Kudos to our 24th District legislators, Sen. Kevin Van de Wege and Reps. Steve Tharinger and Mike Chapman, for supporting legislation this year that will reduce our climate risks and improve our public health.
All three voted for the Move Ahead Washington Transportation Package, SB 5974, which begins to move away from single-minded emphasis on big new road projects toward cleaner, healthier alternatives such as public transportation, active transportation, and transportation electrification, including ferries, as well as significant boosts to fish passage improvements.
The package also encourages the next generation to move away from car culture by funding free transit and bike education for young people.
Transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas pollution in both Washington state and District 24, and these initiatives will reduce climate risks and improve public health while addressing social inequalities.
All three also supported HB 1099, which would have required all jurisdictions covered by the Growth Management Act to plan for the impacts of climate change, something most of our local jurisdictions are already doing, and would have provided support for that planning, which till now has often depended on chasing grants.
While the bill ultimately did not pass, our delegation gave strong support and the effort will surely be taken back up next year.
Our legislators are to be commended for understanding that our rural communities benefit from a less chaotic climate, better air quality, healthy fish runs, and more options for mobility, paving the way for a healthier, safer, fairer, more prosperous future.
Ed Chadd
Port Angeles