(I emailed Mercer Island
officials the following concerning their attempts to avoid I-90 tolls. I thought others might be interested so
am posting it.)
Dear No Tolling on I-90 and
Mercer Island City Council
A previous email referring to
the 9/04/13 post on my blog http://stopeastlinknow.blogspot.com
suggested attempts to stop the legislature from enacting I-90 tolls by
expanding the scope of EIS to include alternative funding sources were unlikely
to succeed.
A far better way to achieve
the purported EIS goal of reduced I-90 congestion is to expand it to include
the option for Sound Transit to expedite the completion of the Seattle to
Mercer Island portion of the 4th lane on the outer roadway. (currently
planned for 2016) The added lane could
be completed in 6 months and would immediately relieve congestion for commuters
on both sides of the lake, particularly for “reverse” commuters.
The 520 funding shortfall
as well as the transportation funding problems for the entire area can best be resolved
by bringing some sanity to the Sound Transit light rail program. The 9/17/13 post on my blog explains
how the Supreme Court erred in allowing East Link to proceed. Mercer Island officials should
use the courts or the legislature to “persuade” ST to divert the $2.8 billion
East Link funds to fund the 520 corridor improvements and other eastside
improvements.
Failure to do so will have
a far greater impact on Mercer Island residents and the entire eastside than
I-90 tolls.
Respectfully,
Bill Hirt
wjhirt@yahoo.com
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