Washington Bridges Are Crumbling While Billions Go to Light Rail | Charles Prestrud

Washington Policy On The Go is WPC's bi-weekly (weekly during the legislative session) virtual lunchtime event series featuring center directors and guests to inform you on the latest in Washington State policy research and analysis. In this video, we'll hear WPC Transportation Director Charles Prestrud as he details the state of Washington bridges and how the Department of Transportation is struggling to keep up with their repair.

00:00 – Why bridges are closing now
01:00 – SR 410 over-height strike & long detours
01:48 – Aging closures: SR 165 Carbon River & SR 169 Green River
02:58 – Repair vs. full replacement; why replacements take years
04:33 – Underfunded maintenance: 3,000 bridges, 200+ in poor condition
07:19 – Deferred maintenance = higher costs
10:16 – Taxes vs. reprioritizing revenue; culvert lawsuit costs
14:02 – 2026 session: $1B preservation gap
14:50 – Sound Transit “enterprise initiative” vs. $30B overrun
16:13 – Ridership down, costs up; alternatives to rail
23:11 – Will Olympia bail out Sound Transit?
30:15 – Why tolls exist (520, 99, I-405)

Visit our homepage for the latest Washington news: https://washingtonpolicy.org
Sign up for our FREE newsletter: https://washingtonpolicy.org/signup
Follow us on our social platforms! Facebook: / washington.policy.center | X: https://x.com/wapolicycenter | Instagram: / washingtonpolicy | TikTok: / washingtonpolicy