The cost of gas may be going down nationally, but Washington drivers — already paying above the national average — will see even higher prices at the pump after Saturday's 7-cent bump in the state gas tax.

The increase is the first of a two-step jump to pay for transportation projects across the state.

With state gas taxes now up to 44.5 cents a gallon, adding in the current federal gas tax of 18.4 cents, the total per gallon gas tax in Washington is now 62.9 cents. The state increase was part of a $16 billion, 16-year transportation revenue package approved by the Legislature and signed by the governor earlier this summer.

Next summer, the tax will increase an additional 4.9 cents a gallon, putting the total state tax at 49.4 cents — which based on current rates, would make it the second-highest gas tax in the nation behind Pennsylvania, according to the American Petroleum Institute.