University of Washington approves plan for light-rail link - SmartBrief

November 26th, 2008

University of Washington approves plan for light-rail link
SmartBrief, DC - Nov 26, 2008
The underground station, dubbed University Link, is expected to be completed by 2016 and add more than 70000 riders to Sound Transit's system each day. ...

When the Facts Change, RTD Ignores Them

November 25th, 2008
“When the facts change,” John Maynard Keynes once said, “I change my mind. What do you do?” If you are a government agency like Denver’s Regional Transit District (RTD), you simply ignore the new facts. That’s because your plans are based on a delicate political compromise, not on a realistic assessment of those facts. The [...]

Doesn't anyone read the transportation revenue forecast?

November 21st, 2008

The front page in today's Seattle Times has an article on the transportation budget and how lawmakers suggest "the bad economy won't stop" projects. Consider this quote from the article:

"We're not impacted by the shortfall in the operating budget," said Rep. Judy Clibborn, D-Mercer Island, chair of the House Transportation Committee. "Our projects are moving forward as scheduled."

Actually, the Office of Financial Management recently released its quarterly revenue forecast for the transportation budget. It shows that over the next 16 year construction horizon, (an important time frame for the Nickel and TPA gas tax projects) transportation revenues ...

Performance-based transportation policy

November 18th, 2008

Often, spending transportation taxes is tied to agendas that don't have any relationship to specific performance measures, like congestion relief. This concept was highlighted in an audit conducted by the Washington State Auditor's Office.

In a new report published by the Heritage Foundation, “Reforming State Transportation Policy: Washington State’s Efforts to Implement Performance-Based Policies,” I argue the value of using performance measures to understand what is working and what is not when policymakers make decisions on spending transportation taxes. 

Across the country, spending is too often tied to political agendas and the wishes of influential ...

Metro Transit bus fares will rise 25 cents on Feb. 1; and by another quarter on Jan. 1, 2010

November 17th, 2008

Off-peak fares for adults will rise to $1.75 in a couple months, then to $2 in 2010.

Here's the news release from the King County Council

Council finds savings in Metro budget
that enable delay of half of bus fare increase

$43.7 million in savings help push back second half of Executive-proposed 50-cent fare increase by one year while maintaining current levels of bus service

With record numbers of new bus riders coinciding with plunging revenues to support public transit, the Metropolitan King County Council today unanimously adopted a two-step fare increase that protects current levels of ...

New Vancouver mayor, Eh? - Seattle Post Intelligencer

November 17th, 2008

New Vancouver mayor, Eh?
Seattle Post Intelligencer - 15 hours ago
(A warning to future Sound Transit riders: Impossible-to-understand fare boxes are a feature of rail systems from Denver to San Diego to Vancouver. ...

Sound Transit sale-leaseback could suffer in credit crunch - Bizjournals.com

November 14th, 2008

Sound Transit sale-leaseback could suffer in credit crunch
Bizjournals.com, NC - Nov 14, 2008
Almost half of the vehicles in the Sounder commuter rail fleet of locomotives and rail cars aren’t owned by Sound Transit. And that could end up costing the ...

Fun is fun but it's now time for campaign signs to come down

November 13th, 2008

The state Department of Transportation is reminding folks who live along state highways that they have until Saturday to remove campaign signs.

"Under the Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 468-66, temporary
political signs are allowed on private property; and no fee or permit is required," said the statement from DOT. "The signs must meet the following requirements: Temporary political campaign signs are limited to a maximum size of 32 square feet in area; Temporary political campaign signs must be removed within 10 days following the election."

No signs are allowed on freeway and highway right of way.

Most local ordinances ...

2009-11 Priorities of Government Final Report

November 13th, 2008

The Office of Financial Management has just posted the 2009-11 Priorities of Government (POG) Report. According to OFM:

The following report compiles individual Priorities of Government (POG) Result Team priorities for state activities. These Result Teams of agency, OFM and other executive staff were charged with making choices based solely the activity performance and alignment with evidenced-based strategies for achieving each of the ten statewide results.

This information is advisory to the Governor as she develops her 2009-11 budget for the state.  It does not represent any final budget decisions.

I haven't had a ...

Port of Seattle claims its shrinking, but taxes grow 11%

November 12th, 2008

Based on this editorial by Port Commissioner John Creighton and Port CEO Tay Yoshitani, taxpayers in King County might think the Port of Seattle is making the tough and responsible financial decisions required in a tough economic climate. They even say this:

In response, we're tightening our belt throughout the port, cutting overhead spending, leaving some chairs empty and deferring certain projects. But we must continue to invest in projects that generate jobs and help the port thrive in a fiercely competitive global market.


But one of the top PI stories today includes this one: Port votes ...

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