Portland is a cautionary tale for ports that do not stay competitive
The Port of Portland has lost most of its business, as I wrote in April. The Wall Street Journal has more on what has happened in Portland, providing lessons for other small ports. Although Seattle and Tacoma are gaining some of the business Portland has lost, they also face increased competition. Shipping companies are moving […]
July 29 , 2015 - Mary Strow
July 29 , 2015 - Emily Makings
Commerce is a beautiful thing
Yesterday we published a report on the new transportation package. As we write in the report, by funding much-needed projects and maintenance, the package will improve commutes and help get goods to market, thereby benefiting the economy. The publication provides an excuse to link to this photo essay at Politico: The art of the interchange. […]
July 28 , 2015 - Mary Strow
Special Report on 2015 state transportation package
The Legislature has passed, and the governor signed, Washington’s first transportation revenue package in a decade. Our special report on the new measure, “Transportation Package Makes Critical Investments for Commuters, Economy,” is now available for you to read. You’ll find an analysis of all the package’s major elements, including: The new state transportation package will […]
July 15 , 2015 - Mary Strow
July 14 , 2015 - Mary Strow
July 08 , 2015 - Mary Strow
July 07 , 2015 - Mary Strow
New transportation reforms become law
We’re still waiting on some elements of the new transportation funding package to clear the Legislature (the transportation revenue bill has passed; the spending bill with the project list and the bonding bill have not). In the meantime, Gov. Inslee yesterday signed some important bipartisan reform bills that should help reduce costs and speed up […]
June 29 , 2015 - Emily Makings
Operating budget and transportation package deals reached, but no numbers yet
Early Saturday Gov. Inslee and legislators reached an agreement on a 2015-17 operating budget. Unfortunately, at this point we’re still short on details — they are expected to be released this evening. The Seattle Times has a good story on the available information, and here’s a one page summary that was handed out to the […]
June 26 , 2015 - Emily Makings
New brief: A Current Law Transportation Budget is Enacted; Will a New Transportation Revenue Package be Next?
Although a new transportation revenue package has not been agreed to yet, a current law transportation budget for 2015-17 has been enacted. We take a look at what’s included in a new policy brief. Briefly: The Legislature has enacted a current law transportation budget for 2015–17. It appropriates $7.619 billion in operating and capital funds, […]