Comments on: State Stimulus List http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/02/24/state-stimulus-list/ Transit in the Greater Seattle Area Mon, 13 Feb 2012 04:27:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Chris Stefan http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/02/24/state-stimulus-list/#comment-31933 Chris Stefan Sat, 28 Feb 2009 23:30:58 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=3087#comment-31933 Actually I believe there is a way to dump the sub-area equity but it requires a super majority of the board. Which is highly unlikely due to the way board representation is spread out.
Actually I believe there is a way to dump the sub-area equity but it requires a super majority of the board. Which is highly unlikely due to the way board representation is spread out.

]]> By: Bernie http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/02/24/state-stimulus-list/#comment-31907 Bernie Sat, 28 Feb 2009 19:29:15 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=3087#comment-31907 Very true that we need the rail and freeway connections (both Seattle and Tacoma) as our nations freight system is dependent on both and the connections between ship, train and truck. In fact we can add the airport to the mix as well for both business travel and air cargo.
Very true that we need the rail and freeway connections (both Seattle and Tacoma) as our nations freight system is dependent on both and the connections between ship, train and truck. In fact we can add the airport to the mix as well for both business travel and air cargo.

]]> By: joshuadf http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/02/24/state-stimulus-list/#comment-31898 joshuadf Sat, 28 Feb 2009 18:11:52 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=3087#comment-31898 Can we just agree that it's complicated? Taxes come from everywhere in differing amounts and are spent everywhere in differing amounts. People drive on roads close to home and far from home. Half the state population lives on relatively more expensive Puget Sound, half lives in the more spread out rest of the state.
Can we just agree that it’s complicated? Taxes come from everywhere in differing amounts and are spent everywhere in differing amounts. People drive on roads close to home and far from home. Half the state population lives on relatively more expensive Puget Sound, half lives in the more spread out rest of the state.

]]> By: John http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/02/24/state-stimulus-list/#comment-31892 John Sat, 28 Feb 2009 17:32:06 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=3087#comment-31892 I'd rephrase Bernie's comment as "without the BNSF and UP lines Seattle wouldn't have a port" - the freeways alone aren't sufficient.
I’d rephrase Bernie’s comment as “without the BNSF and UP lines Seattle wouldn’t have a port” – the freeways alone aren’t sufficient.

]]> By: Tim Whittome http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/02/24/state-stimulus-list/#comment-31365 Tim Whittome Wed, 25 Feb 2009 19:38:14 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=3087#comment-31365 Yes that was the explanation that WSDOT gave me but driving past Issaquah is made all the more treacherous as a result of poor lane stripping and no sunken cats eyes such as we have in England
Yes that was the explanation that WSDOT gave me but driving past Issaquah is made all the more treacherous as a result of poor lane stripping and no sunken cats eyes such as we have in England

]]> By: Chris Stefan http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/02/24/state-stimulus-list/#comment-31360 Chris Stefan Wed, 25 Feb 2009 19:26:29 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=3087#comment-31360 I can only assume the legislature picked projects that weren't likely to come out of one of the other buckets of money. There are still the funds the PSRC gets to distribute for instance.
I can only assume the legislature picked projects that weren’t likely to come out of one of the other buckets of money. There are still the funds the PSRC gets to distribute for instance.

]]> By: Chris Stefan http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/02/24/state-stimulus-list/#comment-31359 Chris Stefan Wed, 25 Feb 2009 19:24:00 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=3087#comment-31359 I agree on the signs. Road signage could be much better. On the other hand I suspect the reason there are no cat-eyes past Issaquah has to do with the need to plow Snoqualmie pass. The Tiger Mountain area is where you start seeing frequent snow on I-90. Raised reflectors would just get broken off by the plow every time it passed.
I agree on the signs. Road signage could be much better.

On the other hand I suspect the reason there are no cat-eyes past Issaquah has to do with the need to plow Snoqualmie pass. The Tiger Mountain area is where you start seeing frequent snow on I-90. Raised reflectors would just get broken off by the plow every time it passed.

