Comments on: I-90 bridge tolls? 4 ways to speak out, this week and beyond http://westseattleblog.com/2013/01/i-90-bridge-tolls-4-ways-to-speak-out-this-week-and-beyond West Seattle news, information, and discussion, updated multiple times daily, 24/7/365 Thu, 23 May 2013 17:32:41 +0200 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: redblack http://westseattleblog.com/2013/01/i-90-bridge-tolls-4-ways-to-speak-out-this-week-and-beyond#comment-962614 redblack Fri, 01 Feb 2013 13:43:44 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=138872#comment-962614 ratsinacage: or we could just put the arena in bellevue and save them a trip across the lake. ratsinacage: or we could just put the arena in bellevue and save them a trip across the lake.

]]> By: WSratsinacage http://westseattleblog.com/2013/01/i-90-bridge-tolls-4-ways-to-speak-out-this-week-and-beyond#comment-962397 WSratsinacage Fri, 01 Feb 2013 00:54:14 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=138872#comment-962397 Seems like there are a lot of eastsiders who are basketball fans .. they should factor in tolls to get to and from the SODO arena when it is opened in 2014/2015 .. about the same time tolls would start. But maybe if one can afford to go to a basketball game, a toll is of no concern. Seems like there are a lot of eastsiders who are basketball fans .. they should factor in tolls to get to and from the SODO arena when it is opened in 2014/2015 .. about the same time tolls would start. But maybe if one can afford to go to a basketball game, a toll is of no concern.

]]> By: Ryan Aust http://westseattleblog.com/2013/01/i-90-bridge-tolls-4-ways-to-speak-out-this-week-and-beyond#comment-962255 Ryan Aust Thu, 31 Jan 2013 18:17:00 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=138872#comment-962255 I am TOTALLY AGAINST this! I live in North Bend and work in Renton. They not only want to toll I-90 bridge but toll starting at SR900!!!! I get to Seattle maybe 4-5 times a year for a sports event, and usually go I-90. I hardly IF ever go SR520. Why tax I-90 to pay for SR520? The I-90 bridge is already paid for isn't it? So isn't this a double tax? Didn't our founding fathers establist this country and have a revolution because of things like this? I have a problem paying for something EVERYDAY that I rarely use. I already have my property taxes increased because of a$$holes in King Co. passing prop. 1 years ago to bring light rail to the Eastside that wont even get to Bellevue at its current rate due to NIMBYS not making their f...ing minds up as to put it under ground or above ground. EVEN IF it does get to Bellevue are the citizens of greater Seattle going to come up with another hair brained idea to pass a tax again to bring the light rail to Issaquah? More than likely so. I just have a BIG problem with having to pay for something that I will RARELY use. I have 4 ideas for WDOT! NO NO NO AND F--K NO! I am TOTALLY AGAINST this! I live in North Bend and work in Renton. They not only want to toll I-90 bridge but toll starting at SR900!!!! I get to Seattle maybe 4-5 times a year for a sports event, and usually go I-90. I hardly IF ever go SR520. Why tax I-90 to pay for SR520? The I-90 bridge is already paid for isn’t it? So isn’t this a double tax? Didn’t our founding fathers establist this country and have a revolution because of things like this?

I have a problem paying for something EVERYDAY that I rarely use. I already have my property taxes increased because of a$$holes in King Co. passing prop. 1 years ago to bring light rail to the Eastside that wont even get to Bellevue at its current rate due to NIMBYS not making their f…ing minds up as to put it under ground or above ground. EVEN IF it does get to Bellevue are the citizens of greater Seattle going to come up with another hair brained idea to pass a tax again to bring the light rail to Issaquah? More than likely so.

I just have a BIG problem with having to pay for something that I will RARELY use.

I have 4 ideas for WDOT! NO NO NO AND F–K NO!

