Southeast King County was snubbed in this Proposition. No new commuter train service, just more parking at the transit stations. And a promise to look at tolling on the Valley Freeway. This one is any easy "no" vote for me.

Trains can never be effective or efficient enough to be a reasonable alternative to cars/busses. (Note: REASONABLE.)

Example: If you live/work in Tukwila, it's a 4 mile walk to the nearest light rail stop in either direction. If a commuter is already on a bus, why would they exit the bus to get on a train? Especially knowing that more often than not, they'd have to board another bus to reach their eventual destination anyway?

Trains are so mind-bogglingly inefficent it's absolutely stultifying.

As an example to the post above: Note Boeing's sales.

Boeing, realizing commuters want point-to-point travel, is kicking Airbus booty.

Airbus thinks commuters are willing to get on a feeder to travel to the hub, travel hub-to-hub to get on another feeder route.

Not.

Commuters are no different.

Trains are a huge boondoggle that suck up valuable resources (tax $$) we could use for schools or public safety.

This is just way to expensive! They are always asking for more money for roads but nothing ever gets fixed and I don't want to pay for 50 years.

From South Everett, to Georgetown this is a No for me. Also the 50 year payment plan when do you think they will asking to increase the gas tax again to pay for something that was not included in this huge tax increase?

I am tired of people not willing to pay for roads and transit. We failed in the 1960s to not add mass transit to this area and we're paying for it now - or not paying for it, as is the case. Tax payers need to realize that Seattle is transit-challenged compared to major metropolitan cities in this country (not to mention around the world), and we need to either pay to fix it now or end up with even worse problems later.

prop 1 needs to focus on new roads and skip the train! They blew it BIG the first time around with delays and cost over-runs! Why would people trust that they would get it right this time?

No one will be paying for 50 years ... the no campaign has filled the media with so many lies that many of you are repeating them. $157 Billion is a lie; never ending tax is a huge lie; the new big whopper $2000.00 a household - the calculation is two $50,000 vehicles and nearly $240,000 spent per household on taxable items ... this may be Kemper Freeman's budget, but this is not the average person in Puget Sound's budget. Also, light rail moves more people per hour (9000) than general purpose lanes on a freeway ... and since the train is not stuck in traffic, it's twice as effective. Please do so more research folks, building more lanes does not and has never reduced congestion ... it has produced however, the horrifying congestion of LA, Atlanta, and San Fran ... all of which have now realized you can't build yourself out of congestion, but you can add different mode choices to improve congestion. We have to stop saying this is about "me" -- this is about the future of the Puget Sound, our quality of life, our environment and the economy ... there will never be a perfect plan and waiting for one will cost you more than you can imagine. Even though I personally get very little and the cost to me will be about $382.00 a year, I want my four kids to have choices, I don't want them to waste $700.00 a year in fuel costs (avg. loss to a Puget Sound driver); who is paying now for the $160M in freight mobility losses - you are ... voting no means you keep paying more for less and the environment and the economy suffers ... voting yes moves the region forward. I'm voting yes.

The Sierra Club opposes because it has too much for roads. Drivers like me oppose because it has too little for roads. With opposition aligned on both ends, this one depends on the altruistic voters in the middle, and as such, is probably doomed.

NO
imagine that. State of Washington wants another tax.
im so shocked
they have so much money they could afford anything they want if they would get rid of BS expenditures

