CHOKEPOINTS

Seattle transportation study is a ruse

Mar 18, 2015, 7:59 PM | Updated: Mar 19, 2015, 10:30 am

South Lake Union...

(AP)

(AP)

Despite South Lake Union being near impossible to navigate in any reasonable amount of time if you’re in a car at many times of the day (including on weekends), the city of Seattle and Seattle Department of Transportation are trying to make it even worse for drivers. They’re ready to take away lanes from cars and dedicate them to trolleys and/or buses they want to force you to use.

Now, SDOT says they’re going to study this issue and come up with an answer by the end of June, but the truth is they’ve already made up their mind. They’re just pushing the idea of a study so they can give off appearances of being fair, but everything they’ve done so far in this city has shown their eagerness to hurt drivers and push buses and bicycles.

Related: David Boze says city employees forced to lie in bed Seattle made

What’s worse, it’s not that they want to give you the option of taking the bus or riding a bike or walking; they want you to do it. They don’t like cars.

They routinely take lanes from you (lanes you paid for, lanes you use) and give to bicyclists their bike only-lanes (which the bicyclists don’t pay for; you still do).

They give lanes for Metro use only, which benefits the carless (they don’t pay for these roads – you do).

They take away parking spots for parklets that are only useable in the three months a year it doesn’t rain. You pay for these parklets, which means you’re paying for the luxury of being inconvenienced; this makes traffic worse because you’re spending more time in your car trying to find spots. They don’t act in haste to finish construction on Mercer, and the driver pays.

They don’t just take away spots, but city workers illegally park in the few that are available!

They’re hoping to take away seven busy lanes on long stretches of space to dedicate solely to buses, even though these lanes are already crowded with cars.

Their history of abusing drivers indicates this “study” is a sham. On my show (weeknights from 7pm-10pm) I do a segment called “Jason tells the future.” Here’s what I predict: when this study comes out, it’ll support the belief of the city leaders. When we get the results of this study, I guarantee you it’ll say South Lake Union should get transit-only or trolley-only lanes.

They have an agenda and you see it time and time again! And any data they don’t like, they just spin and spin.

Jason Rantz on Seattle Red AM 770
  • listen to jason rantzTune in to Seattle Red AM 770 weekdays at 3-7pm to The Jason Rantz Show.

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Seattle transportation study is a ruse