Tolling I-90

This post originally appeared on Orphan Road.

I know a few graduates of Mercer Island’s public schools, and they’re pretty sharp folks. Which makes me wonder…are Judy Clibborn’s constituents really this dumb?

Given the pending removal of two I-90 bridge lanes for a light-rail line, “I heard people say I don’t use the 520 Bridge and you’re taking my bridge and making it have less capacity … and then you’re going to take that money and put it on a bridge that I don’t use,” said Rep. Judy Clibborn, D-Mercer Island, who said putting tolls only on the 520 span is an issue of fairness.

Transit is an ecosystem, folks. Tolling 520 but not I-90 would just increase the traffic on your precious “free”way.

But beyond that, pardon my French, but for fuck’s sake, you live on a goddamn ISLAND! You have a special little exemption to use the HOV lanes even if you don’t have any passengers. Where do you get the stones to demand perpetually free, state- and federally-funded access to your precious little mound of dirt?

Wow. Just… wow.