Hypocrit. Seattle is not LA, San Fran, nor
Atlanta, Vancouver or Portland - remember that please. You as a voter make decisons and choices for you and your children's future - that's okay and good for YOUR kids, but you also in your reasoning/ judgement lock in for others 'their' freedom of choice or other options governing new inovative solutions for the future which may better serve OUR region when it comes to transportation solutions. SDOT and WSDOT are NOT interested in 'fixing' congestion, nor curbing pollution standards or preserving our environment as we are led to believe, nor are auto manufacturer's or related businesses. Tonight, have your family take into account how many car make commercials appear during a program or news cast. Averages four to five spot commercials of 'comfort and luxury' (touting low interest financing on leases), who can resist? Prop. 1 passes: Do you seriously think that Prop. 1 is a fix to OUR problem? What's the problem? Looks all honky-dory seeing all those 'luxury-comfy' single occupancy vehicles waiting, waiting, waiting...have everything neatly tucked into those wheely offices. Some come equipped with gadget like fridges & warmers to keep your breakfast or dinner hot & cold, imagine that, future inovations figured that one out, that's what choices can do! Prop. 1 passes???Think again hypo. Why you would be TAKING away revenue of taxes from car tabs and sales tax because Brad's kids won't or shouldn't need to have cars of their own (4 more on the road-JACK) by the time all is said and done. But they'll have to fork over 'other' taxes to make up for the loss like future increasing sales tax and likely another hike in gas tax (for those who still have low interest 'leased' vehicles. Brad's kids won't have a choice becasue dear ol Dad 'fixed' it for them a long time ago. About the only choice or option left to Brad's kids is to move out of the State of Washington becasue its too bloody expensive to live here!!! And you know what else Dad?
We're still waiting for the train to come in to take us 50
miles to nowhere...is it here yet?

In an environment where prefrences may change material conditions, and or alter some with uncertainty, it is good practice on keeping our options open, retaining considerable felxability for opened future options...Prop. 1 closes and locks out flexability and prefrences. Its a no go this go around folks, come back and ask me again with a smaller, better understood and efficent cost prefrence we can live with and support.

I'm peeved and annoyed at Prop. 1 supporter's recruiting not yet registered to be voters. Kids calling households asking us to vote for Prop.1, because Brad up there talks about being informed and you know that's baloney when adults are brainwashing their kids. This kid (age 17) likely sat around a room with other 'volunteers?' (Better not find out they're getting paid). Turkey Vultures catching us at the dinner hour yet too! That's a mistake with me. Not only did this kid NOT know about Prop. 1 subject, he even had doubts about what he was doing, didn't understand implications or lies being said to sway voters!!! So I wouldn't be suprised that this young fellow is at the NO on Prop. 1 table tonight bcause I'll sure be...

Let's say Washington becomes an income tax state like Montana or perhaps a like kind enity.
If Prop. 1 passes its likely sales taxes would NOT go away because voter's approved collection of those taxes indefinitely to pay for a specific item.
And should Prop. 1 pass what happens to the rest of Washington State? Prop. 1 asks for an awful lot for just three counties at the sacrifice of the rest... I'm going to pass on this by voting no and give my money to those in meed. I wouldn't feel comfortable voting for something that I know others can't afford.

Poor Brad is getting drilled for Connor's comments. Hey KAO, you may want to up the dosage of your medication. While Connor, (aka, Brad) makes some common sense arguments, I catch myself feeling a bit like Catherine and Garret, especially since they could stay on topic. My only question to them is this: with the price of everything going up, more people moving here, and the incredible cost of realestate, how can "they" come back to us with a smaller package that will be any better? btw Catherine, the sales tax goes away when the bonds are paid off. having lived in three other states, all with income tax, our state pays very little in comparison and has so much more. posted by kyle, not brad.

Did you know Seattle had a light rail system Kyle, and do you know why it didn't survive Kyle? It died because; one those in charge weren't held accountable; two, the era of the auto mobile emerging, everyone who could afford it had to have one, (your choice of color was black). Ridership on the rail dropped off so dramatically it was no longer sustainable to operate it.
Now let's take the Monorail. We voter's finally killed that because we were able to hold the Monorail Board accountable. Prop. 1 shuts out voter's ability to appeal or hold accountable those seemingly in charge.
Hope folks grasp the fact too its not this generation but the next that will shoulder the responsibility of completing ST2/RITD if that.
I'm not going to vote to tax others $382.00 in car tab tabs each year for decades to come nor lock in place ever increasing sales taxes on our ever shrinking American dollar just for three counties in the State of Washington!!!

