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The
Herald
Published: Friday, April 22, 2005
'Transportation
Plan Will Get Region Moving'
Herald
Staff
Dave Schmidt knows opportunity when he sees it, and his constituents should be glad.
The Mill Creek Republican was one of just seven GOP senators to vote for the big transportation package that passed the chamber on Wednesday by a 26-22 vote.
The fiscally conservative Schmidt knew he'd take heat from colleagues and supporters for backing a 9.5-cent increase in the gas tax, implemented over four years. But by holding out until late in the game, Schmidt wrangled a big prize for his 44th District constituents and the rest of Snohomish County: an additional $75 million for improvements to overcrowded Highway 9, bringing the total to $123 million.
Funding was already in place to widen the highway from the King County line to Clearview. Now, if the House approves the same project list, widening and other improvements can expand farther to the north, where they're sorely needed.
And all taxpayers are winners because of a GOP-backed provision that helped sell the package: truly independent performance audits of state highway projects that will ensure money is spent efficiently and effectively.
Some Democrats balked at performance audits, which made every GOP vote critical for this much-needed package. The pragmatic Schmidt wisely seized the chance to use that leverage and sweeten the deal for folks who live along the fast-growing Highway 9 corridor.
Combined with major projects already in the package, the additional Highway 9 money makes this a winning plan for Snohomish County. The nickel package approved two years ago already is widening Highway 527 in the Silver Lake Area, and major improvements to I-5 and Highway 522 are on the way. After years of stalling, critical transportation projects that will help our economy grow are finally moving forward.
The biggest pieces of the package go to two disasters-in-waiting: the aging Alaskan Way viaduct and Highway 520 floating bridge in King County. The loss of either of those structures to an earthquake or other damage would be a blow to the entire region, so they should be a top priority. But in fairness, those who use them the most should pay the most. Just as the gas tax is an appropriate user fee, tolls should also be part of the long-term solution for fixing those structures.
No one wants to pay more at the pump, but this package is a necessary investment to keep people moving. With this plan, Snohomish County commuters will see plenty of results.
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