Seattle just got its best transportation-related news in years. Now state policy makers must act.
Seattle beat more than 20 metro areas competing for a federal grant to fund innovative solutions to traffic gridlock. Being named one of the five recipients means money to start tolling on 520, new buses, improvements to park and rides and better ferry service on Puget Sound.
The grant requires King County to have tolling on 520 in place by 2009 or it will lose almost all of the $139 million. Of course tolls should be phased in immediately in order to gradually build the incentive for lifestyle changes required to keep the region moving. (And don’t forget providing alternatives.)
Though officials reportedly welcomed the news, the state legislature still has to approve the concept of tolling on 520. But instead of explaining what’s at stake, today’s Seattle Times oddly emphasizes the “irritated motorists” who won’t want to pay to cross the bridge and even quotes a critic of congestion pricing. Another quote says the federal grant means this fall’s ballot measures to fund transit and road improvements shouldn’t pass.
The fact is that people will adjust, as we saw just this week on I-5. The region needs major transportation investments and starting tolling asap is a key step to making them wisely.
Comments
2 responses to “The best news in years: Feds to fund tolls”
I wish there was an alternative to a toll. In a way, I am being selfish because I cross 520 five to six days a week getting to volleyball practice and a toll, depending on the amount, may prevent me from being able to do something I love to do, coach. If I had to pay $10 – $20 a day to go to and from practice, I would not be able to afford the $400+ a month I would be paying in tolls to cross 520.
The other option would be for me to go across I-90 but so would everyone else that can’t afford the 520 toll so I-90 would be a grid-locked all day. I’m sure this would cause I-90 to be tolled as well.
A toll, depending on the amount would force me into a lifestyle change and even make me think about where I live and might possibly force me to move.
But the bigger issue I have with tools is that it affects the poor while it really doesn’t affect the wealthy. If I am rich, $400 or so a month doesn’t mean anything. But if I am working a low paying job, a very large percentage of my take home pay would be going to pay the tolls so I can get to work and home. Sure I can move but there is no real affordable housing anywhere in the Seattle/Bellevue/Redmond/Kirkland area.
So the question is do I support a toll? The answer is both yes and no. I don’t see any other way to pay for a new bridge but I think there needs to be improved infrastructure that makes it convenient for me get somewhere else than downtown Seattle in less than 2 hours.
The aspect about a toll system that makes sense is that it directly taxes the population in need of alternate forms of transportation, road work, and other transportation related expenses. Tolls shouldn’t be nearly as controversial as state taxes that draw funds from communities in Eastern Washington.