The most disturbing thing about the current Eastside transportation funding debate is the muteness of all the elected Eastside leaders.
Eastside legislators and King County council members hold powerful positions in the various committees dealing with this issue. Eastside mayors and city councils have been involved in the many panels and discussions leading up to our current proposals. All were elected to represent their constituent’s best interest. I have yet to here any Eastside legislator, King County Council member, or city official object to the obvious unfairness to Eastside residents.
Where is the outrage over the fact that Eastside residents will have to pay up to $6 daily to commute across Lake Washington?
Where is the outrage over the fact that if funding is approved this fall they will have to pay an additional .5 percent sales tax for a light rail system that will take away their two HOV/bus lanes and undoubtedly increase their commute problems?
Where is the outrage that they have been contributing 40 percent of Sound Transit’s funding for the last 15 years and will continue to do so even if the proposal is voted down this fall?
What have they gotten for the money they have already paid? Sound Transit’s own planning documents show that even their relatively minor Eastside projects will be completed this year. What are Sound Transit’s plans for Eastside money they are already getting, even if the vote is rejected this fall?
I have some suggestions. Convert the center section of the Lake Washington bridge for two-way bus only usage moving the HOV lane to the outer bridge structures. This could easily be accomplished in six months with very little funding. The bus-only feature will significantly reduced potential traffic problems and the two-way feature will improve the “reverse” commute.
Dramatically increase the number of express bus routes into Seattle. By express I mean nonstop connections between each of the major Eastside P&R lots and downtown Seattle with departures every 5-10 minutes during the peak commute. The return routes for these buses would greatly improve the reverse commute for Seattleites to the Eastside. Far more residents on both sides of the lake will benefit from this transit service than from Sound Transit’s current plan, and they can start within a year.
Bill Hirt
Bellevue
