City Money Problems and Bicycle Lanes

[ToddinWestwood]

First off, I want to let you know that I have never been “anti-bike” I have ridden mountain, road and BMX for years, not so much since we had our daughter. Trying to get her into it.

Point being, if the city is so damn broke, where is it getting all the money to paint bike sharrows and boxes at stop lights? It seems we are throwing ALOT of money at the bicycle advocacy groups wishes.

that is all.

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[ToddinWestwood]

I would like this thread to stay on topic, not turn into a bike vs car arguement.

thanks

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[Carson]

Todd,

Lets see. We elected a guy who rode his bike to his campaign events and was a former head of the local Sierra Club Chapter. Did you think he would start to pave over sidewalks to add more HOV lanes? I knew what I was getting when I voted for him, I would vote for him again given the same options. If you believe in something, you find the funds to make it happen. Bikes are his “thing”.

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[sam-c]

Todd: that thought has occurred to me as well, and I have mentioned it to the City. For instance, if you look at Seattle Public School’s designated ‘walk routes’ for the elementary school in our neighborhood, a walk to school could take you down 2 different streets, neither of which have sidewalks. 2.7 miles of streets w/out sidewalks.

However, the city says they don’t have enough BTG money to do the sidewalk. How is that going to encourage people to get out of their cars- if people are afraid of getting mowed down while walking down the street?

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[JanS]

there isn’t one big coffer of money that simply gets used from time to time. Money for these projects comes from different sources, so of which were voted on by the people in the city (special taxes, levies, etc) Perhaps that is an explanation for what work is being done now…. money coming from different sources.

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[Al]

Ok, again, here is where most of the funding is coming from: http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/bridgingthegap.htm

In 2006, Seattle voters passed a nine-year, $365 million levy for transportation maintenance and improvements known as Bridging the Gap. The levy is complemented by a commercial parking tax ($127.5 million) and an employee hours tax ($51.5 million) and over life of the levy the total expected revenue from the three sources is $544 million. Together they add approximately $80 million to the Seattle Department of Transportation’s budget in 2008, dramatically increasing available funds for transportation capital projects and needed infrastructure maintenance. Over the next nine-years Bridging the Gap will address the City’s transportation challenges and create a strong foundation for Seattle’s transportation future by reducing the maintenance backlog and investing in major transportation projects.

And here: http://seattlelikesbikes.org/wordpress/?p=228

Funding comes primarily from a levy voters approved in 2006 AND through sales/property tax collection with some coming through gas tax as well. Remember road maintenance and building is heavily subsidized through other funding sources; the gas tax and the licensing fees do not solely pay for the roadways.

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[ToddinWestwood]

Yes Sam-c, areas all over Arbor Heights without sidewallks and the south of the junction section of California Ave that is sooo bad, even bicycles have a hard time.

I thought we voted for those awhile back.

I guess the new mayor’s agenda is more important.

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[lilith]

Wow. I’m just surprised anyone thinks the Mayor is that effective. With as long as these projects take, I’m pretty sure all of this was slated to happen before he was elected.

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[sam-c]

well he was (along with many others of course) on the Bridging the Gap oversight committee way back when…

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