State Transportation Secretary Doug MacDonald has resigned
MacDonald, who has held the top transportation post for six years, "led WSDOT with energy and enthusiasm," [Mrs.] Gregoire said. "The many successful projects and positive results from WSDOT during his time as secretary speak to his ability as a leader and his commitment to service.Senate Transportation Chairwoman Mary Margaret Haugen offered similarly purple praise
"Doug has done a really superb job. What a mess it was in when he took over. He helped us put credibility back into the department."The Alaskan Way Viaduct and the 520 bridge could not be reached for comment. Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at April 27, 2007 07:00 PM | Email This
None of the transportation people like him. Plus he's been scandalously ineffective and basically ruined any progress this region could've made in transportation.
He sucks and he won't be missed.
I would feel bad writing this, but Doug has so much love for himself that I know he'll be just fine.
Posted by: bureaucrat on April 27, 2007 08:54 PMGood news, the WA Supreme Court unanimously struck down the attack on Carlson and Wilbur.
I'd be happy that McDonald is leaving, except you can bet Gregoire will install someone far worse.
Posted by: Jeff B. on April 27, 2007 09:16 PMCan each family in this state afford an addiional $8,000 for choo choo trains?
This proposal now equals the entire bloated budget in Olympia for every program in this state.
I'm very excited about this latest proposal, because it has now risen from 12 Billion to 37 Billion just since John Carlson signed on to it.
Sorry John, but you really did have an opportunity here and blew it.
It is a proposal I can absolutely get behind defeating.
Thank you DOT for making this such an easy decision, I suspect even Doug knew it was hopeless.
As I drove to my Camano Island home today, I noticed "It's your dollar" signs that used to be "It's your nickle" signs.
My Property taxes in Mary Margaret Haugen's district jumped up $700 (20%) increase, and she cannot even have the decency to respond other than saying that "Proprty taxes are the biggest issue in this state"
While of course she trys to pass constitutional changes in washington state to make it easier for bloated school bonds to pass, thus additionally raising property taxes even higher.
So this is also another Hell no on election day.
She is a disaster and DOT deserves to die!
Bye Bye Doug, this taxpayer won't miss you!
Posted by: GS on April 27, 2007 09:19 PMAs opposed to broom broom cars?
Posted by: Daniel K on April 27, 2007 10:06 PMFranky, I was stunned at the utter lack of facts and reality of the man's observations.
The best thing that could happen to WSDOT would be if the janitors and the planners/administrators exchanged jobs. At least the janitors have some concept of real life and transportation issues of ordinary people..the 90% who have no real ability to use HOV lanes, buses, choo choo trains, bike lanes, squirrel bridges.
Good riddance to bad rubbish.....
Posted by: Hank on April 28, 2007 06:49 AMReplacing 520 even with only extra HOV lanes will not help traffic as long as it dumps into that mess on I-5.
All transit options seem to me to have the primary focus of moving people into and out of Seattle.
I wonder, how many of the thousands of car trips per day on I-5 and the viaduct are actually only moving through (or around) Seattle?
It has been six years since the Nisqually earthquake, two years since the latest round of tax increases for 520 and the viaduct and we still don't even have an agreed upon plan for their replacements. Sound Transit claims to be on-time and on-budget, but they aren't anywhere close to what they had promised and sold the voters 11 years ago.
MacDonald is supposed to be praised for this type of "leadership"? His most successful projects were in getting the taxes raised for projects that had no definition at the time.
Posted by: SouthernRoots on April 28, 2007 02:25 PMHe's been on Sound Transit's board for the past six years too - they've botched their jobs there as well.
Posted by: Orotund on April 28, 2007 02:50 PMNow why is it that attorneys who have no experience in engineering, management or any other experience believe that they are qualified to accept positions that would demand such experience or training?
Perhaps people with no training, experience, or credentials may accept positions as judges. Unfortunately we can't do that. Well maybe we can practice law? Can't do that nether. Why do you suppose that attorneys keep people that are untrained or inexperienced in their professions from accepting positions demanding experience and training; yet they with no experience or training apply for and receive positions managing the State Transportation Department with a muli-billion dollar budget. A department which ultimately impacts every citizen in the state. Why is that OK. Why?
Posted by: Snuffy on April 29, 2007 01:08 AM20 years have past since the last major highway project I-90's 2nd and the replacement for the sunken one have opened.
What do we have to show for the millions upon millions of gas tax dollars collected from then to now?
I don't have the facts and figures, but rest assured they are likely dismal. What maybe 2% increase in lane miles during the period and a 50% increase in population?
We have free-way walls, worthless metering lights and lots of inter-change plantings. We have new bus ramps, parking garages that fail down prior to completion. Not to mention 1/4 million dollar salmon art attached to them. We have ruts being cut deeper and deeper by studded tires all during a time of global warming.
The bus and choo choo disease afflicting those in control of providing meaningful transportation for all these years is so completely debilitating they don't even know enough to be ashamed.