Reading through the above comments suggests to me Robert Mak that your pole is inconclusive. Obviously some are very passionate about choices we make in our daily lives, and choices for the future of our region regarding transporation issues.
I have lived in Seattle for 55 years and have seen many changes both with positive and negative impacts. The most controversial was SR520 and at the time it was completed was suppose to help ease traffic woes, it did for a decade or more.
I wonder whether Prop. 1 will be enough. Granted there needs to be changes, but I think those changes need to be in the way we think about how we want to get from point A to point B now. Prop. 1 is for the future of tomorrow on the horizon and not the tomorrow of today.
I am sorry but I'll have to give up my car, heating oil, my cat and eventually my home because this tax package will cost too much for me to live in my beloved Seattle.
Thank you,
Wayne

When I lived in the Boston area, we had 4 light rail lines. ( they still do ) They are N-E-S-W. They have been ther over 50 years. NY has the same type of system but longer. The difference is they go where need to go and a GOOD bus service. Wa is good wasting money and making systems that cost big buck but do not work. Remember there a lot of poor which find he to live here now. Oh we all do not make 50,000$ plus? We just know one thing, I lot of people can sure line their pockets. No one will check on our work. They like " BIG DIG'S ". Why not have our own like they have?

Larry A Bourdon

Everett

why tax me for owning multiple cars i can only drive one at a time that is why i am voting no on one

RTA was voted down by the voters. So it got renamed 'Sound Transit' which was a name much easier to market. At one point I read that since in the original proposal had no dollar limit, the project didn't have one either.

Until a transit solution is so irresistible to the Designers that even THEY will use it on a continual basis, it isn't going to work.

It is easier to get forgiveness than it is to get permission. Sorry, I just don't feel like giving out any blank checks.

I have different cars for different reasons. I drive a Prius to and from work: the nearest bus stop is 8 miles from my house, and 1 mile from my work. I'm not walking that in the dark and/or in inclement weather.
Increased tabs will cost me an extra $160 for this car.
I drive a truck for recreational purposes: pulling the boat, pulling the toy trailer, and carrying the camper. Increased tabs will cost me an extra $240 for this truck.
I also have to pay tabs for the camper, which rides on top of the truck I pay tabs for. Increased tabs will cost me an extra $40 for this camper.
Total cost of increased tabs for my family: $440.
Total benefit for my family: $0.

We need to completely replace our current transportation system with an `individual vehicle maglev system`. The first consideration would be the worse case scenario of running out of oil in 20 years, best case 50 years. No fuel, no transportation. Mass transit is not versatile enough to replace individual vehicles, even converting over to electric cars won`t solve traffic and transportation problems but will cause an expansion in our already troubled paved road system.
A global mag transportation system has all the checks in the right boxes. It`s time for the two sides to think out of the box and pool the $50m needed to start a global competition with Cdn universities.Yes individual vehicle is still a working concept while the 65t train is a protype (links below) but we need to ramp up the effort with a global design competition. It`s really the only hope for climate change, and likely humanities future.
The current technology can and has been improved. A US company recently announced they had increased the efficiency of solar panels by 50%. Newer versions are flexible and could be a power generating cover.
Universities are the places to put new technology into design features.
It will create more jobs than workers, 0 emissions, far fewer paved roads, no gridlock, high speed, 300+ kph and theoretically could replace our aging electric transmission grids and of course cutting commute times by 75%. At speed a single rail or transportation tube, TT, will move as many vehicles as a 6 lane freeway while reversing urban pollution that`s causing a health care crisis starting with the increasing asthma epidemic.
A basic fee plus distance charges in the form of a toll creates a viable and sustainable driver of the global economy, vs armaments, hmmm, see thread `War as an Investment`

http://poppavox.blogspot.com/

I don't see a link to the poll so i hope this is it.
i think there needs to be something in the Seattle area that people will use.
one thing would be to study the los Angeles scenario and see how many people are actually using the rail system there. in proportion! it needs to be user friendly and convinient, look at route 301 and 41 with the bus system, people use it because its quick and direct.
the pricing needs to be more thought through and direct. I don't mind paying for a transit system, but it should also be paid by fares and road tabs not sales taxes.

