Gov. Jay Inslee on Wednesday upped the pressure on legislators to pass a transportation package, warning of ferry service cuts if they don't.
Inslee said sailings would be "canceled if we are unable to get a transportation budget this year, that's why we're urging Republicans and Democrats to run across the finish line to get this done."
Inslee spoke aboard the Tokitae, the newest ferry currently operating in the state fleet.
Washington State Ferries said the Tokitae has had 26 sailings canceled because of problems related to propulsion.
The latest incident happened April 15, when seven sailings were canceled after an indicator light warned of a clutch problem, although the clutch itself turned out to be fine.
WSF says the Tokitae has had nearly 8,000 successful sailings since going into service in June 2014.
Inslee is pushing lawmakers to approve a fourth Olympic-class 144-car vessel like the Tokitae.
One sister ship, the Samish, will begin service next month.
Another, the Chimacum, is being built.
The transportation package being debated in the Legislature is expected to be around $15 billion, and include new money for transit and highway maintenance, as well as some major highway projects.
Those include widening Interstate 405, funding a new section of SR520 between I-5 and Montlake in Seattle, improving I-5 through Joint Base Lewis-McChord, widening I-90 near Snoqualmie Pass and completing SR167 in Tacoma.
A key component of paying for the projects is expected to be an 11.7 cent per gallon gas tax phased in over three years.
Inslee expects a special session will be needed for a transportation package to be passed.
KIRO
