Please Vote NO on I-1125

I-1125 undermines all our transportation needs as a region.  By restructuring our entire transportation project funding process and restricting tolls to a flat fee, limiting their use to only the projects for the specific road on which they are applied we are hamstringing our funding for projects across the state.  If I-1125 passes there will be no money to do major (and minor projects) necessary to keep people and goods flowing as our burgeoning region expands to accommodate another million and a half people by 2030.  It will further handicap our already limited port to market infrastructure, negatively impacting the economy and potentially giving major companies a reason to leave the area because traffic just won’t flow.

I-1125 puts the decision of where, when and how much to toll in the hands of legislators instead of where it is now with the state Transportation Commission. The Commission makes recommendations on necessary projects and suggested financing structures necessary to accomplish those projects.  If I-1125 is enacted this means a legislator from Spokane would be making decisions about whether and how much to toll the I-90 bridge for projects that have virtually no impact on Spokane and vice versa.  I-1125 would sacrifice half or more of $123 million in federal grant funding that is currently slated to be spent in Washington on transportation projects and job creation.

But for me this is all a little confusing and what it comes right down to is it could hold up or eliminate the voter passed Eastlink light rail project currently under design and scheduled to open in 2022.  This is an opportunity to provide transportation independence to all islanders: young, old and in between.  This would have a huge impact on our region and its future as the cost of automobile use climes in economic, environmental and social terms.  The most livable places in the world provide sufficient, fast, economic transportation to all members of their society, why should Seattle be any different.

If you drive there may be tolls to cross the bridge, but the long term toll on our region is much greater limiting our economic, environmental and social wellbeing.