TagPolicy(15)

Washington State House Bill 2688 proposes expanding and modifying the state's transportation policy goals by adding new priorities such as accessibility, health and resilience, and equity and environmental justice, while removing existing goals like mobility and stewardship. The bill would require all transportation projects to be evaluated against these updated goals and specific metrics before receiving budget authorization, with projects failing to meet a minimum score threshold being excluded from funding. The evaluation process would involve multiple state agencies and must include public input from vulnerable and highly impacted communities.

The Washington State Aviation Planning Council developed a series of policy recommendations to guide long-term decisions about the state's aviation system, covering everything from large commercial airports to small community airstrips. The policies are built on nine Guiding Principles addressing key challenges such as funding shortfalls, deferred maintenance, land use compatibility, and the need for strong partnerships among government, industry, and local communities. Decisions about airport expansion and siting are intended to be made through an open public process, balancing economic benefits with environmental and social impacts.