As noted below, there may not be a transportation "Plan B" in the works now that Prop. 1 Roads and Transit has died an un-mourned death. However, in 2008, voters will be presented with a Plan C and a Plan D. Christine Gregoire and Dino Rossi.
Transportation and traffic congestion will be one of the top four issues on the campaign trail next year - probably the biggest - and the winner will be who puts together a laundry list of projects and solutions the voters like the best.
I don't think voters will stand for yet another ballot measure dropped on their laps like a bag of used kitty litter and being told to pick through what portions they like and swallow the rest. So both candidates will have to bear most of the political costs on their shoulders.
It's that whole representative democracy thing you might have read about once as a sophomore in high school.
Dueling press releases were sent out yesterday by both camps after the failure of Prop 1. Neither of them, as can be expected, deal with specifics yet. But they are step one in determining who the next "Guv" will be.
Statement from Governor Gregoire on Roads-Transit Plan
"This was a tough vote. Local voters were asked to make a significant contribution to solving safety and congestion and I respect the decision of the voters in the Puget Sound area," said Governor Gregoire. "Congestion and safety remain a very real problem. I will continue to fight to solve our transportation problems. Safety must be our number one priority and the 520 bridge, a critical link in our transportation system, is one of the top regional safety issues. It is vulnerable to earthquakes and winds and it must be replaced."We have about a $2 billion shortfall that needs to be solved. I have directed OFM and WSDOT to work with both public and private entities to develop a full finance plan for the 520."
From the Rossi campaign...
Voters are Ready to Make Traffic Congestion a Priority
Seattle, WA - Washington voters yesterday rejected Proposition 1, the road and transit package backed by Christine Gregoire. This is evidence the public is ready for new leadership to address traffic congestion and regional transportation issues. "Voters yesterday delivered a loud and clear message to Christine Gregoire that they don't want her taking more of their hard-earned money without seeing results," said Dino Rossi. "Citizens didn't reject this measure because they are not concerned about traffic congestion, they rejected it because they have experienced one too many broken promises from this governor and don't trust her to solve the problem. Her mission is to force people out of their cars; my goal is to reduce congestion. The difference is clear."In 2005, Gregoire pushed through a 9.5-cent gas tax increase, the largest in state history, with the promise to help relieve congestion. Many projects have not been completed on time, are 31 percent over budget and have not provided congestion relief.
A recent audit by Democrat State Auditor Brian Sonntag found that Gregoire's Department of Transportation is not even focused on congestion relief. The Department's current priorities as documented in the audit are safety, maintenance, preservation, environment and economic vitality. Congestion does not even make the list, despite Sonntag telling them to "commit to congestion management and reduction as a primary goal."
Dino Rossi will be releasing a comprehensive transportation plan later in the campaign.
So it looks like a race.
I'm sure actually focusing on issues will be disappointing for political types and reporters who want to play it easy by focusing on retreading 2004, and writing about fundraising efforts and poll numbers. Supporters of Rossi and Gregoire, though, should welcome an actual real debate along with the voting public at large.
Extra: I'm not in a habit of just dumping the text of press releases on readers. Heading out to the WNC Roast right now to help so time, time, time...and traffic!
Behave...
Tax revolt, period, will be the issue next year. That is if there are any pro-tax, big government liberals still showing their faces by then...
Posted by: cmiklich on November 8, 2007 03:40 PMI predict Rudy will run the table and sweep good R candidates into office. Hopefully, the Rs will put them into place.
But, what Rossi and Gregoire are saying comes down to, I believe, do more people want transit or road capacity? And neither will address the issue of declaring an 'emergency' to get Medina, Clyde's Hill, etc. from holding up 520 bridge and the enviros from holding up everything else.
Remember the picture of Sims with a constituent/voter in the middle of a wetland that would have to be crossed for the third super freeway running north-south?
Posted by: swatter on November 8, 2007 04:23 PMIn his first 10 days as a candidate Rossi has raised over half millions dollars...
Plan "C"hristine has taken over 3 years to raise $3 million in which most of it is was used up raising the money...
As for Rudy, the guy is a myth. He cleaned up the streets of NYC, but he's too far left for the majority of the religious nuts that occupy the GOP. Expect Rudy to go down in flames and the better candidate tossed aside because he's from the wrong religion.
And it seems you agree with me that if Rudy gets the nomination he might run the table. I don't know if he will or not, but Mitt may run it also.
Posted by: swatter on November 8, 2007 05:05 PMMaybe he can.
For starters he might start to be a bit more specific.
Details now to measure his future performance would be a refreshing change from politics as usual.
Posted by: BA on November 8, 2007 05:15 PMDino definitely has a better handle on what most people want, in the area of transportation.
Posted by: Michele on November 8, 2007 05:52 PMNobody has to subsidize the other guy.
Bet we won't see another transit measure pass in our lifetimes......
Posted by: george hanshaw on November 8, 2007 06:25 PMRejected 60-40%
No change....more traffic, more traffic, more traffic
Posted by: Bill Anderson on November 8, 2007 06:29 PMReally? You own the house, you own the senate, you own the mansion, you've blown the biggest surplus the state has ever known.... WHO THE HELL IS IT YOU ARE GOING TO FIGHT?
Answer: The voters for more money.
"C" certainly doesn't stand for Credibility.
"(Gregoire's) mission is to force people out of their cars; my goal is to reduce congestion. The difference is clear. - Dino Rossi"
Posted by: AP on November 8, 2007 09:08 PMOption D would be to break up road projects and the RTID boundaries - make them smaller and vote on either option C or D (D will probably get more support). As for Light Rail - they should be on a separate track and vote for or against crossing Lake Washington next year and eliminate all other light rail shown on Prop. 1. It has been shown to be vastly overrated.
(Also as part of Option C or D) The old Dinner train route - from Renton to Woodinville; this could be developed into a commuter train route that would link eventually with light rail across the lake. Forget the bike trail idea there, a waste of track.
- gas tax goes to roads and roads only
- car tabs to roads and roads only
- gas & car tabs pay for general purpose lanes only; time to end this subsidization of wealthy fat cats who can afford chauffers
- tax bikes and bike related gear to help pay for bike paths
- have bike tabs for folks over 16 who ride on the roads
- let density pay for transit by taxing units larger than a 4 plex
- tax the gains in wealth from zoning changes that accompany a new transit station
- get money from land owners who directly benefit from the invesment (put a line to Northgate, Northgate should foot part of the bill since they directly benefit while some other shopping center not on the line would not)
Other than busses, and maybe Sounder in the future, transit is nothing more than urban redevlopment. Since it is urban development, take some of the gains in wealth created by the transit line to help pay it instead of soaking us all, only to line the pockets of the lucky/connected few.
Posted by: AP on November 8, 2007 09:55 PMI say we auction off the 520 bridge right-of-way to the highest bidder that will sign a replacement and maintenance contract with the state.
While we're at it, let's auction off the 405. If we don't like the idea of giving up total ownership, we'll just auction off a 99 year lease.
But a monopoly on the east-side corridor wouldn't best serve the customers so we should also auction off the 900 to West Lake Samammish route to another company to develop into another multi-lane highway.
Posted by: blindman on November 8, 2007 10:29 PMAddress it with what?
Maybe we need an 'El' -- it would remind me of the old A Line down Liberty Avenue in Ozone Park.
Posted by: John Bailo on November 9, 2007 02:20 AM