Happy Memorial Day weekend, FMSIB Board Members, Earlier this week, an email was sent from Chair Lentz and Investment Committee Chair Hellman, notifying board members that the Investment Committee has completed its work and drafted a final list of project recommendations for the Board’s consideration. In the email, board members also received a copy of the Investment Committee’s draft recommendations, a workbook containing project scopes, costs, funding requests, and validation information, and a link to the FMSIB Google Drive, where 2026 applications, supporting documents, and 2024 identified priority projects can be accessed. Chair Lentz and Committee Chair Hellman have requested that board members review the draft recommendations and come prepared for discussion at the board workshop. To include these recommendations in the Governor’s proposed budget, the Board must approve a final list of recommendations at the board meeting the following day. If a board member is unable to attend the board workshop or meeting, please send your feedback to FMSIB staff no later than June 9, so it may be included in the workshop and board meeting discussions. As many of you are aware, the surface transportation reauthorization bill, the BUILD America 250 Act, was released earlier this week and advanced by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee early this morning. The bill authorizes roughly $580 billion for highway and rail programs through fiscal year 2031 and supplements the Highway Trust Fund with a new annual registration fee for owners of electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids. Included in the bill is also an emphasis on freight mobility—establishing the nation’s first autonomous commercial motor vehicle framework and codifying and improving Jason’s Law, by creating a competitive grant program for truck parking. In addition, the BUILD Act 250 includes project delivery reform and significant investments in bridges and other critical infrastructure. The bill now heads to the House floor for consideration. To avoid a lapse in transportation funding, lawmakers must pass legislation before September 30. Finally, I want to share a tool that was unveiled on Monday by the Mobility Innovation Center at the University of Washington. Mobility Washington 2050: The Future in Motion is a data-driven dashboard that aims to educate and engage Washingtonians on the growing transportation needs facing the state. By providing users with an interactive dashboard and opportunity to explore how freight, bridges, commute times, and more are expected to change in the coming years, the tool is intended to help inform discussions on investment priorities for both the public and decision-makers. I hope that you all can get out and enjoy the weather, spend time with friends and family, and generally have a great long weekend. Cheers, Brandy Brandy DeLange | Executive Director Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board Cell: 303-910-4297