By Pepper Fisher

OLYMPIA – How should the Washington State Department of Transportation spend their funds over the next 20 years? Should they prioritize maintenance of the roads and bridges we already have? Should they spend more on expanding our highway system? Maybe they should emphasize safety more.

These are the questions being asked in a draft plan outlining investment recommendations for preserving, maintaining, improving and operating state highways for the next 20 years that is now available for you to review online. Comments on the draft Highway System Plan will be accepted through Monday, December 18.

The last time WSDOT published a plan of this kind was in 2007. The new draft plan was created using extensive feedback from the public to explore different investment alternatives and make the strongest recommendation.

If you click the link (here), you’ll see that it proposes new revenue for state highways over the next 20 years be dedicated first to adequately funding preservation and maintenance of what we have. It also recommends that remaining funds should be balanced between safety and efficiency, and highway expansion projects at a 2:1 ratio.

WSDOT officials say these recommendations would provide a resilient state highway system that is sound, safe and smart.

Comments can be submitted via email to: hsp@wsdot.wa.gov.