Rather than build more roads OR an expensive transit system, we could save billions by incentivizing all people who can, to carpool, reducing the use of vehicles. Everyone who has a job they can carpool to, should. Those who have chosen lifestyles and jobs that are addicted to using cars should pay for those who have not chosen those lifestyles. It should be about personal choice, not enabling all choices for everyone at a cost to the environment.

I feel this proposed road/transit plan is another program that will under no circumstancaes see an end. It will not under any circumstances cost what they say it will and it will not do what it say it will do. The cost will go up and go way up and taxpayers will only be taxed more and more. I intend to vote NO!

No...

The same people who oppose this plan are the same people who brought us an I-90 project at 10 times the cost. Act now or loose later. Think about what big money private land developers will gain if this fails?

no. the state has promised and promised the tax will go to the roads, this time. Yet this summer I listened as the seattle I-5 mess was brought to an early conclusion and the contractor was paid how much of a bonus? that was tax money. no more, not until someone in DOT acts like they are spending thier families budget instead of mine.

What happened to tolls on the roads? Is everyone in government too gutless to bring up the subject? Afraid that tolls are too unpopular? Too bad! IF YOU USE IT, PAY FOR IT!!

NO!

Was it me, or was Robert Mak blatantly opposed to the transit portion?

I see that many of these posters are from the boonies. Well, it's you guys who drive to the city that cause a lot of this congestion. Since light rail won't reach your house because it's too far, it'll reach thousands of others closer in who have the option to use the train; resulting in them freeing up freeway space for YOU (which is being expanded too by the way). So how does this not benefit you??

And for those complaining it's too expensive: OK, let's shoot this down and wait another decade. Then it'll be double the cost for a smaller plan.

I have already voted NO. Will continue voting no on every money issure presented to voters.

I have absolutely no faith in how they spend MY money

NOOO, enough I say. Those beaurocrats and planners just have one thing in their mind. More planning equals more money in taxes, way b4 the job even begins, they alwas manage to run out of money before they complete the task. In my job this kind of inneptitude deserve firing someone not just an 'oops, we miscalculated the cost..' explanation. And another thing. Once it gets approved as they are hoping it will, they all get to keep their jobs till the project is completed so discussions contimue and nothing gets completed. Meantime, the average tax payer gets yet another weight to carry in their pocket. They don't look at it from the taxpayer pov. Don't they ever listen. Apparently not

The assumptions of "no inflation" or 4% inflation are unrealistic. Increasing gasoline, natural gas and food costs already far exceed 4%. I suggest the costs be recaluculated at a 10% inflation rate. The federal government's policy of debt financing to support foreign wars by flooding the world with U.S. dollars, will cause the interest rates to continue to rise. I cannot support the road/transit plan based on an unrealistic assumption of future interest rates.

I found in my ballot that I can't even vote for Prop1!

I guess I cam out of the catch area of this tax budget, but I do know this, I will be charged the same as if it were passed!
Now lets throw some more figures that you still have NOT seen:
1. People on fixed incomes. We have a great number of Veterans that are in these counties that don't or can't even get jobs (due to illness or disability). How are we going to make it fair for them.
2. The older aged that are on fixed incomes. We have a large group of these folks living here as well that are still NOT being looked at for all these New taxes.
3. How about the visitor to this area? With tolls and taxes, why should they pay extra for their vacation.

So now that I have put more into this for people to think about, lets see.

I will have to pay more for getting less due to the Government allowing the increase of building (home and retail areas), when they have done NOTHING for roads in the past 15 years. So why as a people should we pay for their mistake? Here is another part to it, Why should we have to pay for their problems and their pay increases when that is really what these taxes are going to do and make for the Government.

We all know that the taxes collected are going into the General Fund, and we will have to wait again on the "fixing the problem" with another raise in taxes!

