Dori proposes an alternative to I-5 traffic

Taken from Tuesday’s edition of KIRO Radio’s Dori Monson Show.

The reason we’re all so passionate about traffic is because there is nothing, nothing more important in life than time. Time is what gives us those moments with families and the people we love. I would rather be home with my wife and kids than sitting in a traffic jam.

So what’s the answer, Monson?

Let’s consider I-405 for a minute.

The Washington State Department of Transportation decided to add a lane, but not make a general purpose lane. They added a lane to collect more revenue and maintain gridlock to force people into toll lanes. Plus, the HOV lane requirement is increasing from two to three people in a car. Why? So they can generate revenue.

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What I would like, is a Department of Transportation that would have its number one priority be transportation. I don’t think transportation is anywhere within sniffing distance of the top of their list of priorities. Their number one priority is their job program; number two is money generating programs.

What if we actually had a mayor and city council in Seattle – that has been so focused and so passionate about taking away car lanes and giving bikes lanes – give one-tenth the amount of energy to find a focus on the hundreds of thousands of people stuck in gridlock?

Here’s an idea: What’s one of the freest, smoothest-flowing, non-freeway roads in Seattle? Aurora, between Greenlake and downtown. Why? Because it’s a throughway through Seattle, no stop lights.

What if they did something like that with Lake City Way?

What if we spent an estimated $20 million per intersection, instead of the billions they’re wasting on Sound Transit?

What if we took a few $100 million and an existing roadway and we made a smooth-flowing, north-south road so people have an alternative, like Aurora, but on the east side of I-5?

What if they focused their attention on the people whose lives they’re stealing away? Until we have people like that in charge, things are never going to change around here.

I’ll tell you what, this is government without representation.

Taken from Tuesday’s edition of KIRO Radio’s Dori Monson Show.

KR