OLYMPIA – The Washington State Senate on Thursday passed a two-year transportation budget, House Bill 1299. Sen. Annette Cleveland, D-Vancouver, issued the following statement:

“The Transportation Budget is one of the budgets we must pass in order to complete our business in Olympia. I am pleased that our transportation budget negotiators were able to come to a compromise and give us a modest, bare-bones proposal that allows critical services such as ferries and the Washington State Patrol to continue operating.

“I was saddened that funding for moving forward on replacement of the antiquated I-5 Bridge was not included in the proposal, despite efforts by many. I am hopeful that we will be able to continue to seek a path forward. Addressing replacement of this aging piece of infrastructure must be a priority for our community, our region and our state.

“I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and both sides of the river to find a solution.”