Initiative I-912 was a proposal to repeal the phased in 9.5 cent fuel tax increase. On the same ballot, I-900 was an initiative to grant the performance audit authority to the state auditor. That authority was in addition to the direct appropriation of $4 million provided by the transportation budget in 2005. It is possible that the presence of the performance audit initiative helped allay voters' concerns.
Source: Mike Groesch, Washington State Senate Transportation Committee, 2006.