http://www.no985.org Home of the coalition opposing the More Traffic Measure Wed, 05 Nov 2008 07:30:58 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en http://dailyuw.com/2008/10/30/daily-recommends-voting-no-initiative-985/ http://www.no985.org/2008/10/uw-daily-opposes-i-985/ It's very close!! http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/638290.html http://www.no985.org/2008/10/washington-poll-45-yes-43-no/ Newspaper editorial boards across Washington State are coming out in force against Initiative 985 because of the harm it would inflict upon our communities. The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Seattle Times, The Stranger, the Yakima-Herald Republic, Spokane Spokesman-Review, Walla Walla Union Bulletin, Tacoma News Tribune, Vancouver Columbian, Everett Herald, Columbia Basin Herald, and ... http://www.no985.org/2008/10/newspapers-across-washington-agree-no-on-i-985/ The Board of the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce recently voted to oppose Initiative 985 because the increased traffic I-985 would create isn't good for our workforce or our economy. Here are a few of the concerns cited by the chamber in its opposition statement: Negative fiscal impact: The state's Office of Financial ... http://www.no985.org/2008/09/seattle-chamber-i-985-a-step-backwards/ If Initiative 985 is approved, high occupancy vehicle (or carpool) lanes will be open to everyone at almost all hours of the day, including rush hour. This would dramatically worsen traffic and lead to an increase in commute times for families all over Puget Sound. The goals of the HOV system, as ... http://www.no985.org/2008/09/why-gutting-hov-lanes-is-a-bad-idea/ Recently, the NPI Advocate published an interview with Chris Gregoire which included a question asking for her position on Initiative 985. Here's the governor's interview with NPI Executive Director Andrew Villeneuve: ANDREW: You’ve been good about coming out and telling people where you stand on issues; that’s something your opponent doesn’t ... http://www.no985.org/2008/09/governor-gregoire-strongly-opposed-to-initiative-985/ The Washington State Parent Teacher Association is taking a stand against Initiative 985 because of its harmful impact to our state's public schools. Here's an excerpt from their news release last Friday: According to the Office of Financial Management, the initiative could result in as much as $665 million being diverted from the ... http://www.no985.org/2008/08/pta-opposes-initiative-985/ We're pleased to announce a new member of the NO on I-985 Coalition today: The Tahoma Audubon Society, whose board voted last night to take a position against the More Traffic Measure. Founded almost forty years ago, Tahoma Audubon's mission is.. ...to conserve and restore ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and ... http://www.no985.org/2008/08/tahoma-audubon-joins-no-on-i-985-coalition/ The Washington State Labor Council has announced that it is joining the diverse coalition of Washingtonians opposing Tim Eyman's More Traffic Measure this fall: Delegates to the Washington State Labor Council made additional election endorsements Wednesday at the 2008 WSLC Convention in Vancouver, including endorsing Terry Bergeson for Superintendent of Public Instruction, supporting ... http://www.no985.org/2008/08/washington-state-labor-council-endorses-no-on-985/ In a Seattle Times op/ed piece, Floyd McKay nails I-985 for its duplicity. The measure claims that it's carrying out the recommendations of Washington's recent congestion audit. But it does no such thing: Eyman maintains that I-985 supports Auditor Brian Sonntag's "congestion" audit of the Department of Transportation. Of 22 major ... http://www.no985.org/2008/08/i-985-ignores-the-congestion-audit/ Over at Horse's Ass, the inimitable David Goldstein fillets I-985 in a sarcastic "endorsement." Along the way, he makes an intriguing point: But my favorite provision in I-985, the one that earns my endorsement, is the one that requires that tolls only be used to pay for the construction of the ... http://www.no985.org/2008/08/a-problem-for-replacing-520/ The Seattle P-I's Joel Connelly nails one of the many bad, unintended consequences of I-985: Traveling Route 520 at 6:20 Friday, I found stop-and-go traffic from 84th Avenue Northeast to the bridge. The state Transportation Department's rush-hour map shows even greater congestion much of the time.  By throwing open the express lanes, ... http://www.no985.org/2008/08/i-985-a-mess-for-westbound-sr-520/ The Tri-City Herald has the scoop: [I-985] would cost the state general fund $620 million over five years.The impact on the budget deficit facing lawmakers in January would be about $290 million... The state budget is already tight -- and I-985 would just make a bad situation worse. http://www.no985.org/2008/08/i-985-budget-buster/ This is a great piece worth reading. Of 22 major recommendations in Sonntag's report, only synchronization of traffic lights is addressed in I-985. The audit doesn't recommend limiting tolls on Seattle's bridges or high-occupancy toll lanes (HOTs), or opening HOV lanes in off-peak hours. It doesn't deal with freeway artwork or red-light ... http://www.no985.org/2008/08/times-op-ed-debunks-eyman/ I-985 raids the state "general fund" of about $575 million through the end of 2013. What's the general fund used for? This document (pdf) has the answers. In round numbers: 52 percent goes to education 30 percent goes to social and health services 6 percent goes to corrections 5 percent services bond ... http://www.no985.org/2008/07/raiding-the-general-fund/