RITZVILLE — Those in central Washington wanting to add input to the state’s transportation needs must head out of town, but Sen. Mark Schoesler is urging his constituents to make the trip.

A transportation meeting is being held from 6-9 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26 in Pasco at the Gjerde Center at Columbia Basin College, located at 2600 N. 20th Ave. Another meeting is scheduled from 6-9 p.m., Oct. 2 in Spokane Valley at Central Valley High School at 821 S. Sullivan Road.

“I know it’s a commitment to travel to either Pasco or the Spokane area, but now’s the time for people to make their voices heard — to stand up and talk about what they want to see from the state government when it comes to having a transportation infrastructure capable of meeting the needs of our families and businesses,” Schoesler, R-Ritzville, said.

As Senate Republican leader, Schoesler helped arrange a series of 10 meetings around the state and plans to attend both the Pasco and Spokane meetings.

“The governor and the majority of the House of Representatives wanted a big tax increase in the gas tax so they could simply pump more money into the same old inefficient approach,” Schoesler said. “The feedback I get around the Ninth District is different: fix the system first, so each dollar is used as efficiently as possible, then fund it.”