]]> By: WSparent http://westseattleblog.com/2013/01/i-90-bridge-tolls-4-ways-to-speak-out-this-week-and-beyond#comment-961931 WSparent Wed, 30 Jan 2013 19:09:07 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=138872#comment-961931 Nick, Those fees you pay barely begin to cover the cost of the roads that you use to get back and forth every day. If you choose to live in West Seattle and drive by yourself to the Eastside every day for work, you are choosing to accept the consequences of that choice, including paying for the very roads you need. You can also make other choices: carpooling with one other person would cut your expenses in half; taking public transit would probably cut them even further. This last choice would no doubt take more time, mostly because of the refusal of Seattleites to pay for a decent public transit system. But the point is you have choices, and I have little or no putty for people who refuse to accept the consequence of their choices. Nick,
Those fees you pay barely begin to cover the cost of the roads that you use to get back and forth every day. If you choose to live in West Seattle and drive by yourself to the Eastside every day for work, you are choosing to accept the consequences of that choice, including paying for the very roads you need. You can also make other choices: carpooling with one other person would cut your expenses in half; taking public transit would probably cut them even further. This last choice would no doubt take more time, mostly because of the refusal of Seattleites to pay for a decent public transit system. But the point is you have choices, and I have little or no putty for people who refuse to accept the consequence of their choices.

]]> By: I ♥ Seattle http://westseattleblog.com/2013/01/i-90-bridge-tolls-4-ways-to-speak-out-this-week-and-beyond#comment-961916 I ♥ Seattle Wed, 30 Jan 2013 18:51:03 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=138872#comment-961916 @Nick If you can afford to own and maintain a car, plus the cost of parking downtown, $150/month, while a concern, shouldn't make or break your financing. I have little to no pity for people that choose to drive and park downtown and then complain about the high expenses that come with it. @Nick If you can afford to own and maintain a car, plus the cost of parking downtown, $150/month, while a concern, shouldn’t make or break your financing. I have little to no pity for people that choose to drive and park downtown and then complain about the high expenses that come with it.

]]> By: Nick http://westseattleblog.com/2013/01/i-90-bridge-tolls-4-ways-to-speak-out-this-week-and-beyond#comment-961903 Nick Wed, 30 Jan 2013 18:16:24 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=138872#comment-961903 maybe those of you who make 6 figures would benefit from tolls but us working class people would get stuck with almost a 150.00 month tax just to go to work. that may help your commute but I could barely afford to pay potentially 1500 - 1800 in tolls anually. hey atleast you people who live in alki will have a nicer commute. unbelieveable maybe those of you who make 6 figures would benefit from tolls but us working class people would get stuck with almost a 150.00 month tax just to go to work. that may help your commute but I could barely afford to pay potentially 1500 – 1800 in tolls anually. hey atleast you people who live in alki will have a nicer commute. unbelieveable

]]> By: JVP http://westseattleblog.com/2013/01/i-90-bridge-tolls-4-ways-to-speak-out-this-week-and-beyond#comment-961874 JVP Wed, 30 Jan 2013 16:56:17 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=138872#comment-961874 One other comment. The current scheme of tolls on 520, but none on I-90, causes I-90 to back up onto I-5, which jams up the WS Bridge/I-5/I-90 interchange. . I believe that our commute times in the morning would be reduced here in WS if I-90 were to be tolled, and traffic diverted back to 520 at the pre-tolling levels. . I also believe that both bridges should be tolled, but at a lower fee than the current 520 tolling. . West Seattle would benefit from I-90 being tolled. One other comment. The current scheme of tolls on 520, but none on I-90, causes I-90 to back up onto I-5, which jams up the WS Bridge/I-5/I-90 interchange.
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I believe that our commute times in the morning would be reduced here in WS if I-90 were to be tolled, and traffic diverted back to 520 at the pre-tolling levels.
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I also believe that both bridges should be tolled, but at a lower fee than the current 520 tolling.
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West Seattle would benefit from I-90 being tolled.

