 46.44.0941. People and businesses making covered payments can bear those costs. The budget assumes recovery of at least $100,000 overall, but sets no per-payment amount.

Less funding for connected, accessible communities

Sidewalk inventory and accessibility mapping funding for the University of Washington falls from $5 million to $2.7 million. The project must produce openly licensed public data and mapping tools for all counties, prioritizing counties with more overburdened communities. Progress reports are due each December 1 until completion. The Sandy Williams Connecting Communities pilot falls from $25 million to $16.8 million. Its projects reconnect communities divided by state highways, with priority for historically marginalized or overburdened communities.

Less funding for Fife encampment response

Funding for Fife encampment safety and public health work falls from $1.5 million to $1.3 million. Spending cannot exceed the unspent balance of the prior $2 million appropriation from 2021–2023. If that prior funding was fully spent, the new money must stay unallotted and unused. Total spending across the two biennia cannot exceed $2 million; the retained rule also barred spending before November 1, 2023.

Less funding for road safety cameras

Speed safety camera implementation funding falls from $3.529 million to $2.897 million. Local grants for video-based traffic-conflict screening fall from $1 million to $500,000. Screening targets controlled intersections with unusually high violations and injuries to people walking or biking. Grants must be spread proportionally statewide, including urban and rural intersections on state highways and county roads. Recipients must report traffic-violation data, walking and biking facility data, and recommended next steps.

Less funding for South Park reconnection

Seattle's South Park neighborhood reconnection planning funding falls from $700,000 to $560,000. Work includes neighborhood-led engagement and studying removal of State Route 99, with traffic and environmental analysis. Alternatives include transferring land to a neighborhood-led community land trust. Seattle must coordinate with residents, local businesses, the transportation department, and other affected communities and entities. The interim progress report deadline is June 30, 2025.

Less funding for special-needs transportation

Climate-account special-needs transportation funding falls from $78.325 million to $77.9 million; funding from the multimodal account stays unchanged. Nonprofit grants fall from $17.963 million to $17.713 million and depend on need, provider availability, trip coordination, and cost effectiveness. Transit-agency grants fall from $60.137 million to $59.962 million and are prorated using reported 2021 demand-response and route-deviated service spending. Agencies must maintain the previous year's effort as far as practical, and none can receive over 30% of specified distributions. Grant selection cannot consider fuel type.

Less funding to study vessel emissions

Vessel emissions study funding falls from $477,000 to $203,000. The Joint Transportation Committee must assess applying California's at-berth vessel emissions standards in Washington. The study covers pollution reductions, labor and shipping costs, port competitiveness, and shore-power needs and costs. Coordination includes state agencies, ports, shippers, utilities, trucking, labor, and environmental groups; the report deadline is June 30, 2025. The study itself does not impose those emissions standards.

Less money for State Patrol buildings

Listed State Patrol capital funding falls from $7.888 million to $6.531 million. Roof funding falls from $2 million to $1.443 million, and Yakima exterior work falls from $500,000 to $200,000. The law removes $500,000 for generator and electrical replacement. The Patrol can move money among listed projects for cash-flow needs. Transfers of savings after project completion require 20 days' notice to state budget officials and legislative transportation committees.

More vehicle registration investigations in Washington

The law provides $580,000 for State Patrol vehicle-registration enforcement in southwestern Washington. Another $250,000 funds a pilot expansion of the license investigation unit into King County. With Revenue Department input, the Patrol must track added registration fees, sales and use taxes, and local vehicle fees collected. Reports are due every six months, starting October 1, 2025. These provisions enforce existing requirements rather than create new fees, taxes, or registration rules.

Puget Sound drivers face registration compliance checks

The law provides $250,000 for a State Patrol pilot emphasizing annual vehicle-registration compliance in the Puget Sound region. It enforces existing registration rules and does not create a new registration fee. By February 15, 2026, the Patrol must report on implementation, funding needs, and a preliminary statewide compliance plan.

Seattle freeway lid study funding shrinks

Seattle receives $30,000 to update its 2020 Interstate 5 lid feasibility study, down from $200,000. The update must test ramp changes and removals, parking, Freeway Park expansion, affordable housing, and commercial property options. Seattle's planning office must continue engaging underrepresented groups. That work must focus on low-income people living and working in the central Seattle study areas.

