Transit Digest - October 5th, 2007

Here is the third edition of Transit Digest, our (almost) weekly Friday series covering brief transportation news items from the previous few days.

More environmental groups speak out in support of Roads and Transit: Most environmental groups in the region recognize the benefit Roads and Transit will have on the environment and more are coming on board every day. The Bicycle Alliance of Washington is the latest group to come out in favor of the plan. Gordon Black, Executive Director of the Bicycle Alliance of Washington, had this to say:

This package represents a significant investment to ensure that roads serve not just buses and cars but also cater to the growing numbers of bicyclists. When roads are more appealing to bicyclists, more people bicycle.

Also this week, Ron Brown, incoming board chair for Washington Environmental Council and a member of the Governor’s Climate Advisory Team responded to charges that Roads and Transit is bad for the environment:

Our fight against global warming from transportation is one of the greatest challenges that face our region. Building 50 miles of clean running, electric light rail is important to our region’s future and environmental sustainability,

Building light rail is good for the environment. Building more bike lanes is good for the environment. And ensuring that cars aren't idling in traffic spewing pollutants is good for the environment too.

Read all the endorsements here.

Bad news can be good news: The Seattle Times story "'Heartburn' over roads: State fears $1.5B shortfall" begins with the following:

Washington could fall about $1.5 billion short of what's needed to pay for state transportation projects over the next 16 years because drivers are expected to buy less gasoline than the state had forecast.

New state projections indicate rising gas prices will temper demand for fuel, and that in turn means less revenue from state and federal gas taxes. The trend is not expected to improve over time.

While revenue shortfalls present a problem, people using less gas is a good thing. As the article notes, this may mean the state will have develop new revenue sources, such as tolls, to cover the shortfall.

King County DDES wants more walkable cities: As part of the 4-year update to the King County Comprehensive Plan, the Department of Development and Environmental Services is proposing that the Plan be amended to allow more dense development in commercial centers outside of cities.

Proposed changes to the county's Comprehensive Plan would allow homes, stores and offices to be built in existing commercial centers outside cities — even if traffic already is bad enough to prevent development.

In White Center, the plan would allow far more intense development that could encourage creation of a pedestrian corridor.

Walkable neighborhoods are a great thing and are encouraged by fixed rail lines. Each stop along the line becomes its own core, with housing, retail, restaurants, and jobs. You can learn more about all the proposed changes and give your opinion at the following town halls:

Saturday, 1-3 p.m., Lake Washington School District Administration Building, 16250 N.E. 74th St., Redmond.

Oct. 11, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Cascade View Elementary School, 34816 S.E. Ridge St., Snoqualmie.

Oct. 15, 7:30-9 p.m., Courthouse Square, 19021 Vashon Highway S.W., Vashon.

Oct. 16, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Kentridge High School, 12430 S.E. 208th St., Kent.

Oct. 18, 6:30-8:30 p.m., White Center Heights Elementary School, 10015 Sixth Ave. S.W., Seattle.

Some voter guides are missing pro and con statements for Proposition 1: If you live in the following ZIP codes, your voters guide is missing the page for the Roads and Transit package: 98011, 98028, 98033, 98034, 98041, 98052, 98053, 98073, 98077 and 98083.

The print vendor the County used to print the guides has accepted responsibility and will be mailing a supplement to all affected residents.

Something we missed? Tell us about it in the comments.