Policy Priority Area
Maintain Critical Transportation Assets
Washington state’s transportation network is a vital component of its economy, supporting industries ranging from agriculture to technology.
The 2025–2028 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP), a collection of state, regional, and locally sponsored projects, allocates $4.6 billion in federal funds to approximately 1,180 projects statewide. It focuses an increasing portion of resources on preservation to extend the lifespan of transportation assets; maintenance to address more routine repairs and prevent escalation in preservation needs; and stewardship to ensure longevity and sustainability of the transportation system through innovation, partnerships, and creative problem solving. This indicates a commitment across all transportation providers to preserve and maintain critical assets and underscores the importance placed statewide on ensuring safety, efficiency, and economic vitality.
State Policy Goals: Preservation & Stewardship
State Policy Goal: Preservation
To maintain, preserve, and extend the life and utility of prior investments in transportation systems and services, including the state ferry system
The transportation system is aging and in critical need of preservation and enhancements. The transportation system is considered one of the most important assets in the state. Yet much of it was constructed during the period after World War II and into the 1960s, coinciding with the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 and the subsequent expansion of the Interstate Highway System. It is imperative that Washington invests the necessary resources to both operate and maintain the system on an on-going basis, while at the same time upgrading or replacing failing infrastructure and prioritizing projects that will extend the useful life of key assets.
Objectives
Meet Preservation Needs First
Make preservation and asset management of the existing state and local transportation network a primary priority and actively work to reduce the backlog of infrastructure maintenance before building major new highway and road capacity.
Bring Down Average Lifecycle Costs
Promote optimal and systemic asset management strategies that keep life-cycle costs as low as possible.
Reduce Barriers to Implement Preservation Projects
Reduce barriers in permitting, partnership, and increase funding for transportation agencies to deliver preservation projects more expeditiously and efficiently.
Did You Know?
The average age of the 3,412 bridges that WSDOT maintains is 51 years, and almost 10% of the bridges are over 80 years old. In addition, counties and cities maintain over 6,000 bridges, about half of which are either poor or fair condition.
Strategies
Ensure that funding levels for preservation and maintenance are adequate for meeting state, regional, and local targets, to address existing needs before building new capacity.
Ensuring there is adequate funding available for preservation and maintenance sets a “fix-it-first” approach for roads, bridges, and other transportation facilities, assuring facilities are kept in good repair, extending their lifespan and reducing the need for more costly replacements in the future. WSDOT estimates that the current funding available for preservation is only 40% of their need and would need an additional $3 billion over the next 10 years and Washington’s cities face a $1 billion annual shortfall in road preservation funding. While the state does have established preservation targets, not all jurisdictions have the necessary data and resources to track preservation needs and determine targets. Therefore, state, regional, and local agencies will need to work together to establish shared preservation targets and associated funding needs.
Explore expansion of the federal fund exchange program to enable local agencies to swap federal funding for state funding on local projects where it is possible to improve project delivery efficiency and cost-effectiveness, including maintenance and preservation projects.
Washington state has piloted federal fund exchanges — voluntary programs that allow local public agencies to trade their federal transportation funds, including both highway and modal funding, for state transportation dollars. The federal funding can then be applied to state administered projects that already have federal dollars and associated reporting requirements. The administrative and reporting burdens tied to federal funding can sometimes make it a less-efficient option for local transportation projects, with the added costs potentially outweighing the benefits, especially for smaller initiatives. Allowing for use of more familiar and less onerous funding programs can also lead to cost savings by tailoring funding sources to the specific requirements of local projects, especially for smaller maintenance and preservation efforts that might be less suited to federal funding guidelines.
Prohibit the use of studded snow tires on public roadways to avoid an estimated $30 million, equivalent to one penny of state gas tax in damage to Washington’s roadways annually.
While studded tires provide enhanced traction in icy conditions, they cause significant wear and tear on road surfaces, leading to increased maintenance costs for taxpayers. The availability of effective alternative traction devices, such as studless winter tires and chains, offers comparable safety without the detrimental impact on pavement. The current fee on studded tires of $5 has generated an average of $315,000 annually over the past five years, which is a fraction of the damage the tires cause to Washington state’s roadways.
Evaluate and apply emerging technology to support real-time monitoring, predict system needs, and avoid failures. Realtime monitoring systems can provide early warnings of potential problems, enabling timely responses and preventing costly emergency repairs or closures.
Analyzing historical maintenance records and sensor data can help predict when infrastructure components are likely to fail, allowing for proactive maintenance interventions before critical issues arise. This data-driven approach to asset management enhances safety, improves efficiency, and maximizes the lifespan of Washington’s transportation infrastructure.
Increase the efficiency of permitting lower impact projects, including those focused on rehabilitation and preservation, through pre-approved, programmatic environmental assessments, streamlined procurement requirements and contracting practices, and the use of digital tools for data collection and analysis.
