It is an exciting year for the County Road Administration Board: we are celebrating 60 years of ensuring the success and accountability of Washington's county roads!
Much has changed since our founding in 1965. 60 years ago you could buy a gallon of gas for 31 cents (almost half of today’s gas tax!) and, speaking of, the gas tax in Washington was a mere 7.5 cents a gallon. A dozen eggs cost 53 cents, and in 1965 the nation’s automobile industry reached its peak with companies like Chevrolet, Ford and Pontiac producing more than 11 million new cars, trucks, and buses. Beatlemania was at full peak, and the Vietnam War continued to rage.
While much has changed since that time, some things never do. Going back in time to the agency's first annual report in 1966, some processes sound familiar:
The matter of the administration of the various county road departments in the State of Washington has been reviewed and discussed at considerable length in several studies made during the past twenty years. The Joint Fact-Finding Committee, formed by the 1947 Legislature, commissioned the Automotive Safety Foundation to undertake a comprehensive analysis of the total highway, road and street network of the state. The report, “Highways in Washington’s Future” was published in 1948 and contained recommendations for the improvement of county road department administration.
In 1960 the Joint Committee received a report requested by the 1959 Legislature entitled “Washington Street and Highway Need Study” prepared by the research staffs of the University of Washington and Washington State University. It again contained recommendations aimed at improving county road department administration. The 1961 Legislature assigned additional studies and, finally, in 1962 a report published by the Automotive Safety Foundation contained a series of specific recommendations including, one which proposed the formation of the County Road Administration Board.
A bill was drafted for the 1963 Legislature to implement the recommendations of the report but died in committee. The Legislature once again commissioned a new study which resulted in a 1964 report by GA Riedesel “Legislation for a Better Road and Street Administration”, where another recommendation was made for the formation of the County Road Administration Board.
A new bill was drafted by the Washington State Association of Counties and was enacted into law by the 1965 Legislature. The executive committee of WSAC made the initial appointments to the board at its meeting in Walla Walla on May 21, 1965, and the board held its first meeting in Olympia on August 6, 1965. Applicants for the role of Executive Director were interviewed and, on November 8, 1965, Ernest Geissler, PE was appointed.
Since that time CRAB has grown – establishing its Rural Arterial Program (RAP)and County Arterial Preservation (CAPP) Programs in the mid-1980s and early 1990s, the County Ferry Capital Improvement Program (CFCIP) in 1991, the Emergency Loan Program (ELP) in 2019, and our newest program, the Local Road Program in 2025.
Despite our growth, our mission has never wavered; the preservation and improvement of the county road system that keeps Washington connected, our economy strong, and our roads safe has been our guiding principle since day one. What began as a vision has become a cornerstone of progress in transportation infrastructure; one that has stood the test of time. We’re not just celebrating a number, we’re celebrating the legacy, the programs, and most importantly, the people who have shaped CRAB into what it is today.
We give our admiration to the original founders, who 60 years ago had the wild idea that counties could work together—coordinating funding, data, and road policy—with the help of one smart little agency. They probably didn’t imagine we’d one day have cloud-based road data systems, GIS dashboards, or roundabouts that still confuse half the population.
We extend our deepest gratitude to our former and current board members, whose leadership and foresight have guided this agency through decades of change and challenge. It’s not always easy, but they’ve kept us moving forward. Their dedication has helped ensure that county road systems continue to meet the needs of the public with innovation, efficiency, and equity.
And my heartfelt thanks to the agency staff, both past and present, who are the heart and engine of CRAB. From engineering to data management, from fiscal oversight to policy development, you have built and maintained a standard of excellence that continues to inspire. Your work behind the scenes and on the ground has created safer, more sustainable, and more accessible roads throughout our counties.
What makes CRAB special isn’t just the infrastructure—it’s the relationships, the collaboration, the laughter in the hallways, the “you want it done when?” meetings, and the deep commitment to public service that defines us. Over the last six decades, CRAB has launched and supported transformative programs that have empowered local governments to serve their communities with greater effectiveness and accountability. We’ve grown, not just in capacity but in impact: leveraging data, technology, and collaboration to ensure that every mile of county road contributes to the health, safety, and mobility of Washingtonians.
As we reflect on our past, we also look toward the future—with the same spirit of collaboration, service, and integrity that brought us here.
To our partners, stakeholders, and supporters across the state—thank you for believing in the mission and value of CRAB. Together, we have made a difference, and together, we will continue to do so for the next 60 years and beyond.
Jane Wall
Executive Director