WHEREAS, One hundred years ago in March 1905, the legislature
overrode Governor McBride's 1903 veto and enacted additional
legislation creating the highway commissioner's office and designating
state roads; and
WHEREAS, One hundred years ago on March 13, 1905, Governor Albert
Mead signed legislation creating the office of Highway Commissioner and
a three-member state highway board and designated routes for 12 state
roads to be constructed; and
WHEREAS, On April 17, 1905, the newly created highway board met for
the first time and consisted of highway commissioner J. M. Snow, state
auditor Charles W. Clausen, and state treasurer C. W. Maynard; and
WHEREAS, We honor the thousands upon thousands of men and women who
helped shape the system of highways, roads, bridges, tunnels, and
ferries that we all enjoy today; and
WHEREAS, We honor those who had the vision to create a
transportation network that is recognized as one of the finest in the
nation that embraces aviation, transit, commute trip reduction, high-occupancy vehicle lanes, and the expanded use of web-based traveler
information to provide drivers with real-time information; and
WHEREAS, We honor those who are at the forefront of recognizing the
future transportation needs of the state and using innovative and cost-effective means to achieve the greatest results;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Senate call on the people
of the state of Washington to honor its early highway and
transportation pioneers of the region by celebrating and commemorating
our state department of transportation's centennial in the grand manner
befitting this one hundredth anniversary.