Washington Legislature Funds Further Study of Portland-Seattle-Vancouver Bullet Train

KUOW | Tom Banse | March 8
http://kuow.org/post/legislature-funds-further-study-portland-seattle-vancouver-bullet-train

“The Washington Legislature Thursday approved further study of a super-fast train from Portland to Seattle to Vancouver, BC. The Legislature passed and sent to the governor’s desk a supplemental transportation budget which includes $1.2 million for a consultant to prepare a “business case analysis” of bullet train service from Portland to Vancouver, BC with stops in between. Lawmakers have qualms about the costs, but Senate Transportation Committee Chair Steve Hobbs, D-Lake Stevens, said the governor really wanted to press ahead. “I have my doubts of course, but if there is a possibility—with all the population coming in to Washington state, especially the Puget Sound area—if there are ways we can get cars off the road then we should try to explore that,” Hobbs said. “Let’s let the study go forward and see what happens.”“

Washington State Passes Gender Pay Equity Bill with Support from Tech Industry … For The Most Part

GeekWire | Monica Nickelsburg | March 7
https://www.geekwire.com/2018/washington-state-passes-gender-pay-equity-bill-support-tech-industry-part/

“Seizing on a historic moment for women challenging discrimination in the workplace, Washington state’s legislature passed the Equal Pay Opportunity Act on Wednesday. The bill passed both chambers on the eve of International Women’s Day. The bill updates Washington’s existing gender pay law for the first time since it was enacted in 1943. It forbids employers from instituting policies that don’t allow workers to discuss their salaries with one another. The new bill also requires employers to provide the same career advancement opportunities to all employees in comparable positions, regardless of gender.”

Colman Dock Project Entering Next Phase; Here’s What Ferry Passengers Need to Know

Seattle Times | David Gutman | March 6
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/colman-dock-project-entering-next-phase-heres-what-ferry-passengers-need-to-know/

“Construction at Seattle’s Colman Dock, which has been underway since August, is about to encroach ever further on ferry passengers, as work begins this week to tear down part of the 50-year-old terminal building. Crews have begun walling off the northwest portion of the terminal building, closing or moving several food sellers, as they prepare to demolish nearly half of it this summer. The work is part of a five-year, $350 million project to rebuild the dock and terminal, which are vulnerable to an earthquake. The project is funded by federal, state and local dollars, with King County pitching in funding for a new passenger-only ferry terminal.”

Washington Governor Signs First State Net Neutrality Bill

New York Times | March 5 | Cecilia Kang
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/05/business/net-neutrality-washington-state.html

“Residents of Washington State are getting so-called net neutrality rules back, with the nation’s first state law that prevents internet service providers from blocking and slowing down content online. The law, signed on Monday by Gov. Jay Inslee, a Democrat, is the most sweeping state action so far against new federal rules that strip away regulations on how high-speed internet providers handle digital data.  The dismantling of the nationwide rules, approved by the Federal Communications Commission last year, set off a fierce outcry from consumers and tech companies…The Washington State law, which goes into effect June 6, bars internet service providers from blocking websites or charging more for faster delivery of certain sites in a way that benefits the broadband company and partner websites.”