Smaller budget for aviation impact study

Funding for an independent commercial aviation assessment falls from $188,000 to $94,000. The Washington State Institute for Public Policy must examine passenger and cargo forecasts, their assumptions, methods, and uncertainty. It also studies ways to reduce aviation demand and impacts, including other travel modes and feasible technology or operating changes. The review must consider overburdened communities and vulnerable populations. The report deadline for the governor's office and legislative transportation committees is December 31, 2025.

Transit access study funding removed

The law removes $900,000 to carry out recommendations from the 2023 frequent transit service study. Planned work included measuring access to demand-response transit and gathering data on gaps in fixed-route transit access.

Clean transit project funding removed

The law removes a $7.442 million clean transportation earmark for Jefferson Transit, Pacific Transit, C-TRAN, and Island Transit. It removes $7.758 million for Kitsap Transit charging units, Twin Transit zero-emission vehicles, and C-TRAN hydrogen buses. It also removes $11.8 million for Columbia County's base work, Kitsap design and shore power, Pierce's Meridian project, and King County's South Annex electrification. These changes end the designated funding, not necessarily other funding for those agencies or projects.

Cleaner aviation research receives less funding

Funding to develop an applied sustainable aviation evaluation center falls from $6.5 million to $1.4 million. Snohomish County must partner with Washington State University to plan and establish the facilities. The center evaluates and researches technologies that reduce aviation's effects on health and the environment. Its work must consider sustainable aviation fuel, hydrogen, and battery-electric energy storage.

Colfax bridge replacement construction is delayed

The transportation department cannot begin construction of the US 195/Colfax North Fork Palouse River bridge replacement during 2025–2027. The legislature states its intent to delay the project until 2029–2031. This postpones construction and any resulting road or safety improvements for route users.

Ferry funding study money removed

The law removes $100,000 for a work group on Washington State Ferries' funding needs and dedicated funding options. It ends the planned review, not ferry service, and does not directly change fares.

Funding removed for Tacoma utility vehicles

Effective January 1, 2025, the law removes $1.725 million in prior funding for Tacoma Public Utilities' zero-emission vehicle pilot. The funding covered medium-duty service vehicles, charging infrastructure, and mobile battery units. This provision does not set a change in household utility bills.

Guemes ferry replacement receives less funding

The law provides $1 million for the Guemes Ferry Boat Replacement project, down from $14 million. Funds are reserved solely for that replacement. Guemes Island ferry users are the people most directly affected by the project.

Less funding for clean port demonstrations

For 2025–2027, Northwest Seaport Alliance zero-emission truck demonstration funding falls from $6.3 million to $1.023 million. Its zero-emission shore-power demonstration funding falls from $14 million to $500,000. Shore-power work requires local contributions sufficient to fully fund the project and any necessary agreements. These allocations fund demonstrations at port facilities, not household payments.

Less funding for ferry transit connections

Funding for new ferry-terminal transit coordination grants falls from $2 million to $290,000. The money moves from the Carbon Emissions Reduction Account to the Multimodal Transportation Account. Grants prioritize new projects connecting transit service with Washington State Ferry terminals. Eligible proposals include transit agencies in counties with fewer than 700,000 residents.

Less funding for state fleet charging

State fleet charging equipment funding falls from $18 million to $6 million. The Department of Enterprise Services must coordinate equipment with the state efficiency and environmental performance program. Site priorities must follow that program and the locations of existing or planned zero-emission fleet vehicles. This funding does not establish public charging access or household savings.

Less funding for transportation accounting upgrade

Multimodal account funding for the transportation reporting and accounting upgrade falls from $21.194 million to $14.403 million. Motor vehicle account funding stays at $21.195 million. The money supports an upgrade to the current cloud software version. Earlier conditions, limits, and review requirements from the 2023 law remain in place.

Less help for tribal electric boats

Tribal electric boat grants fall from $5 million to $80,000. Grants support federally recognized tribes, tribal enterprises, and tribal members. Funds must buy electric motors and engines for fishing vessels or convert existing equipment to electric power. The law does not set an individual grant amount.

