Chamber Day 2019 and AWB Hill Climb; Possible Transportation Package; Access Bellevue Transportation
Chamber Day 2019 at the State
The Legislature has convened in Olympia for a 105-Day Session and elected officials need your feedback. Here’s your opportunity to get out of the office or off the production line for a day and join fellow business leaders from ten East King County Chambers of Commerce, on a whirlwind journey around the capitol campus.
We’ll prepare talking points, order you a box lunch and schedule appointments with Eastside legislators. Mark your calendar for Wednesday, February 27 and register online or learn more at our event page.
And if one day in Olympia is not enough, sign up for the Association of Washington Business (AWB) Legislative Day and Hill Climb on Tuesday, January 29 and stay for the fabled evening reception with elected officials.
Don’t miss these opportunities to make your voice heard!
Possible Transportation Package
Late last year, the Association of Washington Business held one of several transportation listening sessions at the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce. The feedback was clear; just four years after adopting the $16 billion Connection Washington package, the need for additional transportation investments statewide is overwhelming. Nowhere is this more apparent than along the I-405 suburban crescent!
Fortunately, the outlines of a possible 2019 transportation deal emerged over the holidays. Senator Steve Hobbs, chair of the Senate Transportation Committee is suggesting a $14 billion package over 10 years, to be comprised of the following:
o 6 cent gas tax, yielding $2 billion;
o A carbon fee of $15 per metric ton, generating $6.2 billion;
o Statewide transportation impact fee to generate $1billion;
§ $2.50 per square foot for commercial properties;
§ $1.00 square foot for manufacturing and residential properties;
o Weight fees, license fees, sales tax on auto parts, a rental car tax and an additional sales tax on bikes.
o Double electric vehicle fee from $150 to $300
These are just preliminary ideas, so we’ll keep you posted.
Access Bellevue Transportation Guide
Want to know where to find information about the status of Sound Transit projects in Bellevue? Check out Access Bellevue 2019 as prepared by City staff. This helpful guide is chock full of useful information on East Link light rail capital project delivery schedules and milestones, as well as other transportation and parks capital investments. There’s a lot planned for 2019, so find out what’s coming ahead of time.
By the way, this is something the Chamber requested so that businesses can plan for construction related disruptions.