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Home / Washington Business - February 2006 / How Will We Move Around in the Future? |
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How Will We Move Around in the Future? |
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Written On: February 2006 |
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Written By: by Alexis Nepomuceno |
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There's been enough drama surrounding the transportation issue in Washington to make a full-length feature movie. Unfortunately, the movie would be more akin to "One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest" as opposed to a light-hearted comedy starring Steve Martin.
This month's issue of Washington Business covers several key aspects of the transportation issue. However, the storyline presented is not a pretty one, and a happy ending is not yet in sight.
Points of View (page 19) presents both sides of the new $30 car tab initiative with the "Save Our Car Tabs" initiative co-sponsor Tim Eyman, and Transportation Choices Coalition Executive Director Jessyn Schor.
Washington’s Secretary of Transportation, Doug MacDonald, attempts to address many of businesses’ concerns through Q&A (page 22). Meanwhile, staff writer Paul Schlienz takes an in-depth look at the potential for added toll roads in his article Not Your Father's Toll Road (page 24).
Editor Ron Dalby's article Keeping the Country Moving (page 26) examines a U.S. Chamber-commissioned study that documents current and future transportation needs and the funding implications on a state and national level. The study points out that not enough revenue is being generated by Americans to support the existing and future infrastructure needs. It goes on to make a series of short- and long-term recommendations — from more toll roads to "mileage-based revenue systems."
Rebuilding the Viaduct (page 30) by Daniel Brunell reviews viaduct options being pondered by Seattle politicians and state legislators. Much of the funding has already been set aside to replace the viaduct, but city leaders in Seattle want to do away with the viaduct and go with a costly tunnel option to upgrade the city’s décor.
Finally, Paul Schlienz and Shawn Sullivan co-author Ferries in Transition (page 32), which describes the ongoing turmoil surrounding the state’s ferry system. Displayed is yet another example of unions obstructing potential efficiencies and cost-savings brought to the table by the private sector.
We hope the conclusion to the state’s transportation roller-coaster will be a happy one. However, if the current storyline continues and the current cast of characters is not replaced, this will be one ending that no one will want to stick around to watch.
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