Local road projects receive less funding

Funding for three State Route 507 roundabouts at Vail, Bald Hills, and State Route 702 falls from $25.493 million to $3.551 million. The transportation department must share design information and reach local agreements within 180 calendar days after the law takes effect. It must operate and maintain the completed roundabouts. Federal matching funds for Grant and Adams County bridge reconstruction under the Odessa groundwater replacement program fall from $4.15 million to $1.66 million. Aberdeen's US 12 highway-rail separation receives $9.1 million, down from $9.24 million, solely for that project.

Long-distance rail coordination funding removed

The law removes $50,000 reserved for state coordination with partners on Amtrak long-distance rail service. Removing this coordination funding does not itself end Amtrak service.

Puyallup port electrification funding drops sharply

The Puyallup Tribe Port Electrification project receives $500,000, down from $20 million. The money is reserved solely for that project. This funds port equipment changes, not payments to households.

Slightly smaller transportation bond payment budget

Transportation bond-related appropriations fall from $1.599969 billion to $1.596714 billion. Revised amounts include $1.474853 billion for Highway Bond Retirement, $2.169 million for Connecting Washington, $123,000 for Special Category C, and $14,000 for Transportation Partnership. The budget covers bond retirement, interest, registration, transfer charges, and bond-sale discounts. The provision does not specify a household tax change.

Smaller budgets for local road administration

The County Road Administration Board's total budget falls from $6.978 million to $6.856 million. Its state motor vehicle funding falls from $3.524 million to $3.402 million. The local transportation operating program's total falls from $20.354 million to $19.858 million. Within that program, state motor vehicle funding falls from $14.282 million to $14.266 million, and multiuse roadway safety funding falls from $1.23 million to $750,000. The provisions do not specify resulting road-service changes.

Smaller budgets for transportation agency upgrades

Highway location and performance data-system upgrade funding falls from $2.557 million to $1 million. Transportation facilities capital funding falls from $43.024 million to $28.563 million, including $15.352 million in motor vehicle funds, $12.011 million in Move Ahead funds, and $1.2 million in multimodal funds. Vancouver clean-building work falls from $15.457 million to $1 million. Seattle's vehicle repair and parts building receives $4.1 million for preliminary engineering and design. Requested Seattle construction costs must be submitted as a separate project in the agency's 2025–2027 budget.

Smaller grants for cleaner port equipment

Competitive port electrification grants fall from $26.5 million to $300,000; all public ports are eligible. Ports installing shore power with these grants must require capable docked vessels to use available shore power. Separate Bremerton funding falls from $2 million to $1 million, and Anacortes funding falls from $500,000 to $145,000. These named-port allocations support shore power and other zero-emission infrastructure, equipment, or technology.

Smaller state match for high-speed transportation

For 2025–2027, state matching funds for a new ultra-high-speed ground transportation corridor fall from $25 million to $500,000. The law also provides $5 million in federal funds. The money supports matching contributions tied to federal grant applications. Funds remain unreleased until a federal award is made; this funding alone does not guarantee construction.

Smaller state transportation financing budgets

The law cuts transportation bond sale and fiscal agent funding from $1.158 million to $577,000. This includes $5,000 from Transportation Partnership, $541,000 from Connecting Washington, and $31,000 from Special Category C accounts. It also cuts the transfer from the State Route 520 Civil Penalties Account to the corridor account. That transfer falls from $560,000 to $308,000. These changes do not specify household tax, fee, toll, penalty, or service changes.

Transportation budget reserves money for legal costs

The law reserves $9.5 million for extraordinary transportation litigation awards, settlements, or dispute-mitigation costs. Only costs ineligible for the self-insurance fund qualify. The money remains unavailable until the department documents expenses and the Office of Financial Management finds other designated funds exhausted. This reserve creates no new household payment requirement.

Transportation funding exchange receives a cut

One transportation funding-exchange appropriation falls from $7.125 million to $1.75 million. The pilot trades federal transportation funds for state funds at 95 cents per federal dollar. Federal funds must first be offered to Washington, and an eligible project funded in the specified improvement or preservation sections must be identified. State funds for that project equal to 100% of the offered federal amount must be held unavailable for spending.

Walking and biking project funding shrinks

Connecting Washington walking and biking project funding falls from $12.792 million to $8.436 million. Move Ahead Washington walking and biking projects receive reduced funding: $21.885 million, $500,000, $1.55 million, and $500,000 from four accounts. Both programs are limited to approved transportation project lists. A pilot lets the department advance listed projects using funds it cannot spend in 2023–2025, ranking projects by tier, then readiness. It must notify the budget office and legislative transportation committees at least 10 business days beforehand without hindering projects needing carried-over funds.

