Offering frequent news and analysis from the majestic Evergreen State and beyond, The Cascadia Advocate is the Northwest Progressive Institute's unconventional perspective on world, national, and local politics.

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

In Brief - November 28th, 2006

Haven't done one of these in a while. Here is today's quick news digest:
  • Following in the footsteps of House Speaker-elect Nancy Pelosi, incoming Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is pledging to keep the Senate working solidly through the first seven weeks of the session - without any breaks. The Associated Press quoted Reid as saying: "We're going to put in some hours here that haven't been put in in a long time."
  • Pelosi, meanwhile, told Democratic Rep. Alcee Hastings that he will not be chairing the House Intelligence Committee - a decision we commend and applaud. Neither Hastings nor Representative Jane Harman should be conferred with the chairmanship. They simply haven't earned it. The three likeliest candidates whose names have been floating around are Representatives Silvestre Reyes of Texas, Rush Holt of New Jersey, both members of the Intelligence Committee, and our own Norm Dicks (who serves on the House Homeland Security Committee).
  • The Seattle Times had a nice article this morning about Senator Patty Murray's increasing clout. Murray, now in her third term, will head a powerful Appropriations subcommittee come January and now holds the fourth highest position in the Democratic caucus.
  • Markos has started an ActBlue fund to help netroots candidate Barry Welsh retire his $3,000 in campaign debt. (Welsh is likely the candidate with the most prolific posting record on Daily Kos. He ran a great race against an entrenched Republican incumbent - Mike Pence).
Finally, U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters visited the Puget Sound region on Monday and participated in several news conferences, including one where she pledged federal money to help repair roads damaged by the recent flooding.

But the biggest announcement was about Sound Transit's Link Light Rail project, in which Peters announced federal approval for Sound Transit to enter final design for the University extension:
"This federal commitment will help give the region’s commuters a choice in travel that is fast and frequent and it will help get them where they need to go without worrying about being stuck in traffic," Secretary Peters said. "It is a great example of what we can do together to reduce congestion."

"Today marks another major milestone for Sound Transit and is a reminder to commuters stuck in traffic that help is on the way," said Senator Patty Murray. "Thanks to the hard work and dedication of the board and employees at Sound Transit, and the partnership of Secretary Peters and the Department of Transportation, this project is going places. I look forward to continuing to support these efforts to reduce congestion and improve the quality of life of Puget Sound residents."

The final design authorization that enables Sound Transit to begin negotiations with the Federal Transit Administration as part of the agency's efforts to secure a $750 million federal grant for the University Link project. The project has received the highest-possible ranking in the FTA's competitive New Starts program based on its major public benefits, including exceptional ridership projections.

The projected 2020 daily ridership for the 15.6-mile light rail segment that is currently under construction between downtown Seattle and the airport is 45,000.

The University Link project alone is projected to increase the regional light rail system’s 2030 ridership to more than 114,000 a day. Further light rail extensions to the north, east and south are proposed as part of the November 2007 regional Roads & Transit ballot measure.
Our thanks to Secretary Peters for her support and enthusiasm. Finally, a Bush administration official who believes in sound public policy.

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