Efforts to streamline and increase collaboration for the implementation of common project types can reduce project costs, while digital tools can improve the accuracy and speed of data gathering and analysis required for permit applications. Expanding the list of “Categorical Exemptions” for the State’s Environmental Protection Act (SEPA) for rehabilitation projects can reduce costs and speed up preservation efforts.
Technology Spotlight:
Data-driven technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Data Analytics, and Predictive Maintenance, are transforming maintenance practices. Sensors embedded in roads and bridges generate real-time data that can be analyzed using AI to predict maintenance needs before they become critical. The Federal Highway Administration estimates that predictive maintenance could reduce road repair costs by up to 30%, while also extending the lifespan of infrastructure.
State Policy Goal: Stewardship
To continuously improve the quality, effectiveness, resilience, and efficiency of the transportation system
We must face the reality that the needs of Washington state’s robust transportation network consistently outpace available funding. Strategic investment demands a long-term perspective. This means not only addressing immediate maintenance needs, like bridge repairs and road resurfacing, but also embracing new approaches that help inform and anticipate future demands and unforeseen challenges.
Objectives
Use Data to Inform Investment Decisions
Leverage a centralized performance measurement system to align investments with desired outcomes, prioritizing cost-effective solutions that enhance safety and system preservation.
Enhance Collaboration and Partnerships
Prioritize partnerships between jurisdictions and sectors to increase collaboration between state, local, and regional agencies, as well as public-private partnerships to deliver projects and services more efficiently.
Ensure Adequate Funding is Available to Support Balanced Investment
Adequate funding is crucial for achieving the many outcomes that the transportation system aims to deliver. Adequate funding is necessary for a balanced approach to improve the safety, operations, and longevity of the existing system while making strategic investments to expand the capacity of the multimodal transportation system.
Strategies
Expand and streamline collaboration and partnerships between the state and regional planning organizations for infrastructure planning and implementation, in order to gain efficiency and strengthen community resilience statewide.
Metropolitan and Regional Transportation Planning Organizations possess valuable local knowledge and are directly connected to community needs, making them essential partners in developing effective transportation solutions. Partnerships, including co-funded corridor plans, housing and transit alignment incentives, and shared data platforms promote shared ownership of the system and enhances the ability to address unique local challenges, ultimately contributing to a more resilient statewide transportation system.
In support of advancing strategic investment decision-making, create a centralized transportation performance measurement and reporting system that provides regular status updates on progress related to infrastructure and service delivery.
A comprehensive system that tracks and reports key performance indicators across various transportation jurisdictions, modes and projects will provide increased transparency and accountability and enable identification of opportunities to make improvements and adjustments if investments are not delivering the desired outcomes. This commitment to data-driven decision-making will lead to more efficient and effective use of transportation funds and better outcomes for Washington state communities. This effort would build upon current systems, such as WSDOT’s Gray Notebook, the Transportation Attainment Report, and MPO/RTPO regional transportation plans.
Establish a state transportation equity committee to guide transportation planning and policy development that proactively considers ways to mitigate and limit negative impacts to historically overburdened communities.
An equity committee, or advisory panel, would bring representatives from diverse communities and advocacy groups together in support of considering and incorporating diversified perspectives into long-term transportation planning and investments. Such a committee would also promote equitable access and outcomes through meaningful engagement. This group could be compensated for its time and would complement activities required under the HEAL Act, as well as local and regional equity committees, providing important guidance on statewide transportation policy as it is being developed.
Develop funding prioritization and project selection processes that advance safety and preservation projects as Washington’s top priority, consistent with the state transportation policy goals.
Maintaining the existing transportation infrastructure in a state of good repair, both on and off the state highway system, and ensuring the safety of all users are the two highest priorities of the six transportation system policy goals in law. Investment decisions at all levels of government should be informed by, among other factors, prioritizing improvements that ensure the highest priority safety locations are addressed as well as including lifecycle cost assessments to ensure long-term maintenance and preservation cost savings.
Encourage public-private partnerships (P3) that can relieve long-term cost liabilities, such as lighting, bridge maintenance, snow removal, and other services.
Partnerships can bring private sector expertise and innovation to the delivery and maintenance of transportation infrastructure and services. By transferring certain responsibilities and associated financial risks to private partners, all public transportation agencies can potentially achieve cost savings and improved efficiency over the long term. However, careful consideration and transparent agreements are essential to ensure that these partnerships serve the public interest and provide value for money while maintaining accountability and quality standards.
Establish revenue sources that provide more financially sustainable, long-term funding to remove the reliance on the consumption of fossil fuels.
Traditional transportation funding mechanisms based on fuel consumption are not sustainable. Moving away from reliance on taxing fossil fuels supports environmental goals and creates funding stability. A Road Usage Charge will provide reliable long-term funding and create more fairness in taxation by ensuring all drivers pay their fair share for their use of the roads.
Goals & Stategies
Our Statewide Policy GoalsThe Road AheadAppendicesPolicy Priority Areas
