Interstate Bridge Costs More Than Triple as Lawmaker Demands Reset + Closed Door Union Negotiations

A $15 billion Interstate Bridge, nearly $100 million in federal funding for a Seattle-born crime diversion model, and closed-door negotiations over Washington state worker compensation are putting taxpayer money and government spending at the center of Washington politics. The Interstate Bridge Replacement Project connecting Vancouver, Washington, and Portland, Oregon, is now estimated to cost between $13.5 billion and $15.2 billion. Washington State Rep. John Ley is calling for lawmakers to reconsider the massive I-5 Columbia River bridge project and focus on what Washington and Oregon can actually afford. The Interstate Bridge Replacement Program says approximately $5.7 billion in funding has been committed and says it can advance an initial core set of projects. The broader project includes replacement Columbia River bridges, Interstate 5 improvements, tolling, transit, bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure and light rail connecting Portland and Vancouver. Ley argues lawmakers should consider scaling back the project as questions grow over funding, construction costs, consulting expenses and the project's long-term timeline. Also on Washington in Focus Daily: Seattle's Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion program, known as LEAD, is facing new scrutiny over claims about its success reducing criminal reoffending. The Washington Policy Center argues that LEAD promoters repeatedly overstated findings from early research and says those claims helped the Seattle-born criminal justice model gain national support and nearly $100 million in federal appropriations. WPC Director of Public Safety Solutions Eric Zimmerman is calling for Congress to scrutinize future LEAD funding. LEAD co-founder Lisa Daugaard disputes attempts to connect the program to Washington's broader homelessness and overdose problems and argues LEAD has produced positive results even as Seattle and King County struggle with larger public safety, homelessness and addiction challenges. Finally, Washington state employee unions are negotiating with Gov. Bob Ferguson's administration over compensation and working conditions for the next contract cycle. The negotiations involve tens of thousands of Washington state employees and potentially significant taxpayer costs. Union representatives argue Washington needs to improve compensation, staffing and working conditions, while critics including State Sen. Mark Schoesler are questioning why the collective bargaining process is conducted outside public view. Final collective bargaining agreements are due October 1 before becoming part of the state's budget process. Washington in Focus Daily breaks down the $15 billion Interstate Bridge Replacement Project, I-5 Columbia River bridge, Washington transportation spending, Oregon transportation spending, LEAD diversion, Seattle crime, criminal justice reform, federal taxpayer funding, Washington state employee raises, collective bargaining, Gov. Bob Ferguson, government transparency and the latest Washington state news and politics. #WashingtonState #TaxpayerMoney #InterstateBridge #GovernmentSpending #Seattle #LEAD #PublicSafety #StateWorkers #BobFerguson #VancouverWA #WashingtonNews #WashingtonPolitics #TheCenterSquare #WashingtonInFocus