We all love to think the area we live in is world class – for unparalleled beauty, shimmering waters and majestic mountains, great food, and the great outdoors. But the “world class” label bestowed upon us in a Seattle Times newspaper column last fall – “Hey, we’re world class! For truly terrible traffic” – should serve as a wake-up call for action.

That headline came after the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) released its 2014 “Congestion Report,” showing us that the gridlock and brake-tapping we’ve been stewing in for years has gotten significantly worse.

Between 2011 and 2013, a WSDOT report indicated that the annual congestion cost per commuter on SR 520 corridor was $960. What it adds up to is a frustrating mix of lost productivity, lost family time, increased air pollution, and increased stress.

Now is the time we must invest in transportation infrastructure that enhances mobility and safety, protects our economy and our job base, and preserves a quality of life we cherish here.

In Olympia, the Washington State Senate has approved a 2015 transportation revenue-and-reform package that makes some critical down-payments on the worst of our transportation problems here in Redmond and throughout King County and the State of Washington.

The Senate’s package would invest significant revenue to finally complete the State Route 520 project on the west end, and to build a critically important direct “Overlake Access Ramp” in our area at SR 520 and 148th Avenue. It also provides revenue options that will allow Sound Transit to offer a “ST3” package on the ballot next year that would bring light rail to downtown Redmond.

Of course, there’s still a long way to go to make this 2015 transportation package a reality. We believe the Senate’s work represents a great start, but there are critical improvements still needed in the bill. We are asking our Legislators to include funding for an SR 520 Regional Trail grade separation at Northeast 40th Street. We also need an amendment to move the funding SR 520/148th Overlake Access Ramp from 2023 to 2018.

Now it is the House of Representatives’ turn to put its own stamp on this legislation. The House and Senate both have ideas for the package that the other chamber will find offensive. That’s the nature of the political process and divided government. We need your help to urge lawmakers and the Governor to work through the partisan differences and find common ground. We have to do this because we can’t afford any more delay.

We are truly at a crossroads with a transportation system that is our lifeblood. Our choice is to allow it to get worse, or take action and improve transportation networks for the good of our workers, our ports, our people, and our families.

The House Transportation Committee will be holding a hearing on the transportation package on March 26. We ask that you help us with a simple message to all state legislators: “Let’s do this now!”