Mak did a good job this morning on Roads and Transit (Upfront), and if you listened you would have heard that the pro-camp is not specific about costs while the against group is very specific. This bundling of a transportation wish list is poorly written and as RM clearly stated makes no guarantees and doesn't include the costs in the last 20+ years of bond interest expense. The historical overruns in public construction financing should be your guide and even the $157 Billion most likely will sound low in 10 years when much of this work will be completed. Come back soon with smaller pieces and you will get some of the projects done, but as Simms (I rarely agree with him) said you are not going to move enough people with the cost of the build out of light rail in some of the areas planned. And squeezing traffic on I-90 down by a lane each direction to build a light rail which really hasn't had an intensively tested stress test model completed. Go back to the drawing board quickly and do the job right so we don't end up like San Jose and Atlanta. Thank you

Proposition 1 hopefully will not pass, and I for one will REJECT this plan. I strongly believe that light rail is a waste of time for a small majority of commuters, not for the COMMON GOOD. Let's be smart people, and consider the fact that the next three generations of commuters (our children and our grandchildren) will pay for our error in judgement, while THEY are stuck in traffic jams.

Let's create better ideas to improve the congestion, and focus on the businesses in the Puget Sound that could have employees work from home, or give bigger and better company incentives to compensate employees for carpooling, or taking the bus, or staggering workers hours.

Our successful economy in Puget Sound has created this mess, let's more efficiently leave the solutions up to the businesses and people, rather than the State Government! They are only going to make it worse by taxing us till we can't afford to live in this beautiful State!!!
\

Pretty much get where need to go with passenger/freight train, buses, carpooling, ride share, cabs, van pools, flex car, bicycling, hoofing, hitch hiking it. Wouldn't mind paying tolls (like Europe when solo and or, congestion pricing).
What I DO MIND and am very nervous about Prop. 1 is this "NO CAP" blank check sales tax Sound Transit banks on.
Poor Wayne and sooo many others like him. Thing is wouldn't stop at JUST the sales tax for long, eventually ST will need more by some other means to stay viable...
Undoubtbly effect on traffic will not change except perhaps when weather takes a turn for the worst and if that's the case there's still no assurance that we'll get home any earlier (from past snow storm disasters)-- ce cream's melting through the grocery sack...

Don't think the people will ride the transit. To much money for the use it will get. Spend more on roads.
The railroads that they are taking up, why don't they use these road beds for some kind transit? The track they took up years ago along 169 from Renton to Enumclaw. They are taking up one out of Renton that goes along 405. Could that be used to get to the Boeing plant and the shopping center going up out there? Just run buses on it.

Proposition 1 has some very good points in it. It also has some very bad ones. Number one to me is the increased tab fees on my vehicles. I have in my hand the renewal for my '04 Sebring. My $30 dollar tabs are $112.75, of which $69 is the current RTA tax. That tax will not go away with Prop 1, the new taxes will be added to it and my tabs will double in cost. Don't these idiots who lay out the financing for these propositions remember initative 695??? The voters made it clear they did not want these high renewal fees. Since 695 the politicians and others responsible for bringing these projects to the voters have been crying like little children who have had their candy taken away and all they can think of is trying to get it back. To hell with what the voters want, witness Safeco Field, voted down at least twice and still built using my tax dollars. When are they going to admit we need tolls such as is being done with Narrows Bridge. I don't like them but they are easier to swallow than excise taxes on my tabs.

I think I read where if this is voted for, we can't vote to reverse the funding mechanism in the future, for any reason. If this is true then why would anyone vote for it?

Sound Transit does not operate efficiently. Look at the results of the State Auditor's audit -- basic business practices still elude this agency. It is run by a management that does not responsibly handle the public's money. I recommend you vote NO.

The King County electorate is a battered spouse who cannot seem to leave the offender.

They overwhelmingly say they didn't get their monies worth in 1996 (small wonder, since the first act after allotting the money was for Metro managers to give themselves a pay raise); and yet now they are "not sure" if they want to get hit over the head again!

What kind of masochists are you people?

there is no way I am voting yes on this. Until Washington State becomes more accountable with where the tax funds are going, I refuse to vote yes on any roads packages. What happened to the gas tax increase that voters just approved? I think people have a short memory.