]]> By: WSratsinacage http://westseattleblog.com/2013/01/i-90-bridge-tolls-4-ways-to-speak-out-this-week-and-beyond#comment-961871 WSratsinacage Wed, 30 Jan 2013 16:42:32 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=138872#comment-961871 Never thought I'd be so happy to pay a toll. I 90 congestion was bad before 520 tolling made it even worse. Never thought I’d be so happy to pay a toll. I 90 congestion was bad before 520 tolling made it even worse.

]]> By: Jvp http://westseattleblog.com/2013/01/i-90-bridge-tolls-4-ways-to-speak-out-this-week-and-beyond#comment-961869 Jvp Wed, 30 Jan 2013 16:39:17 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=138872#comment-961869 I say toll both bridges evenly so that I-90 traffic is reduced. I'd prefer higher gas taxes (well a completely new tax system), but if we toll it needs to be balanced so that 90 isn't jammed up all the time. Our tax system in WA is messed up. We're supposedly liberal, but in reality we vote more anti-tax than most states. Eyman has really messed up our system and made it hard to balance. Look at senior vs junior levies and how some fire depts can't get funded. I sat cut our sales tax in half, get rid of the B&O which is biased toward big business who can lobby for advantageous rates, raise gas taxes, and bring on the much more fair income tax for both biz and individuals- all at the same total revenue. Our current system is regressive, unfair and too complicated. I say toll both bridges evenly so that I-90 traffic is reduced. I’d prefer higher gas taxes (well a completely new tax system), but if we toll it needs to be balanced so that 90 isn’t jammed up all the time.

Our tax system in WA is messed up. We’re supposedly liberal, but in reality we vote more anti-tax than most states. Eyman has really messed up our system and made it hard to balance. Look at senior vs junior levies and how some fire depts can’t get funded.

I sat cut our sales tax in half, get rid of the B&O which is biased toward big business who can lobby for advantageous rates, raise gas taxes, and bring on the much more fair income tax for both biz and individuals- all at the same total revenue. Our current system is regressive, unfair and too complicated.

]]> By: Nick http://westseattleblog.com/2013/01/i-90-bridge-tolls-4-ways-to-speak-out-this-week-and-beyond#comment-961637 Nick Wed, 30 Jan 2013 02:45:24 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=138872#comment-961637 close 520 until they get the funding that's what they did to us little people who live in south park. wait for the revenue or close it would literally cost an additional car payment for my finance to get to work and we don't have it close 520 until they get the funding that’s what they did to us little people who live in south park. wait for the revenue or close it would literally cost an additional car payment for my finance to get to work and we don’t have it

]]> By: John http://westseattleblog.com/2013/01/i-90-bridge-tolls-4-ways-to-speak-out-this-week-and-beyond#comment-961584 John Wed, 30 Jan 2013 00:39:06 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=138872#comment-961584 I-90 tolling will affect all, but it will hit the lower income and poor the hardest. At a minimum it will raise the cost of goods and services on both sides of the lake. A 50 cent toll is reasonable, but not the $5 of the 520. That was an insane economic shift that occurred overnight. I-90 tolling will affect all, but it will hit the lower income and poor the hardest. At a minimum it will raise the cost of goods and services on both sides of the lake. A 50 cent toll is reasonable, but not the $5 of the 520. That was an insane economic shift that occurred overnight.

]]> By: LWC http://westseattleblog.com/2013/01/i-90-bridge-tolls-4-ways-to-speak-out-this-week-and-beyond#comment-961554 LWC Tue, 29 Jan 2013 22:36:33 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=138872#comment-961554 @Ivan - I've already mentioned the likelihood of Eyman going after tolling next. And I would never accuse the majority of Washington State voters of thinking logically ;) . I'm not sure what you mean by a "technocrat", but I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and take it as a complement. @Ivan – I’ve already mentioned the likelihood of Eyman going after tolling next. And I would never accuse the majority of Washington State voters of thinking logically ;)
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I’m not sure what you mean by a “technocrat”, but I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt and take it as a complement.

