Transit or Roads

greenspun.com : LUSENET : I-695 Thirty Dollar License Tab Initiative : One Thread

Which would be better for the long-term for the Puget Sound area, more roads or rapid transit? It seems that ridership isn't that great anyway, so more/better roads may be the best solution.

If that is the case, I propose two things. Leave the $30 fee alone for 18 months to two years and watch our politicians closely to see if they are vindictive or wisely try to prioritize and cut unnecessary spending or programs. Have a report card published on how they handled 695.

If after that time frame they proved themselves vindictive, we oust them from office. If instead they were able to cut spending wisely great. If they tried to cut spending and couldn't, then we raise the tax to .75% of vehicle value. That way some of the money would be recouped but it would be cheaper than before A $5000 beater car would bring in $37.50, a 25K sport ute would bring in $187.50, a 40K luxury car would garner $300. I personally could live with that, even though it's more than the $30.

-- Kevin McDowell (Kevinmcd@microsoft.com), January 10, 2000

Answers

I think a more rational method would be to pass the transportation improvement initiative. I, for one, am not interested in giving them one additional dime until they use the money they currently get from me effectively. Pouring billions into transit over the last twenty years has bought us nothing, not even many more passenger miles (as opposed to vehicle miles) of transit. When they reduce funding to transit to no more than 10% of all transportation funding, then they can come talk to me about needing more taxes. Until then, to H*** with them. Mikey

-- Mike Alworth (m_alworth@olympusnet.com), January 10, 2000.

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