I am writing to oppose Initiative 745, which would mandate a statewide transportation funding standard of 90 percent for roads and 10 percent for other modes. The assumption here is that one formula is appropriate for the entire state. This is not true. In the wide open spaces of central Washington, maybe 95 or even 100 percent should go for roads. It takes a certain population density to support a public transit system. Here in urban Snohomish County, we have that density. For this reason we voted for local taxes to support first Community Transit and more recently Sound Transit. We have not asked the rest of the state to pay these taxes. Their transportation systems are their own business. I-745, however, would override these local decisions and force a uniform statewide allocation. To preserve local and regional choices, we should vote down I-745.
Edmonds
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