]]> By: Chris Stefan http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/02/24/state-stimulus-list/#comment-31357 Chris Stefan Wed, 25 Feb 2009 19:20:51 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=3087#comment-31357 Even better would be to apply the sales tax to gas. One nice thing is the money could be spent on non-road uses like sidewalks, streetlights, bike paths, and transit.
Even better would be to apply the sales tax to gas. One nice thing is the money could be spent on non-road uses like sidewalks, streetlights, bike paths, and transit.

]]> By: Chris Stefan http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/02/24/state-stimulus-list/#comment-31356 Chris Stefan Wed, 25 Feb 2009 19:17:27 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=3087#comment-31356 The timber sales money goes to local school districts, community and technical colleges, Central Washington University, Eastern Washington University, The Evergreen State College, The University of Washington, Washington State University, and Western Washington University. As well as the various branch campuses. Yes the UW does get construction money from timber sales, but the revenue from the University Tract is far more important.
The timber sales money goes to local school districts, community and technical colleges, Central Washington University, Eastern Washington University, The Evergreen State College, The University of Washington, Washington State University, and Western Washington University. As well as the various branch campuses.

Yes the UW does get construction money from timber sales, but the revenue from the University Tract is far more important.

]]> By: Andrew http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/02/24/state-stimulus-list/#comment-31352 Andrew Wed, 25 Feb 2009 19:14:05 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=3087#comment-31352 Amen, brother!
Amen, brother!

]]> By: Andrew http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/02/24/state-stimulus-list/#comment-31351 Andrew Wed, 25 Feb 2009 19:13:50 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=3087#comment-31351 Subarea equity is required by law. There has been no abandonment of it, nor can there be.
Subarea equity is required by law. There has been no abandonment of it, nor can there be.

]]> By: Andrew http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/02/24/state-stimulus-list/#comment-31350 Andrew Wed, 25 Feb 2009 19:12:16 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=3087#comment-31350 Spokane and tri-cities, too, which makes it look like olympia is spending it'ss $330 mn in the places the other $160 mn won't get spent.
Spokane and tri-cities, too, which makes it look like olympia is spending it’ss $330 mn in the places the other $160 mn won’t get spent.

]]> By: Andrew http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/02/24/state-stimulus-list/#comment-31349 Andrew Wed, 25 Feb 2009 19:10:33 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=3087#comment-31349 Sounds made up.
Sounds made up.

]]> By: Andrew http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/02/24/state-stimulus-list/#comment-31346 Andrew Wed, 25 Feb 2009 19:09:57 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=3087#comment-31346 Yeah, the rest seem like goofy projects that aren't even that important.
Yeah, the rest seem like goofy projects that aren’t even that important.

]]> By: Tim Whittome http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/02/24/state-stimulus-list/#comment-31330 Tim Whittome Wed, 25 Feb 2009 18:34:38 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=3087#comment-31330 If I was to turn my attention to roads, I would add better signage to all of our freeways in the Seattle area so that destinations along the roadways are better shown. For example - and I know this is federal highway policy - but when I get on the I-90 in Seattle and go eastbound, I would like a sign showing not me but those perhaps unfamiliar to the area - that there are a few intermediate towns between Seattle and Spokane that you can get to along the I-90. Bellevue and Issaquah spring to mind. There is not one sign showing drivers in the Seattle area that you can reach Issaquah along the I-90 corridor (or Bellevue for that matter either) I'd also like to see way better signage for SeaTac Airport. The only sign in the City of Seattle that I have ever seen for the airport is a bike lane path in Pioneer Square district. I believe we should make it much clearer as one joins the I-5 in downtown Seattle that the airport can be found by going southbound in 'x' number of miles. There is also NOT ONE sign for SeaTac Airport anywhere on the I-90 - appropriate signs would be before the I-405 interchange both on the 405 and on the 90 or before the interchange with the I-5 south. By way of contrast, in England, Heathrow Airport is signed from every motorway pouring into London and from 50 miles away on all the major motorways. So too is Gatwick Airport a less busy airport than SeaTac I believe. The other road improvements I would like to see are more use of British style cats eyes in the freeway lanes (there are none east of Issaquah making the I-90 a dark slab of laneless black in the wintertime)and an attempt at least to introduce different colored on and off ramp side reflectors - again such as we have in England. End of my soap box, but it is a huge pet peeve for me both of the above points Tim
If I was to turn my attention to roads, I would add better signage to all of our freeways in the Seattle area so that destinations along the roadways are better shown. For example – and I know this is federal highway policy – but when I get on the I-90 in Seattle and go eastbound, I would like a sign showing not me but those perhaps unfamiliar to the area – that there are a few intermediate towns between Seattle and Spokane that you can get to along the I-90. Bellevue and Issaquah spring to mind. There is not one sign showing drivers in the Seattle area that you can reach Issaquah along the I-90 corridor (or Bellevue for that matter either)

