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Herald Editorial Board

Bob Bolerjack,
Opinion Editor
bolerjack@heraldnet.com

Carol MacPherson,
Editorial Writer
cmacpherson@
heraldnet.com


Allen Funk,
Herald Publisher
funk@heraldnet.com

Kim Heltne,
Assistant to the Publisher
heltne@heraldnet.com

Send letters to the editor by e-mail to letters@heraldnet.com, by fax to 425-339-3458 or mail to The Herald - Letters, P.O. Box 930, Everett, WA 98206.

 
WEEK IN REVIEW
Saturday
More snow expected at mountain passes
Suspect identified in Seattle police killing
Thousands honor slain Seattle police officer Ti...
Friday


Officer Timothy Brenton. Gone, but not forgotten
Person sought in officer's killing is shot in head
Thousands to pay respects to slain Seattle poli...
Thursday


Tale of 1916 Everett Massacre retold in style o...
Reservist survived Iraq but not his return to c...
Swine flu suspected in infant’s death
Wednesday


‘Everything but marriage' law close to vi...
Library levy winning by 51% to 49%
Incumbents looking strong in Snohomish County C...
Tuesday


Delayed financial aid forcing college students ...
Slaying of officer reminds police of dangers of...
Edmonds turns over firefighting duties to Fire ...
Monday


Question isn't 'if' but 'how bad' for floods
Slain Seattle Police officer lived in Marysville
Rubatino Refuse allows recycling of food scraps...
Sunday


Signs were clear Boeing isn't tied to location
Swine flu shots draw crowds in Snohomish County
The Boeing buzz in South Carolina
 

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Published: Tuesday, October 14, 2008

HERALD RECOMMENDATION

Huge commitment to light rail is premature

High gasoline prices met up with concern over global warming this year to create a rare moment in our region, one that's potentially transforming. Thousands of commuters have left their cars at home, and most of them have decided that taking a bus is a workable, and in many ways a pleasant, alternative.

With so many people voting with their feet to get on the bus today, the region should be figuring out how to get many more buses on the road, quickly, and to provide more roadway for them in coming years. We think Sound Transit's Proposition 1, a $17.9 billion proposal on the Nov. 4 ballot, does far too little to address the region's pressing short-term needs, and would seriously hinder future opportunities to raise revenue for needed transit projects. We recommend voters reject it.

(Some voters in the greater Maltby area will see two transit measures on their ballot labeled Proposition 1. The other is a Community Transit annexation measure to increase bus service in that area. Our opposition is only to the Sound Transit proposal.)

Roughly two-thirds of the money raised by this measure would go to light rail, which wouldn't arrive in Lynnwood until 2023 at the earliest. Less than 2 percent goes to increased bus service.

Sound Transit proposes more than doubling its share of the sales tax inside its district -- the most urbanized areas of Snohomish, King and Pierce counties. In Snohomish County, that includes Everett and points south.

Sound Transit currently collects a 0.4 percent sales tax; this measure would raise it to 0.9 percent. In Everett, the total sales tax would rise to 9.1 percent; in the rest of the county's Sound Transit area, it would be 9.4 percent.

Current economic conditions make this a lousy time to raise taxes, especially one as regressive as the sales tax. But our larger objection to Proposition 1 is that it's being rushed to the ballot because Sound Transit board members smell an opportunity: a large turnout of younger, liberal-leaning voters they believe are likely to support it. We favored waiting until 2010, when changing ridership trends could be better understood and light rail between downtown Seattle and Sea-Tac Airport would be up and running, providing a needed reality check.

This year's dramatic increase in bus ridership suggests taking a brief time out and reassessing Sound Transit's basic long-range plan, which was developed two decades ago. Maybe a T-shaped light rail line still makes sense, but it could also be that more resources for flexible bus service with dedicated lanes would make even more.

That's the kind of question that should be analyzed before making a long-term commitment to substantial new taxes.

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1. Shot ends search for man sought in killing of Seattle police officer
2. Thousands honor slain Seattle police officer Timothy Brenton
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