Freight roads and Quincy rail lose funding

Local freight-road preservation funding falls from $46.58 million to $35.278 million. Projects must support reliable freight movement on the National Highway Freight System. The transportation department selects them through its freight-plan update with input from the freight investment board and other stakeholders. Port of Quincy rail expansion funding falls from $2 million to $1.307 million. That money is reserved for expanding the existing terminal and rail access to nearby industrial properties.

Less funding for freight rail repairs

For 2025–2027, new urgent freight rail assistance falls from $7.567 million to $4.861 million for listed projects. State funding for Palouse River and Coulee City Railroad repairs falls from $33.5 million to $20.968 million. Those repairs also receive $6.9 million in federal funds; up to $433,000 can cover operations and maintenance management and oversight. Federal funding for Salmon Bay drawbridge repairs falls from $19.99 million to $4.155 million. The bridge work supports freight and passenger trains, but no specific service or household-cost changes are stated.

Less funding for tribal transit services

Tribal transit grants fall from $10.267 million to $8.632 million. Of that amount, $8.532 million supports listed Move Ahead Washington projects, including $529,000 for the Sauk-Suiattle Commuter project. Federally recognized tribes can use grants for transit planning, operations, maintenance, and capital costs. Up to 1% can pay for program administration and staffing.

Less money for local transit projects

Connecting Washington transit funding falls from $16.319 million to $12.911 million; Move Ahead Washington transit funding falls from $46.587 million to $31.544 million. Renewed green-project funding falls from $5.95 million to $3.864 million in one account, and $1.249 million to $144,000 in another. Funds are limited to projects in the April 26, 2025 LEAP Transportation Document 2025-2. Early-completed Connecting Washington projects allow substitutes costing the same or less. For completed or unworkable Move Ahead projects, the department may recommend similar local replacements within fund limits, or reimburse documented completed-project costs up to the award; advancing or swapping projects requires 10 business days' notice to state budget officials and legislative transportation committees.

Reduced funding for state rail operations

The revised rail operating budget totals $86.621 million. It includes $82.99 million from the Multimodal Transportation Account. The provision identifies a funding reduction but gives no earlier total. It does not specify which services or passenger costs change.

Revised funding for freight transportation projects

Revised Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board funding includes $16.46 million from the freight mobility investment account. Another $17.704 million comes from the freight mobility multimodal account. The provision identifies reduced funding but provides no earlier amounts for comparison. Money is reserved for board projects in the referenced LEAP transportation project list.

Bus grants require continued local tax collection

During 2025–2027, recipients of specified bus and bus-facility grants must keep collecting approved local transit sales and use taxes. The rule applies to grants listed in the public transportation project document that are not yet under contract. Agencies cannot delay, divert, replace, or suspend those collections. This condition does not create a new tax.

Collection charge reduces transit tax proceeds

The Department of Licensing charges $1.336 million to administer and collect a regional transit authority's vehicle excise tax. The charge is deducted before the authority receives the tax revenue. This provision does not change households' tax rates.

Green transportation grants target need, cap planning

For 2023–2025 and 2025–2027, green transportation grant selection must address environmental harms and benefits for overburdened communities and vulnerable people. The principles aim to increase funding for those communities, but do not guarantee an award. During 2025–2027, the transportation department can use no more than 5% of total program funding for zero-emission transition planning. The provisions state no total funding or individual grant amount.

Highway encampments receive cleanup and outreach

The law provides $5 million to address encampment safety and public-health risks on transportation department land. Money can fund housing outreach, reimburse outreach groups, support cleanup crews, and improve site safety. It can also fund added law-enforcement and State Patrol safety support. At least $2 million must pay for more frequent litter removal. The department and State Patrol must report every six months, beginning November 1, 2025.

Highway safety and patrol funding shifts

The law raises the Multimodal Transportation Account transfer to the Highway Safety Account from $3 million to $21 million. It lowers the Highway Safety Account transfer to the State Patrol Highway Account from $84 million to $74 million. Highway safety retains more transferred money, while the patrol account receives less. These provisions do not specify changes to particular safety services or household costs.

