Proposition 1, created by a citizen panel would increase the vehicle licensing fee for cars in Seattle in order to provide funding for much-needed road repairs, as well as sidewalk and trail construction that will benefit all who use our city’s streets.
AS WE’VE SEEN, SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC TRANSIT TRANSLATES TO SUPPORT FOR PEDESTRIANS AND THE PASSAGE OF THE CONGESTION REDUCTION FEE IS ONLY THE BEGINNING OF THE GRASSROOTS PUSH FOR IMPROVING SEATTLE’S TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM. AN EFFORT MOUNTED BY STREETS FOR ALL HAS OFFICIALLY BEGUN TO PASS PROPOSITION 1 THAT WOULD SUPPORT TRANSIT, BICYCLING AND PEDESTRIAN PROJECTS ALL OVER THE CITY.
Posted by Megan RisleySept. 9, 2011
Streets for All’s kick-off for their campaign in support of Proposition 1 begins Tuesday Sept. 13th at Moe Bar in Capitol Hill. It seems that everyone is getting behind it – the Stranger published an article about why voting enthusiastically in favor of Prop 1 is a vote in favor of Seattle’s quality of life on all fronts.
The Proposition directs $100 million over ten years to public transit, biking, walking as well as road maintenance. If passed, Prop 1 would put over $2 million toward improving community access to buses, develop the electric trolly system, to support cleaner and more efficient buses, and support a more transit-friendly, walkable lifestyle for those who can’t afford the skyrocketing costs of owning a car.
Gas prices are getting out of control. Working families can’t afford paying at the pump every day. They need an affordable way to get to work, school and around the city. Our local buses deliver this critical service, said Sharon Lee, Executive Director of the Low Income Housing Institute. Prop. 1 will make our buses faster and more reliable for the riders who need it most and who depend on transit everyday.
This funding would come from an increased vehicle licensing fee (VLF) of $60. That means that more than $69 million would go towards much-needed repairs to Seattle’s roads, making them safer for everyone, including cyclists and pedestrians. Our roads are in disrepair. Because of the recession, Seattle has had to cut back on basic things like pothole filling, said Ref Lindmark of Co-Chair of the Citizens Transportation Advisory Committee that helped create the measure. The increased VLF would more than double the amount of road maintenance projects the city is able to do in a year.
Prop 1 also provides specific funding for cyclist and pedestrian projects – nearly $4.4 million. In the plans are new sidewalks, a list of potholes to fill, better and more crosswalks and family-friendly biking paths, lanes and trails. If passed, this measure will make it easier for everyone – that is, transit users, drivers, cyclists and pedestrians – alike. In other words, when you put feet first, everyone benefits, which is why Feet First stands beside Streets for All in support of Proposition 1.