Washington state is getting ready to put its money where its roads are with a hefty $15.5 billion transportation budget that recently cruised through legislative hurdles. As reported by The Washington State Standard, the funds will cover a variety of transportation channels, with a significant focus on highway megaprojects, state ferries, and maintenance.
The revved-up support for these improvements is propelled by the first gas tax boost the state has seen in nearly a decade. The tax on gasoline will jump from 49.4 cents to 55.4 cents per gallon come July 1st, as detailed by MyNorthwest, leaving Washington drivers facing some of the highest fuel costs in the country. Diesel isn't left out of the equation either; it too will see an initial increase of 3 cents this year, with a similar bump slated for 2027.
In an effort to sustain this monumental financial commitment, there will be a 2% annual increase tied to inflation, starting in mid-2026. But with every silver lining comes a cloud for some, as prices at the pump are already steep with Washingtonians paying an average of $4.28 for a gallon of regular gas. This figure towers above the national average of $3.15, and nestles the state snugly behind only California and Alaska for prestige of the priciest gas, as MyNorthwest reports.
Yet for all this, the impending gas tax is not without controversy or support among residents. "If it’s directed towards where they’re fixing things and things are being done I would be okay with it and that’s just because we all need to drive everywhere," voiced Tim Lo, in sentiments captured by KOMO News. Meanwhile, state senator Marko Liias stands firmly behind the bill he sponsored, advocating the need to make good on promises to bring much-needed repairs and improvements to Washington's aging thoroughfares.
With the legislative session closing out, the gas tax bill has now been passed to the governor's desk for final approval, leaving the state on the cusp of a transportation transformation, as noted by KOMO News.