I live in Tacoma, and I work in the Port of Tacoma. I don't comute in Seattle, so why should I support Prop 1? The tolls seem to be working well for the new Narrows bridge, why don't use tolls up in Seattle? So that is why I'am voting No on Prop 1

Why is it legal for a proposition that covers multiple subject matters? Remember I-695? Light rail, roads, an incomplete 520??? Prop 1 is trying to appeal to the broad population, but not answering anyone's concerns - a broken transportation system.

Vote No! Why?

Traffic comes from cars. Cars come from people. People live in houses. More people come here when more houses are built. The problem is the excessive building of houses out towards the rural areas.

Will the plans for building roads be enough to fix our current traffic issues? What about the 1 million new people who arrive in the next 20 years?

Light rail would be wonderful - if it worked. Because of where I live, I won't use it. How about you?

Just remember the monorail ripoff. Do we really think that our taxes will be used efficiently or that we will actually get what we pay for? They have lied before and will lie again. Too much $$$ and zero benefit. NO!!!!

The October 28 hour was disappointing. It included little new footage or detail. One critical fact that was glossed over: the RTID would get one-third of its revenue stream from one-tenth increase in the sales tax. This would be unfair and inefficient.

What is the fiscal plan to complete the SR-520 bridge project, rehab I-5 ($2 billion), widen arterials, or add sidewalks? If there is no plan, why spend the RTID funds to expand I-405 and extend SR-167 or SR-509? If the latter projects are to move freight, why does the RTID not propose to toll them?

The bottom line is that Sound Transit has not proven itself to be trustworthy and there's no performance accountability measures in this plan. A comprehensive congestion relief plan has been long overdue for the voters of Washington, but we need to vote for the right one. There needs to be measures where voters approve cost overruns and ways that if Sound Transit is not meeting its goals, voters can pull out and get their money back (or at least stop it from being collected). They also need to have definitive guarantees for how long the taxes are going to last and exactly how much they'll cost.

Additionally, any taxes for road improvements need to be on a per use basis. I don't like either tolls or a gas tax, but its the most applicable form and the only way to discourage people from driving unecessarily. Car tabs encourage people to own less cars, not drive less. A lot of times that may mean combining a truck into a commuter...

I see a cool new business if Prop 1 passes. I can buy old junkers on craigslist -- maybe even get 'em for nothing -- or I can get 'em cheap from Joe's Auto Wrecking and refurbish (in California they call it RESTO) to make them drivable. With ancient VINs the vehicles will be almost worthless, so the assessed value tax will be almost zero. Now the old-technology engines won't get many miles per gallon, which means they'll still contribute to the gas tax ripoff, and Ron Simms will object to the added carbon in the air. And I'll still have to collect sales tax when I sell 'em, so I'm not home free. But I get to thumb my nose at the bureaucrats who think they've figured out how to extract their salaries and retirement benefits from my wallet. In addition, there are all kinds of goodies for the community. The wrecking yards will no longer have to chop up the old vehicles and ship the pieces to China. Body shops will need more employees, so those who flunk the WASL can get Microsoft-size wages. The shade-tree mechanics will take over the un-used service bays from the impoverished new car dealers thereby saving all of us from the $75 per hour change-the-spark-plugs scam. See? There really is something to look forward to if Prop 1 passes. So what'll I do with all the dough I'll make? I'll buy a condo in Alaska and put out-of-state tags on my Beemer.

In reference to Rick on 10/28 - the Robert Mak show was horribly one-sided and anti-transit. Evidently you no longer need to have journalism courses to get a show like this - either that or simply sell out to the general public for an upfront parking space at Bellevue Square mall. Mak uses Jim McIssic on his show as some type of expert -- are you kidding me? There are literaly 100 more qualified planners in the Puget Sound-JM's numbers are phony and shouldn't be repeated and yet Mak and the Seattle times are eating up the lies hook, line and sinker. The no campaign has created and anti-tax hysteria and fear that looks more like a bad rerun of homeland security. The fact of the matter is that if you had to take our current transportation system and build it today, 520, all of 405, I-5, 90, etc. it would cost you hundreds of billions. We are looking at a 17.8 billion investment (actual audited number, not made up). We haven't really invested in our transporation in many decades and now we don't really have a choice. This plan isn't perfect, but I'll take moving forward rather than sitting idle and worse yet, slipping backward - I'm a yes.

