The Regional Transportation Investment District may place a list of transportation projects on the November election ballot. Residents would be asked to raise their taxes to fund the projects in their county. The representatives of the counties that comprise the RTID – Snohomish, King and Pierce – are now reviewing their draft lists.

Voters of Snohomish County may be asked to fund the construction of not one, but two multi-modal centers, Mukilteo and Edmonds; both are on the draft project list. Ferry terminals are expensive major components of these transportation centers. So, two questions may confront the Snohomish County voters: Does Snohomish County need two greatly expanded ferry terminals approximately nine nautical miles apart? And should the residents of one county pay for the construction of two large transportation facilities? I don’t think so. If you agree, let your county and state representatives know.

Both Mukilteo and Edmonds terminals have been evaluated by the ferry system. The WSF has consistently selected Mukilteo as its choice for a multi-modal center. The Legislature has agreed by appropriating several million dollars for its expansion.

Consultants have examined the Edmonds Crossing terminal location proposed by the Edmonds City Council. The location was found to be so exposed to wind and wave action that ferry captains “expressed concern about their ability to dock” there. After conferring with tugboat captains, means were devised to make it acceptable, but the cost to make a bad location workable is approximately $50 million.

I do not think the Snohomish County voters will buy this project. Edmonds should ask RTID to remove the Edmonds Crossing project from its list. It is an extravagance that could drag down more worthy projects.

Edmonds