In the article “Regional transit vote is put off till next spring,” Snohomish County Council member Gary Nelson calls it “political dynamite” to use any part of Sound Transit’s remaining taxing ability as part of a regional transportation package.
While Sound Transit may deserve its lumps for delays and cost increases for both the Sounder and the Link, it’s even bigger “political dynamite” to bash these projects, then turn around and ask for a tax increase to pay for even more expensive items.
Some examples are 3.5 miles of the Alaskan Way viaduct. It will cost $3.3 billion to preserve as is or if rerouted underground, as the city of Seattle wants, it will cost $11 billion.
It’s expected to cost $10 billion to add two lanes to the full 30-mile length of I-405. I drive this route nearly every day. There are several in Snohomish County that are far more congested.
Both of these projects, according to the WSDOT, are in the early stages of design so they may end up costing even more.
I will probably vote for Referendum 51 this fall. The gas tax makes those who use the roads pay for them. Per the regional package, I will not vote for anything that includes a general sales tax increase to pay for roads. It’s bad enough that part of our property taxes already do.
Everett
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