Bike advocates blast opposition to Seattle’s transportation levy
Oct 20, 2015, 1:52 PM | Updated: 1:55 pm
Having a lack of large, specific projects and big fixes is exactly why bike advocates say the Move Seattle transportation levy should be supported.
The Seattle Bike Blog published a scathing post that blasts The Seattle Times’ reasoning to not support the levy that would provide the city with $930 million for transportation-related projects. At the same time, it spells out the reasons to give it a “yes” vote.
The blog, written by Tom Fucoloro, says voters should not take the Times’ stance on the levy into consideration because it was the same news organization that supported the long-delayed Seattle tunnel project. Even if Bertha, the tunnel boring machine, worked without problems, it would still be a “huge waste of money,” he wrote.
The Times wrote that the levy’s aim is not clear and that it’s also debatable as to whether the Seattle Department of Transportation deserves voters’ trust.
Fucoloro argues that the plans for the levy are clear, and are spelled out on letsmoveseattle.com. The plans do not outline every project for the next nine years, as that would be “ridiculous,” Fucoloro writes.
The solution to Seattle’s transportation woes is more walking, biking and a more reliant transit system, according to Fucoloro. It doesn’t take a “megaproject” to make those things safer and more inviting, he writes. Instead, the city needs small projects — at least small in relation to the tunnel. Those needed projects include more crosswalks, curb cuts, bike lanes, trails and greenways.
In addition to those items, Fucoloro points out that the levy would improve bus reliability and speed as Seattle-area residents wait for more light rail.
Though Fucoloro brings up some interesting points, it is still unclear if the Move Seattle levy would be worth it for voters, especially with the tremendous backlog of transportation projects the city has. The city is about $2 billion behind.
