Gas tax at a glance

Originally published Saturday, March 2, 2002

The House transportation tax package would raise $6 billion over a decade. It would increase the state tax on gasoline and diesel fuel by 8 cents, for a total of 31 cents per gallon. Four cents would be added Oct. 1, with another 4 cents added in October 2003. The plan also would add a 1 percent surtax on new and used car sales and increase weight fees for heavy trucks by 20 percent.

The money would be distributed as follows:

- $3.7 billion for highways.

- $46 million for park-and-ride lots.

- $150.3 million for freight mobility.

- $595.1 million for auto ferries and terminals.

- $562 million for special-needs transit programs.

- $145 million for commute-trip reduction and van pools.

- $17.7 million for Columbia River dredging.

- $215.9 million for passenger rail.

- $75 million for freight rail.

- $334.4 million for local governments.

The plan also creates a Transportation Accountability Board made up of people who'll review quarterly audits on projects to ensure the money is used wisely.

What's next

The Senate transportation plan will be introduced at 2 p.m. today before the Senate Transportation Committee in the Cherberg Building. The House and Senate plans will be heard by the committee, said Democratic Caucus Chairwoman Sen. Harriet Spanel.

The Olympian Copyright 2002

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