Transportation (2025)

Overview:

During the 2025 session, Legislative Pages (students ages 14-16) had the opportunity to interview legislators from both the Majority party and the Minority party about issues of interest. In this lesson, students will learn about where the Majority Party, currently the Democrats, and the Minority Party, currently the Republicans, stand on three important policies regarding transportation in Washington State.

1. Addressing Aging Infrastructure (2025) House Page, Muir Powell, asks House Transportation Committee Chair: Jake Fey, (D) 27th District, and Ranking Committee Member, Andrew Barkis (R) 2nd District, “… Currently, over 300 of the state’s bridges are over 80 years old, and Washington’s interstates are over 50 years old. How do you plan to address our state’s aging infrastructure?”
2. CCA & Affordable Transit (2025) Senate Page, Pranaya Sharma, asks House Transportation Committee Chair: Jake Fey, (D) 27th District, and Ranking Committee Member, Andrew Barkis (R) 2nd District, “… In 2021, Washington state enacted the Climate Commitment Act. Given the substantial funds directed towards clean transportation under the CCA, what additional strategies is the Transportation Committee considering to ensure that these investments effectively enhance equitable and affordable transit options for low-income communities in Washington?
3. Ferries and Financial Stability (2025) House Page, David Sternback, asks House Transportation Committee Chair: Jake Fey, (D) 27th District, and Ranking Committee Member, Andrew Barkis (R) 2nd District, “… In 2019, The Legislature passed the Washington State Ferries 2040 Long Range Plan. Parts of this plan were delayed by Gov. Ferguson. What is the long-term financial sustainability of our ferries?”

Essential Questions:

• How do the beliefs of those in the majority party differ from those in the minority party? 
• How does the Transportation Committee prioritize Washington’s transportation needs?
• How do Washington’s climate goals relate to Washington’s transportation policy? 

The House Transportation Committee considers issues related to:

A broad range of multimodal transportation services and infrastructure for all communities and residents regardless of physical and mental disability, income status or age and the intersection of transportation policy with the environment and safety. The committee also considers the transportation budget and revenues to fund investments in transportation and related carbon-reduction programs, and transportation agencies, including the Washington State Traffic Safety Commission, the Washington State Patrol, and the Department of Transportation.