Posted on 11/10/2005 8:12:27 AM PST by MooseMan
The defeat of Initiative 912 unlocks an $8.5 billion tax package and clears the way for hundreds of transportation projects around the state. But don't expect work to start soon on the Alaskan Way Viaduct or other multibillion-dollar projects in the Seattle area.
The state and city are still arguing over whether to rebuild the viaduct or replace it with a tunnel. And even with the gas-tax increase, there's not enough money to replace the Highway 520 floating bridge or fix all the congestion problems on Interstate 405. The central Puget Sound region will eventually have to come up with extra cash.
I-912 would have repealed the 9.5-cent-a-gallon gas-tax increase passed by the Legislature in April — the largest such increase in state history. On Wednesday, the results stood at 53 percent opposed to repeal and 47 percent in favor.
"I think it was a vote of confidence in us as legislators, and that always makes us feel like we're doing a good job," House Majority Leader Lynn Kessler, D-Hoquiam, said Wednesday.
With $2 billion dedicated to it, the viaduct is the biggest project funded by the gas tax. The state has said that if the city can't come up with another $1 billion for the tunnel, it will proceed with rebuilding the viaduct.
State Transportation Secretary Doug MacDonald said he hasn't given the city a deadline to raise the extra money, but a chunk may come Friday when the Port of Seattle Commission is expected to consider whether to contribute $200 million to the tunnel.
For now, the state will tackle less-daunting transportation issues.
(Excerpt) Read more at seattletimes.nwsource.com ...
After this last election I feel like I am living in a leftist South American Country.
The media has turned this country sharply left. Colorodo voted to basically tax the state to death. California didn't surprise me.
The north/south border has also moved farther south. Virginia can not be considered a southern state anymore when so much of the population lives right by the beltway. They read the Washington Post every morning. Northern Virginia might as well be a suburb of Boston.
We are going to become a one party monopoly of democrats. You will get even more spending. Get ready for multi trillion universal healthcare.
LOWER TAXES???? In a blue state?
Yeah and maybe the MSM will start treating the French riots like big news.
I can't see how the "Solomonic solution" of having half the cost of the new bridge from tolls, and half from state funds.
And do the same for the Seattle projects!!!!
has anyone seen a county by county breakdown on how this vote went???? I haven't, was it typical, everyone voting against it except King and Pierce???
I just moved to Kitsap county, tired of the mess on 16.
Fortunately, I both live and work west of the bridge (Gig Harbor area), so I don't have to contend with the bridge except on a very infrequent basis.
Will probably be joining you in Kitsap next year, though, as the company the wife works for is relocating from Gig Harbor to Poulsbo, which is just a bit far for her to drive twice daily--so we're going to look for something closer to Port Orchard/Bremerton.
I grew up in E Bremerton, have to specify E not West. I moved to Tacoma so my wife would be closer to Auburn work. Now she got a job there as well, so I will save untold commuter miles yoo hoo.
Snohomish voted to keep the tax.
Did you notice nobody tried to stop the Seattle Times' "Daily no on I-912" editorials? That's what they called it and picked a different letter everyday. Lame stream media at its finest.
You got that exactly right!
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