Story Published:
Oct 11, 2007 at 3:52 PM PDT
Story Updated:
Mar 31, 2008 at 4:47 PM PDT
SEATTLE - State Auditor Brian Sonntag has released an accounting of how the Department of Transportation is doing.
One of the key findings: The DOT needs to focus on reducing congestion as a primary goal.
Please, raise your hand if you also were under the delusion that the DOT already had that goal as a priority.
Well, in talking with Sonntag, he told me that not only is reducing congestion not "the" DOT priority, it's not even "a" priority.
And to top it off, the DOT's acting director says she disagrees with making congestion the agency's top priority.
So what the flippin' heck is the DOT most interested in?
Maintaining the roads we have and keeping them safe.
You know, that's not how we were sold that latest gas tax increase, which now has us forking over 36 cents for every gallon of gas we buy.
We were told that congestion was an issue that would be tackled.
Now I'm thinking that with a budget of $5.9 billion that maybe, just maybe, the DOT could find a way to squeeze out a little of our hard earned cash to solve at least some of our congestion problems.
If for no other reason than it's what the hell the agency is supposed to do!
Have something to say to Ken? E-mail him at kenschram@komo4news.com.
And be sure to join Ken, along with John Carlson, on "The Commentators", which airs every weekday from 9-Noon on AM 570 KVI.
It's a lively exchange of information, insight and perspective with two guys who don't agree on much, but still manage to enjoy each other as they tackle issues of the day. Even better, callers are invited in on the verbal action.