$157 billion... we're supposed to believe that won't take 50 years to pay off?
Funding - $80 per year on your car tabs per $10,000 of assessed value of you vehicle. Who decides how much my vehicle is worth? The state told my my Acura Integra was worth $14k but after it was stolen, State Farm insurance told me it was worth $8k... So according to the state, I'll pay another $120 when I renew my license tabs. I thought voters made the license tab issue clear a few years ago.
If this passes, projects such as the Cross-Base Highway in Pierce County won't break ground until 2018... and that's if it stays on schedule!
NO

If it were just the light rail, I would vote yes. We have to get people off of the existing roads. I agree, the proposed system may not be the most efficient, but it is a good start and is better than what we have now....HOWEVER, once the roads are added in to the plan my vote becomes a NO. They claim to address the major chokepoints, yet the chokepoints I pass through everyday in Seattle are not addressed by the plan. The roads portion of the plan is a total miss and unfortunately sabotages the light rail portion of the proposal.

157 Billion is a lie ... it is a phony number ... it is a number made up to do evidently what it did for you which is to scare you away from the proposition. NO rational person believes this will be 157B - No one! Also, get on line and read how your car is assessed - it is not through insurance agencies. A new program was put in place which threw out the old MSRP system and now focuses on actual blue book value. Hey JT, while I mostly agree with you, the fact of the matter is that the plan addresses the major chokepoints identified by PSRC. Also, with so many of the improvements supporting HOV and bus, this plan makes sense if the idea is to get to congestion pricing ... that way we get people out of cars and people pay for what they use.

The three great pumpkins with their horribly disfigured faces of greed and glory rose out of the pumpkin patch last eve, but to their frighful horror saw all the people leaving Washington...last one out please turn the lights out!!!
Give me a break will you!!! Pro and Con's are throwing pumpkin slop at each other over mere words and numbers. If your not sure about RITD/SR2 vote no and if your SO sure vote yes.
But you yay sayers will be moving out of State of Washington in next year - happened before when vehicle tabs got out of control, why do you think there was a tax revolt to $30.00??? The Great Pumpkin will be watching all you fools who register your vehicles, boats, trailers, RV's and luxury toys out of state...
And besides, what did we get the last time this happened? Can you yay sayers honestly trust government like never before to give them a blank check? And when something goes terribly wrong like the Monorail fiasco what then? You won't be able to go back out with this one! No voting it out or curb corruption becasue RTID/SR2 locks in so YOU or others in future no longer HAVE THAT CHOICE!!!
Its not just about costs folks or DOING something now (and regreting it later) its about accountabilty to us tax payers!!! No one taking charge here, so there's no one enity to hold responsible or throw the bums out!!! Its certain majority of yay sayers are new comers to our region, and who likey will not be here long and or haven't got a clue to how this type of government wheels & and deals, so in the long run do we close that door and lock it or have a revolving one for the whole state??? The three grossly over weight pumpkins are laughing all the way to the bank...

GP does have a point. Blast of comments from neighbors and friends concerned about security issues regarding infrastucture: (including light rail). Takes one vehicle accident on major highway to clog traffic for hours...
Sounder Train routes fail for one reason or another folks have to take other modes of transportation to their destinations, (same can be said for light rail). One accident ties up whole system;
Catastrophic power failure of the grid, earthquake, flooding windstorms, snow, tunnel fires, terrorism are unforseen elements which can occur in a minute. Everbody's too focused on how much its going to cost if we don't do something now, well what haven't we been doing now? Take light rail off the transportion package an keep with Sounder Train as a seperate enity. Give voter's benefit of doubt, RITD/SR2 package is wrong. We're all for the highways part, that's more important for right now, but not light rail tied to it. We're all voting no.