Winter road support and violator cost recovery

The law sets aside $5 million for snow and ice removal after the base budget is spent. The transportation department must notify state budget officials and legislative transportation committees before using this reserve. Another $3.675 million funds Snoqualmie Pass winter operations, including signs, remote avalanche control, chain-enforcement coordination, and on-call towing. That work also includes improved cost recovery from violators.

Aviation planning funded with airport expansion limits

The commercial aviation work group receives $1.774 million to study long-term passenger, general aviation, and cargo needs. It must assess existing and potential facilities, alternatives to added airport capacity, and community, environmental, planning, and airspace effects. Required outreach includes federal agencies, tribes, local and environmental communities, economic development agencies, and neighboring states and provinces as appropriate. It cannot consider expanding port- or county-run airports in counties with at least 2 million people, or plans incompatible with military installations. This funding does not authorize airport construction.

Ferry operating money can support capital work

During 2023–2025 and 2025–2027, lawmakers can direct transfers from the Puget Sound ferry operations account to its capital construction account. Ferry revenues can support capital work only when separately identified in fares or allowed by the stated statutory or budget-period exception. Transfers require legislative direction, and no amount is set. This authority does not establish a specific fare or service change.

Ferry work gets higher limits, contractor deadlines

During 2025–2027, state crews can perform ferry vessel and terminal work estimated below $400,000, above the general below-$100,000 threshold. The higher authority still has a firm ceiling: work must cost less than $400,000. For work estimated between $400,000 and $500,000, the department must contact small-works roster contractors by mail or email. If a contractor expresses interest within 72 hours, roster procedures begin. No contractor is guaranteed an award.

Lawmakers can redirect transportation account money

For 2023–2025 and 2025–2027, lawmakers can direct electric vehicle account transfers to either Move Ahead WA account or the multimodal account. During 2025–2027, they can direct pilotage account money to the multimodal transportation account. They can also move multimodal money to the general fund and driver education safety improvement money to the highway safety fund. Receiving accounts gain transferred money, while source accounts have less available. Each transfer requires legislative direction; no amounts or guaranteed transfers are set.

Lawmakers can shift money between transportation accounts

During 2025–2027, lawmakers can direct transfers from the Transportation 2003 account to Move Ahead WA. They can also direct transfers from Transportation Partnership to the Motor Vehicle, Move Ahead WA, or Tacoma Narrows Toll Bridge accounts. During both 2023–2025 and 2025–2027, Connecting Washington can transfer to Move Ahead WA, and State Route 520 civil penalties can transfer to the Motor Vehicle Fund. In both periods, Move Ahead WA can transfer to the Motor Vehicle Fund, ferry operations, ferry capital construction, Transportation 2003, or Transportation Partnership accounts. All transfers require legislative direction; no transfer is required and no amount is set.

New tools for transportation grant funding

A $22 million pilot exchanges federal transportation block-grant population funding for state funds at 95 cents per federal dollar. Funds stay unavailable until federal funds are offered, eligible federal projects are identified, and equal-value state funds are reserved. The department must report results and costs by December 1, 2026; lawmakers do not intend renewal if use is low. The department and local partners that may receive state funds must identify toll credits as possible federal grant matches when possible.

Port grants include shore power requirements

The law provides $26.2 million in competitive electrification grants, open to all public ports. Ports using grant money to install shore power must require capable vessels to use it when available. Separate electrification funding provides $1 million for the Port of Bremerton and $1.855 million for the Port of Anacortes. Those projects can fund zero-emission shore power, infrastructure, equipment, and technology.

Regional mobility money can shift accounts

Lawmakers can direct transfers from the regional mobility grant program account to the multimodal transportation account. The authority covers the 2023–2025 and 2025–2027 budget periods and ends June 30, 2027. Transfers require legislative direction. The law requires no transfer and sets no amount.

Regional transit grants with smaller reserves

The law provides $13.133 million and carries forward $48.597 million for projects in the April 26, 2025 regional mobility list. The cost-overrun reserve falls from $1.5 million to $749,000, with a request system and per-grantee caps for fair distribution. Awards generally cannot exceed 25% of listed grant funding unless all other funding is awarded; selection cannot consider fuel type. Projects get reviews at least twice yearly, inactivity for one year triggers a termination review, and completed-project balances stay within the list. Future grant criteria must seek wider geographic coverage and follow the Healthy Environment for All Act.

