Nickel Project
The Nickel Project refers to a transportation funding initiative enacted by the Washington State Legislature in 2003. The program's slogan, “It's your Nickel, Watch it Work,” reflects its funding mechanism and commitment to infrastructure improvement.
Funding
The Nickel Project was designed to generate $3.9 billion over a ten-year period to finance 158 transportation projects across Washington. The funding was sourced through:Gas Tax Increase — A 5-cent per gallon increase in the state gasoline tax.Heavy Truck Fees — A 15% increase in gross weight fees for heavy trucks.Vehicle Sales Tax — A 0.3% increase in the sales tax on motor vehicles.These revenue streams were allocated to the Nickel Account, dedicated exclusively to the specified transportation projects.