I-745 shifts money around but doesn’t offer solutions

If this state had a transportation czar, it’s likely she or he would raise gasoline taxes to pay for more roads. That would discourage driving in general and fuel inefficient cars in particular. And it would build more roads to ease the congestion crisis. Assuming people could gradually switch to efficient cars, the approach would even tax the heaviest users the most, the same group that will benefit the most from more road construction.

Unfortunately, there is no quick way to a simple solution. And gas taxes are apparently so unpopular, that the Legislature and the governor will not pass these ideas nor put them on the ballot as a referendum.

Sadly, the politicians’ disdain for increasing the gas tax is compounded by the inability of elected officials to develop a comprehensive transportation plan with existing funds. The main achievement of the last six years of legislative activity was Referendum 49, the $2 billion road-building referendum that unfortunately relied on the very unpopular, and now expunged, motor vehicle excise tax.

Into this environment charges Initiative 745 and Tim Eyman, champion of I-695 and now apparently collaborator with the road-building and asphalt-paving industry. This somewhat unlikely coalition proposes to change the state’s funding formula for transportation spending from 70 percent roads, 30 percent alternatives to a 90-10 ratio.

Eyman is right that we need more roads. He is wrong in acting like we can accomplish anything by taking money from transit. It’s a huge — and unwarranted — leap of faith to suppose that we can take away buses and other forms of commuting options without clogging the movement of people and goods even further.

Sadly, there are no free lunches because the money has to come from somewhere, most likely from transit funding. It’s absurd to think that there is enough fat to finance a significant share of our needs by tightening up construction practices (though we suspect you could run quite a few buses with the potential savings or could speed up road work).

So here’s the dark side of I- 745: No ready source of funds to build roads other than what exists elsewhere in the state budget. Furthermore, guess who gets to put together this wonderful road-building plan? The same Legislature that has been unable to develop any comprehensive transportation solutions other than R-49 — wrecked by the same Mr. Eyman.

Lastly, if transit funding is whacked again (I-695 did a pretty good job of this already), the short-term result will be more congested roads as many transit riders return to their cars. Also, be prepared for a significant wait for new road projects in this region. For the foreseeable future, road construction planning will be held hostage by our endangered local salmon runs.

What we should be having is an initiative on how to get more money for transportation in general. What I-745 does is to shift transportation money around, a classic instance of rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. Vote no on I-745.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Opinion

toon
Editorial cartoons for Thursday, Feb. 6

A sketchy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

Curtains act as doors for a handful of classrooms at Glenwood Elementary on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Editorial: Schools’ building needs point to election reform

Construction funding requests in Arlington and Lake Stevens show need for a change to bond elections.

Lake Stevens school bond funds needed safety work at all schools

A parent’s greatest fear is for something bad to happen to their… Continue reading

Arlington schools capital levy: Say yes to new Post Middle School

Schools are the backbone of the Arlington community. Families want to move… Continue reading

Long sentences not much of a deterrent but serve justice

A recent column by Todd Welch mentions a trope that ignores one… Continue reading

Comment: Trump’s stress-test of Constitution shows it’s up to job

Keep filing lawsuits and the courts will bat down his unconstitutional orders; as long as he follows the rulings.

Stephens: Trump endangers stability of Pax Americana

Discarding the values of a ‘Great Power’ for a ‘Big Power’ will cost the U.S. its standing in the world.

FILE- In this Nov. 14, 2017, file photo Jaìme Ceja operates a forklift while loading boxes of Red Delicious apples on to a trailer during his shift in an orchard in Tieton, Wash. Cherry and apple growers in Washington state are worried their exports to China will be hurt by a trade war that escalated on Monday when that country raised import duties on a $3 billion list of products. (Shawn Gust/Yakima Herald-Republic via AP, File)
Editorial: Trade war would harm state’s consumers, jobs

Trump’s threat of tariffs to win non-trade concessions complicates talks, says a state trade advocate.

A press operator grabs a Herald newspaper to check over as the papers roll off the press in March 2022 in Everett. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald file photo)
Editorial: Push back news desert with journalism support

A bill in the state Senate would tax big tech to support a hiring fund for local news outlets.

Jayden Hill, 15, an incoming sophomore at Monroe High School is reflected in the screen of a cellphone on Wednesday, July 10, 2024 in Monroe, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Editorial: Students need limits on cellphones in school

School districts needn’t wait for legislation to start work on policies to limit phones in class.

toon
Editorial cartoons for Wednesday, Feb. 5

A sketchy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

Comment: Costco’s work to defend its DEI values isn’t over

Costco successfully argued its values to shareholders, but a bigger fight looms with ‘anti-woke’ forces.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.