Transit grants require continued tax collection

The law provides $32.223 million in mobility grants to help small rural cities. Commute-trip reduction programs receive $3.3 million in carbon-reduction funds, $5.7 million in multimodal funds, and $784,000 in parking funds. Grant choices cannot depend on vehicle fuel type. For awards not yet under contract, transit agencies cannot delay, divert, replace, or suspend approved local transit sales and use tax collection during 2025–2027.

Transportation projects gain tightly limited funding transfers

Outside legislative sessions, the state finance director can approve transfers among listed Transportation Partnership, Connecting Washington, and Move Ahead WA projects. Transfers must stay within the same fund source, and total transfers cannot exceed $100 million. Transfers to one project generally cannot exceed $50 million per budget period or its six-year plan amount. Money must be excess to current-period needs; transfers cannot expand or result from reduced project scope, use practical-design savings, or hinder approved project completion. Without formal written approval, the transportation department's transfers to one project are capped at the lesser of $250,000 or 10% of its total per budget period, with quarterly reports.

Walking project funding and locations change

Funding for a listed group of transportation projects falls from $22.944 million to $6.15 million. The list removes the State Route 547 Kendall Trail and State Route 520/148th Northeast bicycle and pedestrian crossing. It adds Overlake Area Bicycle/Pedestrian Improvements. The money can support only the identified projects.

Cleaner transit funding carries tax conditions

The law provides $52.448 million for listed green transit projects, including $20.185 million carried forward from 2023–2025. Up to $938,000 can fund administration and staff. Agencies with awards not yet under contract must keep collecting approved local transit sales and use taxes during 2025–2027. Another $6.291 million is carried forward for bus projects. Twin Transit receives $1.891 million for zero-emission vehicles, and C-TRAN receives $4.4 million for Highway 99 hydrogen buses.

Reduced road funding with scheduling flexibility

Revised funding for new Move Ahead Washington road projects includes $40.684 million from its main account and $9.6 million from its flexible account. The provision describes reduced funding but gives no earlier amounts; projects must appear in LEAP Transportation Document 2025-2. A pilot lets the department use money unspent in 2023–2025 to advance listed projects, prioritizing readiness. Advancing or swapping projects requires at least 10 business days' notice to state budget officials and legislative transportation committees. This cannot hinder projects needing renewed appropriations from the 2023–2025 budget.

Ride-share grants require continued transit taxes

The law provides $6.673 million for public transit ride-share grants, including $1.673 million carried forward from 2023–2025. For awards not yet under contract, agencies must keep collecting approved local transit sales and use taxes during 2025–2027. They cannot delay, divert, replace, or suspend those collections. The law does not set a new tax rate.

Toll maintenance funds and event revenue

The law reserves $1.3 million for unforeseen Tacoma Narrows Bridge costs and $12.82 million for the State Route 520 Bridge. The Office of Financial Management can release reserves only after other designated operations and maintenance funds are exhausted. Another $2 million funds maintenance near the State Route 99 tunnel. That budget assumes added revenue from a temporary toll-rate adjustment before and during the 2026 World Cup. It does not set the toll rate.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Marko Liias
Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

Curtis King
Republican • Senate
T'wina Nobles
Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 300 • No: 88

