January 4, 2010

The Honorable Dave Reichert

1730 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Congressman Reichert:

We appreciate your ongoing support for federal funding for Washington’s transportation needs.
Your support has been critical in advancing a number of state, local, and tribal projects that are
critical to preserving the existing infrastructure, reducing congestion, improving safety, and
fostering economic vitality.

I want to express my strong concern regarding the proposed House rule XXI, clause 3, that
ultimately could significantly reduce federal transportation funding for Washington State. The
language could change how funding is both authorized and appropriated during the 112th
Congress. The focus of the rule is to allow Congress to appropriate transportation funding levels at
less than authorized levels. Currently, the authorized levels exceed projected Highway Trust Fund
revenues, and general funds are used to supplement the Fund.

If fully implemented, this rule could reduce Washington’s federal transportation funding by an
estimated $121.7 million annually.

The good news for us is that we plan conservatively. We’ve anticipated declining federal funding
and already scaled back our investment in projects which preserve the existing infrastructure,
reduce congestion, improve safety, foster economic vitality and reduce emissions. Unlike most
states, we will not have to scale back projects much in the next two to four years if federal funding
is reduced.

The bad news is that our conservative projections are coming true. The declining federal funds
means our backlog of projects valued conservatively at more than $1 billion over the next ten
years will continue to be deferred, even as our infrastructure continues to age. We rely on federal
funds in particular for our infrastructure maintenance and preservation, and any reduction in
federal funding simply defers that work and costs us - and travelers - more in the long run.

In addition to the negative effects on private sector construction-related employment , it will

become particularly more difficult to advance large projects such as the I-5 Columbia River
Crossing, the US 395 North Spokane Corridor, the I-90 Snoqualmie Pass corridor, and the I-405
improvement projects.

There is a compromise being offered by Representative LaTourette (attached). We believe this

amendment would require the appropriations committee to honor the authorized funding levels
(unlike the original Rule language), but would still enable floor amendments to reduce the funding
level (violating the authorization guarantees), and would enable consideration of conference
reports that reduce the funding level (again, violating the authorization guarantees).

Compared to the original rule, the amendment language goes further in preserving the ability for
Washington to secure authorized levels of transportation funding which is so critical to advancing
Representative Reichert
January 4, 2011
Page 2

projects needed by our communities and businesses. We ask that you consider supporting the
LaTourette amendment.

What WSDOT, local agencies and tribes most need is a multi-year transportation bill funded at
roughly double the current funding levels. That’s what it will take to make significant progress on
our collective backlog of projects that benefit our communities and businesses.

We appreciate Congress’ concern for the deficit and the desire to reduce federal spending, and we
don’t envy you the decisions you are facing.

If you have any questions about this please contact me at (360) 705-7054, or Larry Ehl at (360)
705-7507.

Sincerely,

Paula Hammond
Secretary of Transportation

PH:
cc: Larry Ehl, WSDOT