]]> By: LWC http://westseattleblog.com/2013/01/i-90-bridge-tolls-4-ways-to-speak-out-this-week-and-beyond#comment-961550 LWC Tue, 29 Jan 2013 22:19:47 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=138872#comment-961550 @WsEd - so you think a fair income tax is the best solution? I wholeheartedly agree! But until that passes the 2/3 point in the legislature (or until Eyman's initiatives are rightly declared unconstitutional), we need to be realistic and figure out how to pay for our new and existing infrastructure in the short term: tolls accomplish that, and you still have not offered a realistic alternative. . I hope you're not all talk, and will take the hard route of actually advocating for real tax reform at the state level! It would be a waste if your clear passion for this issue stopped at an anonymous blog comment. @WsEd – so you think a fair income tax is the best solution? I wholeheartedly agree! But until that passes the 2/3 point in the legislature (or until Eyman’s initiatives are rightly declared unconstitutional), we need to be realistic and figure out how to pay for our new and existing infrastructure in the short term: tolls accomplish that, and you still have not offered a realistic alternative.
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I hope you’re not all talk, and will take the hard route of actually advocating for real tax reform at the state level! It would be a waste if your clear passion for this issue stopped at an anonymous blog comment.

]]> By: LWC http://westseattleblog.com/2013/01/i-90-bridge-tolls-4-ways-to-speak-out-this-week-and-beyond#comment-961547 LWC Tue, 29 Jan 2013 22:10:24 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=138872#comment-961547 @Nick - I have always been strongly against the tunnel. For its exorbitant cost, it doesn't adequately address the transportation needs of our city -- but that's a discussion for another day. Now that it's being built, however, I support paying for it without further siphoning money out of things like schools, higher education, and the maintenance backlog for our existing infrastructure. . Alas, because of Eyman's initiatives and the general anti-tax populism in our state (which is unfortunately not accompanied by a commensurate anti-spending populism), about the only realistic funding option left is tolling. So yes, you're correct: I do support tolls on the tunnel, for those reasons. @Nick – I have always been strongly against the tunnel. For its exorbitant cost, it doesn’t adequately address the transportation needs of our city — but that’s a discussion for another day. Now that it’s being built, however, I support paying for it without further siphoning money out of things like schools, higher education, and the maintenance backlog for our existing infrastructure.
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Alas, because of Eyman’s initiatives and the general anti-tax populism in our state (which is unfortunately not accompanied by a commensurate anti-spending populism), about the only realistic funding option left is tolling. So yes, you’re correct: I do support tolls on the tunnel, for those reasons.

]]> By: ivan http://westseattleblog.com/2013/01/i-90-bridge-tolls-4-ways-to-speak-out-this-week-and-beyond#comment-961546 ivan Tue, 29 Jan 2013 22:09:01 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=138872#comment-961546 There's nothing unrealistic about revisiting the MVET, Eyman or no Eyman. Even the people who voted for I-695 might prefer paying the MVET to being tolled. You don't know that they won't, so please do not pretend that you do. - Besides that, what's to prevent Eyman, or anybody else, from writing an initiative that specifically limits tolls to the highway being improved? Do you want to bet that one wouldn't pass statewide, with 60 percent or more of the vote? Thought not. - You and your clique of technocrats -- and yes, that is exactly who you are -- might think tolling is "logical," but politically, I wouldn't bet that it's a majority position. There’s nothing unrealistic about revisiting the MVET, Eyman or no Eyman. Even the people who voted for I-695 might prefer paying the MVET to being tolled. You don’t know that they won’t, so please do not pretend that you do.
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Besides that, what’s to prevent Eyman, or anybody else, from writing an initiative that specifically limits tolls to the highway being improved? Do you want to bet that one wouldn’t pass statewide, with 60 percent or more of the vote? Thought not.
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You and your clique of technocrats — and yes, that is exactly who you are — might think tolling is “logical,” but politically, I wouldn’t bet that it’s a majority position.

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