Budget restores carpool-lane money for I-90 bridge

State lawmakers today removed some obstacles to the construction of light rail on the Interstate 90 Floating Bridge.

In a final transportation budget, House and Senate leaders restored $10.6 million over the next two years to add new carpool lanes on the outer roadways across Lake Washington and Mercer Island.

Those carpool lanes must be in place before Sound Transit can lay tracks in the center express lanes of I-90.

The original Senate transportation budget, proposed last month, would have slashed the state's contribution to zero. The news caused a backlash from pro-rail activists, politicians and bloggers.

The budget released today reflects an agreement between House and Senate leaders. It now must be approved by the full House and Senate before going to the governor.

The bill also expresses state support for the East Link line from Seattle to Bellevue and Overlake — part of the $18 billion, 15-year plan that regional voters passed last fall.

And it orders the state Department of Transportation to work out a deal with Sound Transit by Dec. 1 for the transit agency to pay the state for using the express lanes. That deadline comes from an amendment by Rep. Geoff Simpson, D-Covington, which also set aside $350,000 to study the value of the roadway.

Rail skeptics have objected that freeway capacity will be reduced if trains occupy the express lanes. Last year, Gov. Chris Gregoire and transportation Secretary Paula Hammond both said they expect compensation for the lanes. And in the run-up to last fall's ballot measure, opponents argued the express lanes should be reserved for buses rather than rail, because buses can fan out to more Eastside destinations than a fixed-rail line can.

Sound Transit spokesman Geoff Patrick said today's changes "keep the process moving forward." Track work needs to begin by 2014 for the agency to keep its promise of train service to downtown Bellevue by 2020, he said.

The express lanes currently serve carpools, buses and Mercer Island traffic. They run west in the morning and east in the afternoon.

The replacement carpool lanes, known as option "R8A," would cost $212 million overall from Seattle to Bellevue, and some work is already finished on east Mercer Island. Sound Transit is paying about three-fourths of the bill, and will ask for $13 million in future state aid from gas tax income.

The bridge lanes are a relatively small but contentious issue within the massive $7.5 billion transportation budget, encompassing more than 400 projects statewide.

The budget also agrees to fund a proposed Highway 99 tunnel and stadium interchange in Seattle. And tolling would begin late next year on the old Highway 520 bridge to help fund a long-term replacement — yet to be designed.

Mike Lindblom: 206-515-5631 or mlindblom@seattletimes.com