Get informed on transportation issues | Other Voices

Published 10:16 am Tuesday, April 15, 2014

By Richard Gabel and Matthew Bott

Ballots hit mailboxes earlier this month as you and other King County voters will decide on whether to support a proposition which includes, among other things, a sales tax increase and a new $60 vehicle fee. The revenue will be used to provide additional funding for Metro Transit service as well as a distribution among cities and rural areas for some additional transportation purposes.

For years, and especially this year, Washingtonians spanning the political spectrum have pleaded with state legislators to pass a comprehensive state-level transportation package to keep people, goods and our economy moving forward. The needs are vast and the investment in our transportation system will have an enormous impact on our future competitiveness.

Nobody is more frustrated at the Legislature’s inability to invest in needed, critical and long overdue transportation solutions than the business community. Chambers of commerce, industry associations and businesses large and small from across the state, have continued to stand arm-in-arm with environmental groups, labor leaders, transit supporters and others to make the case for these needed comprehensive reforms and investments.

Yet again, the Legislature adjourned this winter with no transportation package. We now see King County asking voters to approve a new revenue proposal aimed at a portion of the needs.

Leading institutions differ on their endorsements of this proposal: The Seattle Chamber of Commerce and the King County Municipal League say vote yes. The Bellevue Chamber of Commerce and the Seattle Times urge a vote of no.

One can appreciate King County’s desire to bring something forward and the need for adequate transit service across the county is clear. But is the current model, absent reforms, sustainable over the long term? Some applaud King County for at least putting something forward. Others urge caution and list concerns about expense control and historical patterns of promises not delivered.

In the absence of a state transportation package, major improvements required on I-90, 405 and 520 remain unfunded. When do these investments materialize?

And to the topic of comprehensiveness: county-funded transportation is clearly only part of the regional transportation system, so one has to ask what will this measure mean to the prospects of a needed statewide package? Will this measure increase “voter fatigue” from continuous asks for new revenue to fund the investments? Is this a short term win which could lead to a long term loss? Questions abound.

Voters, all of whom we hope are paying attention to the unfolding state and county transportation debate, have important choices to make. Please take the time to educate yourself on this ballot measure and then the transportation positions of the legislative candidates appearing on the ballot in November. Transportation is a key issue in determining our regions competitiveness. Solutions take many years of planning, permitting and construction, so the decisions we make today we must live with for a long time to come. Leadership is needed and an informed electorate is the best first step.

Richard Gabel is the chair of the Board of the Greater Issaquah Chamber of Commerce. Matthew Bott is the chamber’s CEO.