Thanks to The Herald for spotlighting the climate emergency in a recent editorial (“Chance to slow, adapt to climate change dwindling,” The Herald, March 7). The thing about net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 is that if we don’t cut emissions in half by 2030, 2050 won’t matter. That’s why 2030 is called the “tipping point.”
The state Legislature ignored the Climate Rail Alliance’s proposal for funding one of the best solutions we have: substantial improvements to passenger rail. Not one slim dime was provided to make the Amtrak Cascades a “High Speed-Regional ” corridor per the plan. Washington paid tens of millions of dollars for a detailed plan for vast improvements. Burlington Northern was at the table. It benefited them and they knew it. It seems our lawmakers didn’t know or chose to forget.
Rail uses two-thirds less energy; while we’re electrifying everything, this is critical. Rail emits at least two-thirds fewer carbon emissions; zero when electrified. Yet the backbone of public transportation was left out. There is something very wrong in Washington state.
They chose instead to allocate $150 million from “Climate Commitment Act” funds for a project that won’t be operational until beyond 2050. The ultra high speed rail project will not yield any benefits; not jobs, mobility justice, environmental justice, 250 mph commutes, or carbon emissions reductions until decades after the crucial tipping point. The $150 million is just to set up a department. The project will cost over $50 billion.
We could be providing state matches for federal funds that would make a big difference for our existing system, but we failed to do so.
Lael White
Mountlake Terrace
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