I’d also like to see way better signage for SeaTac Airport. The only sign in the City of Seattle that I have ever seen for the airport is a bike lane path in Pioneer Square district. I believe we should make it much clearer as one joins the I-5 in downtown Seattle that the airport can be found by going southbound in ‘x’ number of miles. There is also NOT ONE sign for SeaTac Airport anywhere on the I-90 – appropriate signs would be before the I-405 interchange both on the 405 and on the 90 or before the interchange with the I-5 south. By way of contrast, in England, Heathrow Airport is signed from every motorway pouring into London and from 50 miles away on all the major motorways. So too is Gatwick Airport a less busy airport than SeaTac I believe.

The other road improvements I would like to see are more use of British style cats eyes in the freeway lanes (there are none east of Issaquah making the I-90 a dark slab of laneless black in the wintertime)and an attempt at least to introduce different colored on and off ramp side reflectors – again such as we have in England.

End of my soap box, but it is a huge pet peeve for me both of the above points

Tim

]]> By: Tim Whittome http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/02/24/state-stimulus-list/#comment-31327 Tim Whittome Wed, 25 Feb 2009 18:22:43 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=3087#comment-31327 What's stupid about it? It is a chance to rennovate a key corridor
What’s stupid about it? It is a chance to rennovate a key corridor

]]> By: Bernie http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/02/24/state-stimulus-list/#comment-31324 Bernie Wed, 25 Feb 2009 18:17:28 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=3087#comment-31324 An overwhelming amount of money is spent on Seattle and King County. When built I-90 was the most expensive roadway per mile ever. It's still a colossus. State money maintains the 520 floating bridge which is getting to the point tolls may be needed just to seal the cracks. How much is WSDOT spending on the on I-405 corridor over the next ten years vs I-90 from Ellensburg to Spokane? Sure money from "road taxes" flows out of King County to the rest of the state but Seattle wouldn't have a port if it wasn't for I-90 and I-5. Porportionally the greater Puget Sound area uses State and Federal highways outside the region far more than those outside the region use "our" roads. "Seattle infrastructure" extends way past county lines. You know the system is reasonably equitable when both sides are screaming foul ;-)
An overwhelming amount of money is spent on Seattle and King County. When built I-90 was the most expensive roadway per mile ever. It’s still a colossus. State money maintains the 520 floating bridge which is getting to the point tolls may be needed just to seal the cracks. How much is WSDOT spending on the on I-405 corridor over the next ten years vs I-90 from Ellensburg to Spokane?

Sure money from “road taxes” flows out of King County to the rest of the state but Seattle wouldn’t have a port if it wasn’t for I-90 and I-5. Porportionally the greater Puget Sound area uses State and Federal highways outside the region far more than those outside the region use “our” roads. “Seattle infrastructure” extends way past county lines.

You know the system is reasonably equitable when both sides are screaming foul ;-)

]]> By: rex http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/02/24/state-stimulus-list/#comment-31323 rex Wed, 25 Feb 2009 18:15:06 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=3087#comment-31323 Douglas Why all the mean, spiteful attack? This a forum to exchange ideas and share our experiences that could improve our commnunity.
Douglas
Why all the mean, spiteful attack? This a forum to exchange ideas and share our experiences that could improve our commnunity.

]]> By: John Jensen http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/02/24/state-stimulus-list/#comment-31319 John Jensen Wed, 25 Feb 2009 17:38:46 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=3087#comment-31319 Do you have any numbers to back this up?
Do you have any numbers to back this up?

]]> By: John Jensen http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/02/24/state-stimulus-list/#comment-31318 John Jensen Wed, 25 Feb 2009 17:34:56 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=3087#comment-31318 Great comment, Douglas.
Great comment, Douglas.

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