New year, new Eyman initiative

Newest WA initiative aims to reduce traffic jams

OLYMPIA — The latest initiative from anti-tax activist Tim Eyman focuses on reducing traffic jams.

Eyman says his 2008 initiative will divert about $85 million a year from vehicle sales taxes into a new account for reducing traffic congestion.

The initiative also would open up car pool lanes during lighter traffic periods, and require cities and counties to synchronize traffic lights on heavily traveled routes.

Eyman plans to file the initiative on Jan. 14, the first day of the Legislature. He needs to collect about 225,000 voter signatures by July to get it on the ballot.