I’ve
been receiving “I-90 Tolling Updates” from Mercer Island officials opposed to requiring
their residents pay tolls for nearly a year with update #18 on Nov 13.
This
effort is presumably in response to a Jan 23, 2013 WSDOT blog post “Looking at
tolling I-90” that included the following objectives:
We’re studying the possibility of
adding tolls on I-90, between Seattle and Bellevue to help address both of the
challenges: balance Cross-Lake Washington traffic and generate revenue to fill
the SR 520 construction funding gap.
The
public was given 30 days to respond by attending public “Scoping meetings” or
via email.
Apparently
Mercer Island officials “convinced” the WSDOT to extend the response by
requiring an Environmental Impact Study (EIS) of the tolling effects on their
constituents. The end result was
the WSDOT was given $8.32 million to fund an EIS aimed at initiating the tolls,
if approved, in 2017
As
attested to by the 18 updates, MI officials have spent the year (and presumably
considerable funds) trying to influence the alternatives to the tolls
(scoping) considered by the EIS.
The 11/30/13 post explains why this effort has very little chance of succeeding.
It’s
inexplicable why MI officials are ignoring a far better way than tolls to
reduce I-90 congestion and to fund 520: use their permitting process to stop
East Link. East Link will be a
disaster for the entire east side, but particularly for MI commuters.
Their
problems will begin in 2016 when Sound Transit closes off the center roadway to
begin light rail construction. MI
commuters will not only loose their exclusive “single occupancy” access to the
center roadway, their access to the outer roadways will be severely limited by
the “throttling effects” from signal lights on I-90 on-ramps because of heavy
congestion.
To
add insult to injury, their 7 (?) years of difficult access to I-90 and congestion
on the bridge will be “rewarded” with limited access to light rail. East Link service will likely consist
of one 2-car train every 8 minutes (see 12/24/13 post). The limited capacity along with
the fact the MI station is the last of 8 eastside stations means commuters will
have “difficulty” finding space to stand, let alone sit. Train operators may be forced to “skip”
MI station because of over-crowded cars during peak commute periods. Again those choosing to ride buses or
other vehicles will continue to face increasing congestion, inevitably resulting
in frequent gridlock.
MI
can avoid both the tolls and the disruption to their residents’ commute by
using their permitting process to stop East Link. There is certainly legal justification for doing so. The ST EIS claim light rail is needed
because “Transit demand across Lake Washington is expected to nearly double in
the next 30 years” is absurd.
Light
rail confiscation of the center roadway will reduce capacity not increase
it. The idea that a light rail system
with 2-car trains every 8 minutes is a better way to meet future “Transit Demand”
than improved service from up to 1000 buses an hour is beyond absurd.
Not
only will the center roadway never have needed capacity their own studies show
forcing all vehicles onto the outer roadway will increase congestion there as
well, even with their planned 4th lane additions. No one can reasonably reject MI
attempts to disallow permits, particularly those enabling ST to spend $2.8
billion on such a debacle.
Rather
than continue with EIS attempts to stop tolls, MI should use their legislative
influence in the upcoming session to insist WSDOT require ST expedite adding
the 4th lanes to the outer roadway as the way to reduce
congestion. They should also use the
legislature to “persuade” ST to use part of the $2.8 billion East Link funds rather
than I-90 tolls to fund 520. (ST
has a moral if not legal obligation to spend the East Link funds on east side.)
Stopping
East Link should be a “no brainer”.
Hopefully MI officials will recognize that reality and stop it and the
tolls. Their constituents and the entire east side surely deserve it.
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