Sound Transit Proposal: Sims vs. Nickels
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Rodney Rutherford
Jul 23, 2008, 2:24:42 AM7/23/08
to STRU Soapbox
Interesting head-to-head perspectives from our rival metropolitan
leaders on the proposed Sound Transit measure...
http://blog.seattletimes.nwsource.com/edcetera/2008/07/nickels_and_sims_have_it_out_o.html
Personally, I'm leaning towards Sims' position. What do you think?
leaders on the proposed Sound Transit measure...
http://blog.seattletimes.nwsource.com/edcetera/2008/07/nickels_and_sims_have_it_out_o.html
Personally, I'm leaning towards Sims' position. What do you think?
Michael Taylor-Judd
Jul 23, 2008, 12:49:25 PM7/23/08
to stru-s...@googlegroups.com
There seems to be some silliness on the part of opponents, Rodney... and I don't know what the hell is up with Sims. Don't fall for it!
The tax is NOT the issue. Yes, economic times are getting tough right now, but it is not going to be any easier to raise the sales tax in two years or four years. And the costs for transit expansion are only going to increase, which will mean even more taxes. And, frankly, the average person will only spend the equivalent of 1-2 tanks of gas per year on this tax increase. That's not much if the potential is to offer all of us more alternatives to driving in the future.
The issue is buses vs. light rail. And those of us on this list have heard this one -- over and over -- before. Yes, we need more buses. We need many, many, MANY more buses. On existing routes and many more new routes. We also need to start planning for the next level, the next step up. Buses just aren't going to cut it in the light rail corridors because they're going to get stuck in the same traffic.
We need to put this on the ballot now -- or give up on it for good. There's not going to be a better time. There isn't support to change the tax mechanisms. There isn't support to increase HOV lanes to 3+ people or to take away freeway lanes for transit. There isn't support for another rapid technology.
This is it. Or we're going to screw the region, just like Seattle voters screwed us out of rapid transit in West Seattle and Ballard. *SIGH*
The tax is NOT the issue. Yes, economic times are getting tough right now, but it is not going to be any easier to raise the sales tax in two years or four years. And the costs for transit expansion are only going to increase, which will mean even more taxes. And, frankly, the average person will only spend the equivalent of 1-2 tanks of gas per year on this tax increase. That's not much if the potential is to offer all of us more alternatives to driving in the future.
The issue is buses vs. light rail. And those of us on this list have heard this one -- over and over -- before. Yes, we need more buses. We need many, many, MANY more buses. On existing routes and many more new routes. We also need to start planning for the next level, the next step up. Buses just aren't going to cut it in the light rail corridors because they're going to get stuck in the same traffic.
We need to put this on the ballot now -- or give up on it for good. There's not going to be a better time. There isn't support to change the tax mechanisms. There isn't support to increase HOV lanes to 3+ people or to take away freeway lanes for transit. There isn't support for another rapid technology.
This is it. Or we're going to screw the region, just like Seattle voters screwed us out of rapid transit in West Seattle and Ballard. *SIGH*
Michael 8-)
"Hope is that thing inside us that insists, despite all evidence to the contrary, that something better awaits us if we have the courage to reach for it, and to work for it, and to fight for it." -Barack Obama
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