Now ETBs do hold up a little better than diesel buses but not anywhere near like rail transit vehicles do.

I was just pointing out that making small ‘errors’ is common in Niles’ arguments. :)

I want to thank everyone at the Seattle Transit Blog for their work on this issue. It’s the first time I’ve gotten directly involved with my legislators on a transit issue and I wouldn’t have even known about this happening without you. I’ve learned so much in a very short amount of time.

The comments here are also a gold mine of information and viewpoints and actually very civil compared to other Seattle blogs. The response by some of our legislators is also great to see.

Kudos!

Lor Scara

Mr. McLellan,

Thank you for writing to me about this issue. I believe you are referring to the amendment being offered by Rep. Simpson, which I did sign as a co-sponsor.

Thanks again for taking the time to write,

Bob Hasegawa

WA State House of Representatives

11th Legislative District

Also, the MOA doesn’t say transit only – it says fixed guideway transit. It can’t be BRT without another agreement.

The ferry from Anacortes to Sydney B.C. has been on the chopping block for years. It seems inconceivable that given the depth of cuts in this years budget funding to continue a tourist boat that ships money to Canada (both tourist dollars and direct payments to the Canadian government for terminal use) boggles the mind. On top of this the State is looking at buying a new boat and commit long term to this obligation?

New ferries are something that are needed. This isn’t the first budget where money has been appropriated for this. The problem is the requirement to have the boats made in Washington. Only one company submitted a bid last time and it was 50% higher than estimates. Some weight should be given to contracts that come from within the State but it should be the business of the legislature, starting with those on the transportation committee to be careful shoppers and get the most boat for the buck within our severely limited budget.

BTW, Clibborn has managed to move the whole ferry issue forward — to the general applause of the ferry communities and representatives. I have no idea how she did it – I’ve not been going to those meetings. But the woman works incredibly hard. And now, the ferry communities are all urging approval of the transportation budget.

I think that, as we move to EV and more transit and thus have to change how we “see” transportation finance, the discussion will get less helter-skelter and more systemic. Or at least, I hope so.

Your goals are good here, and I applaud you guys for that. Just be VERY CAREFUL about who you turn into the bad guys. We all have our shortcomings, for sure … but we sure as hell are trying hard to make this a better place for us, our kids and grandkids. And that includes not only the sainted Geoff Simpson, but also the scurrilous Judy Clibborn. :-) (I’m joking here.)

There ARE moments like last fall, when I’m traveling around Japan, jumping the bus/train to downtown Kobe to pick up some fish at Sodo’s food hall … that I say, “Oh, to hell with it. Let’s just move someplace where they have good transit and quit with the arguing back home.” But I don’t. Which must mean I’m some kind of sucker for punishment.

I have NEVER worked an issue with an eye to the next election, but I do appreciate that is how it seems, with some electeds and with some issues. Not here.

More later … watch the SR520 issue, and wish me well on that one. NO, we can’t get tolls diverted to transit now, but we can get a bridge built that actually serves transit — and that’s an important first step. And it isn’t actually a done deal, yet. /d