Comments on: News Round-Up: VMT Tax

By: Imee

Imee — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 07:28:02 +0000

I like those articles regarding VMT tax. I’m one of those Obama supporters that think it was a wrong move to reject the VMT tax idea. I don’t think it’s 100% great, but I’m willing to give the idea a chance, since as you mentioned, people are driving less and using fuel efficient cars. I for one have been commuting rather than driving because of money issues, so I haven’t been contributing to gas taxes for a while now.

By: Michael Ragsdale

Michael Ragsdale — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 03:08:45 +0000

Thanks for using my 10th & Commerce Link Station photo

By: Brian Bundridge

Brian Bundridge — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 17:27:13 +0000

Paul,

Thanks for that link! I saw something on that recently as well and could potentially go as far as Kanaskat. Personally I think that would be great idea.

By: Chris Stefan

Chris Stefan — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 13:28:48 +0000

Tolling on the I-90 and 520 bridges is a start toward congestion pricing.

By: Paul

Paul — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 12:46:19 +0000

I don’t recall seeing this article from last week in any of the news round-up postings. It is about a push for Maple Valley-Auburn commuter rail service like the WES down by Portland.

Diesel commuter rail concept gains momentum
http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/south_king/cmv/news/39676754.html

By: Bernie

Bernie — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 08:58:01 +0000

I-90 congestion pricing is the “third rail” of Washington transportation politics. On the other hand the 167 demonstration project seems to have slipped in under the radar. For better or for worse, or maybe for indifferent the results have been largely invisible. The basic technology is the same as Wave to Go (different goal and political battle) but that seems to be an unqualified success so implementation shouldn’t be an issue.

By: Andrew Smith

Andrew Smith — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 08:28:42 +0000

I love congestion pricing, but it seems difficult to get from a political stand point.

By: Bernie

Bernie — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 08:14:33 +0000

Oops, I see the post was about an open house in West Seattle. According to KIRO there was also a Ballard open house. Apparently this was also happening because the one person they covered was talking about how Ballard residents were concerned about Mercer access.

They (KIRO) also touched on Bellevue presenting their preferred alternative to ST today but they didn’t say anymore about it than what’s up on the city website from 2/18.

By: Bernie

Bernie — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 08:08:07 +0000

Yes please, anyone at the Ballard open house? Flipping through the local news lead stories KOMO and KING were on about titillating crime stories. KIRO lead with Gary Locke being tapped as Commerce Secretary (I think he’ll be a good one). Obama’s had some bad choices for nominees but to his credit he’s acknowledged the problems and not let a blind sense of loyalty cloud his judgment. Loyalty is good; blind loyalty isn’t.

As a life long Republican I have to go on record as saying McCain would have been a bad president in today’s world. I respect the man and I thought he would have been a much better choice than George Bush in 2000 but those days and the McCain of those days are long gone.

Variable tolling is a great idea for attempting to reduce congestion. As has been said before on this blog; our roads don’t have a capacity problem, they have a peak capacity problem. The other thing that reduces congestion is negative growth. The Puget Sound has been less effected by the economic contraction than most areas and it’s still noticeable how much less traffic there is. I’m not suggesting that ruining the local economy is a good idea but rather that growth will increase congestion. Consider this when evaluating how tax dollars are spent on roads and transit.