Wash. State Senator Bob Oke's Letter to US Senator Patty Murray

June 22, 2001

The Honorable Patty Murray United States Senator 
Jackson Federal Building, Room 2988 
Seattle, Washington 98174

Dear Senator Murray:

Yesterday, the Washington State Legislature adjourned for the third time this year without approving legislation that will allow the second Narrows Bridge project to go forward.

It has been a long and disappointing journey for me that started in 1991. Now, once again I must go home without a way to end the deadly gridlock on the existing bridge. Washington State needs your help. I am hoping your new appointment as Ranking Member of the Appropriations Committee's Subcommittee on Transportation will allow you to provide that help.

The major stumbling block to building the second Narrows Bridge has always been tolls -- the only available funding source. Residents of the Gig Harbor peninsula, Kitsap County and northern Mason County will be paying the lion's share of these tolls as they travel to and from work. The tolls will start at $3.00 round trip, go up to about $5.50, and last for 26 years. It is this issue that has prompted lawsuits by Citizens Against Tolls, and why this project, although already under contract, cannot go forward without more legislation.

I introduced that legislation this year, and the Senate approved it during each of our three sessions. However, Co-Speaker Frank Chopp has not allowed my bill to come up for a vote in the House of Representatives. He has proposed a new plan using public financing, but has not been able to muster 50 votes in the House to get his plan through. Under public financing, the tolls will stay lower longer and end after 23 years. Though this is a small savings, it seems to be significant to the people who will cross the bridge everyday.

Highway 16's national highway system designation as a major strategic highway connector identifies Highway 16 as part of the network of highways that is important to the United States strategic defense policy providing defense access, continuity, and emergency capabilities for the movement of personnel, materials, and equipment.

If the federal government would recognize the regional and national defense significance of the Narrows Bridge/Highway 16 corridor and provide enough funding to significantly reduce the amount of the tolls and life of the tolls, there is hope the bridge could be built under the current plan, or that opponents would not file new lawsuits against a new plan. I cannot emphasize enough how critical this project is. It saddens me every time there is an accident. The deaths hang in my thoughts. The majority of the members in the Washington State Legislature do support the current public-private contract to build the bridge, but without the opportunity to vote, the will of the majority can't be carried out.

It is 2001, and this project was authorized in 1994 under legislation enacted in 1993. Objections to tolls have delayed this project for seven years. It is time to build the bridge.

Would you please advise me at your earliest convenience if there is any hope of federal assistance to reduce the amount of funding that must be recovered through tolls.

Sincerely,

Senator Bob Oke 
26th Legislative District

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