House vote • 4/27/2025

Final Passage as Recommended by the Conference Committee

Yes: 80 • No: 18

Senate vote • 4/27/2025

Final Passage as Recommended by Conference Committee

Yes: 34 • No: 13 • Other: 1

House vote • 4/27/2025

Adoption as Recommended by the Conference Committee

Yes: 86 • No: 12

House vote • 4/2/2025

Final Passage as Amended by the House

Yes: 66 • No: 30 • Other: 2

Senate vote • 3/29/2025

3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yes: 34 • No: 15

Actions Timeline

Effective date 5/20/2025*.
5/20/2025Senate
Chapter 416, 2025 Laws PV.
5/20/2025Senate
Governor partially vetoed.
5/20/2025legislature
Delivered to Governor.
4/28/2025legislature
Passed final passage as recommended by conference committee; yeas, 80; nays, 18; absent, 0; excused, 0.
4/27/2025Senate
Passed final passage as recommended by conference committee; yeas, 34; nays, 13; absent, 0; excused, 1.
4/27/2025Senate
Conference committee report adopted.
4/27/2025Senate
President signed.
4/27/2025legislature
Speaker signed.
4/27/2025legislature
Conference committee report; received 11:05 AM 4/26/2025.
4/26/2025Senate
Conference committee report; received 10:41 AM 4/26/2025.
4/26/2025Senate
Conference committee reappointed. Senators Liias, Lovick, King.
4/22/2025Senate
Conference committee appointed. Representatives Fey, Donaghy, Barkis.
4/21/2025Senate
Conference committee request granted.
4/21/2025Senate
Conference committee appointed. Senators Liias, Ramos, King.
4/17/2025Senate
Senate refuses to concur in House amendments. Asks House for conference thereon.
4/17/2025House
Third reading, passed; yeas, 66; nays, 30; absent, 0; excused, 2.
4/2/2025Senate
Read first time, rules suspended, and placed on second reading calendar.
4/2/2025Senate
Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.
4/2/2025Senate
Floor amendment(s) adopted.
4/2/2025Senate
Third reading, passed; yeas, 34; nays, 15; absent, 0; excused, 0.
3/29/2025Senate
Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.
3/29/2025Senate
Floor amendment(s) adopted.
3/29/2025Senate
1st substitute bill substituted.
3/29/2025Senate
Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.
3/28/2025Senate

Bill Text

Session Law
5/27/2025
HTML PDF
Bill as Passed Legislature
4/28/2025
HTML PDF
Engrossed Substitute
3/30/2025
HTML PDF
Substitute Bill
3/28/2025
HTML PDF
Original Bill
1/14/2025
HTML PDF

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation

How does this bill affect your finances?

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

High Impact

Recruitment bonuses for new state troopers

Major funding removes fish passage barriers

More funding to restore fish passage

Funding to pay transportation bond debt

Local transportation projects and fuel-tax funding

Billions fund Washington roads and bridges

More funding for highways and bridges

Funding for fuel tax refunds continues

Transportation money shifts among state accounts

Medium Impact

Driving cost help for foster youth

E-bike rebates help eligible buyers

More access to driver licensing help

Purchase rebates for Washington e-bike buyers

Health benefits funded for state employees

Accessible driver training for deaf youth

Driving cost help for foster youth

Pay support for State Patrol staff

More funding for walking and biking safety

Ferry fuel budget guides possible surcharges

Funding operations at Washington toll facilities

Funding transportation computers, equipment, and facilities

Funding transportation technology and agency support

Vouchers help fleets buy clean vehicles

Ferries get capital and terminal funding

Funding for toll operations and debt

Funding for Washington rail repairs

Major funding for Puget Sound highways

More funding for Spokane-area roads

More money for local transportation improvements

Operating funds for Washington ferry service

Seattle bridge corridor gets construction funding

Reduced funding for walking and biking

Less funding for ferry capital improvements

Less funding for local street improvements

Less funding for transit and ridesharing

Smaller transfers for transit and active transportation

Fuel tax refund funding decreases

Smaller fuel-tax distribution and refund budgets

State worker raises with funding limits

Small businesses favored in transportation bidding

Transportation grants with local tax safeguards

Alaskan Way funds shift toward transportation accounts

Ferry fuel funding informs possible surcharges

Regional transit grants carry funding caps

Road and ferry account funding shifts

Toll bridges get tax and maintenance funding

Youth fare support requires local tax collection

Low Impact

Clean vehicle access and charging support

Clean vehicle access for underserved communities

Continued e-bike lending and ownership help

Driver test materials gain three languages

Expense help for stranded ferry passengers

Ferry riders get fare and security protections

Free county ferry rides for youth

Identification help for Pacific island citizens

Income-based toll relief for qualifying drivers

Local help for low-income road users

Medical transport gained temporary carpool lane access

Registration warnings for overdue vehicle owners

Pilot speed cameras cannot issue tickets

Medical transport vehicles keep carpool decals

Ferry workers get training and staffing support

Transportation fellowships and internships for students

Transportation training and construction business support

Vanpool help for state employee commutes

Electric fishing vessel grants for tribes

More contracting support for small businesses

Payments for registered tow truck operators

Bridge users get preservation and access protections

Civilian intervention grants receive continued funding

Clean-energy planning on state highway land

Cleaner equipment for signals and fire crews

Cleaner school buses for Washington students

Communities get input on aviation planning