I have been to Japan, the rail system works there. You can arrive at one end of the town in minutes, packed like sardines in the rush hour but you still get to where you are going. We need to do something. I believe it is both rail and road improvements. My only problem is our lack of desire to consult with people who have made this work and my confidence in our government to work as a team, so disjointed. We have too many opinions and not enough actions and to many studies to make this work. I still struggle with a decision on how to vote.

3 pumpkins rose up and sat right there ... stuck in traffic with no other mode to move them around. People like GP see the govt around every corner waiting to screw them over because we all know that's what govt employees do -- they wake up each and every day looking to mess with roger and gp's taxes. small thinking beggets small improvements ... I'd prefer to catch up and start fixing the problems we have all ignored for years. We need both light rail and road improvements to improve the quality of life here. It's not about me, you or anyone else; it's about what's needed for the system. It's called a society. uh oh, gotta go, I can sense a govt person wasting my tax dollars right now.

I think this is completely stupid and I am not a fan of light rail because I think it too slow and still has the surface obstacles. I also think that it should not just punish folks with cars, as we must often drive and I dont think it is fair to add 2 hours a day to accomodate the bus travel. I remember thinking when I was in Moscow Russia that their transit system was awesome underground and that is really what we need, a Subway. They had hi speed electric trains that ran every 2 minutes and it was very inexpensive to use. They have way more people than Seattle and if you saw traffic there you would think we have no problems here, so i think that would be a solution I would pay for. But the burden needs to be shared by everyone not just car owners. And dont start on the poor deal. I know a lot of people who weasel out of the measures by voting for the tax and then registering their car up north at moms house. The taxes should be shared by the entire community that shares the benefit. Instead of building stadiums and trolley runs no one wants, invest in an efficient underground subway system. And for gods sake get rid of the ride free downtown bus zone and you will increase bus ridership. The bums have really over run seattle in the last 20 years and until you have the luxury of a passed out drunk bum urinate on himself next to you on the bus, you will probably think I am being mean but this is a problem that makes people not want to ride the public transit. Is that not what everyone complains about to begin with? My thoughts, scattered as they may be. Peter

SoundTransit is a Seattle oriented system to primarily support that community. I already pay lots of money on my car tabs for the current over budget, behind schedule route from Seattle to SeaTac, and I live in Bellevue.
A big part of the Prop 1 issue with me is the leadership decisions on where and when to develop the light rail system. Forcing light rail across the I-90 bridge and into downtown Bellevue is one example of poor planning. There is a BNSF rail corridor which runs the entire length of the Eastside of Lake Washington, but it has been mostly ignored even though it parallels I-405, one of the busiest highways in the State. Instead, some genius wants to rip up the current rails and convert it into a bicycle path.
I'm for light rail in the proper most effective way.
Bellevue doesn't need ST2 coming into downtown Bellevue, when using the current BNSF rail corridor would be easier and less expensive. The downtown Bellevue business district could well be served by a circulator bus tied into a ST2 light rail station located in the Overlake area.
Lightrail best serves hub to hub locations and is not designed to go to every home community. Buses are better suited for that.
Finally, the three county voting area is designed specifically to get the most yes votes for Prop 1. Look at what's in and what's out. One example is people living south of I-90 and east of SR-167 are not included.

VOTE NO ON PROP 1 !

why should we waste money on a sound transit only bill that won't even benefit other transportation needs , like a monorail upgrade

they need to recall this bill
and find a solution to the problem with the monorail
so that if the idiots who are complaining about the transportation problems , would just include the "monorail upgrade" in a better transportation deal
everyone would be happy

vote no on roads and transit

YES!
This do-nothing, roads only arrogance is why we're now stalled and going nowhere.

VOTE YES ON PROP 1 !!!

We NEED mass transit. Traffic will be an absolute nightmare in 10 years. The people who will have the worst traffic will be those who cannot afford to live in the the city limits of Seattle, which is most people. I'm willing to pay some extra taxes now so I don't have to sit in traffic 2 hours each way to go to work.