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Budget negotiators have been working since last spring but still don’t have a plan to fix the state’s crumbling roadways and build new highways. Now there’s increasing concern that a deal will not happen this year.

Governor Jay Inslee called a special session of the legislature last month to approve a series of incentives and concessions largely for the Boeing company.
“First we need a significant package of statewide transportation investments,” he said.

The session ended without the transportation component but Inslee declared progress toward agreement.

“And I’m going to encourage legislators to keep moving in that direction and I think there is good reason for optimism in that regard,” said Inslee.

But three weeks later, there was still no transportation package and lawmakers heard about it from local politicians who wanted a decision by the end of the year.

The Senate plan would raise more than $12 billion in part with an 11-and-a-half cents increase in the gasoline tax over three years.

Dan O’Neal, chair of the state Transportation Commission, attended some of the public hearings held statewide to gauge support for the plan.

“I think the overwhelming impression that we all got is that people want the transportation bill, and we’re all willing to pay for it,” said O’Neal.

The funding plan would pay for high profile new projects but would also focus on repair and maintenance of the existing highway system, which residents grade harshly – a “C minus” around the state.

Lead negotiators won’t discuss any progress toward a transportation funding deal.

“I keep hearing that a number say we could put this off til January – no big deal. Of course, if we put it off til January then we’re in a totally new session and everything starts over from scratch,” he said.

O’Neal said it’s hard to know if there’s still a sense of urgency in Olympia, “I think the urgency among the public, at least the public that’s really engaged in this, is really high.”