Tolling opponents hope to qualify initiative to ban tolls on I-90
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MERCER ISLAND, Wash. -- Those who oppose tolling on I-90 are pushing to get an initiative on the November ballot that would ban tolls on all Washington interstates.
"They need to keep their hands off of tolling the interstate," said Elizabeth Campbell of The Democracy Workshop.
Fighting words from the driving force behind the anti-tolling initiative. The state insists it has no choice but to rely on tolling to help pay for transportation projects and to alleviate congestion.
"WSDOT always has choices," Campbell said. "In life, we all have choices. They're far from being forced to levy tolls."
The non-profit Democracy Workshop is hoping to enact an outright ban tolling on all interstates that run through Washington.
It could mean a financial roadblock for at least three state projects -- the state is considering tolling I-90 to pay for unfunded portions of construction on SR-520. The initiative could also jeopardize tolling planned for an express HOT lane on I-405 between Bellevue and Lynnwood, and for a new Columbia River crossing bridge that would connect Oregon and Washington.
Campbell insists the federal interstates are the economic backbone of our state; and that they must be free and efficient.
But Reema Griffith, Executive Director of the State's Transportation Commission, says there is a price to pay to have a better commute.
She says she knows tolling impacts individual budget but she insists so does sitting in traffic.
In a statement, she fired back at the initiative's organizers: "The only way we can continue to address growing populations and growing demands for a more reliable and efficient transportation system is that we will need to rely on ourselves to fund the needed improvements."
The Democracy Workshop fears if voters don't put the brakes on tolls now, there will be more down the road.
"You want to stop it now rather than later when you probably won't be able to catch it," Campbell said.
The group needs 325,000 signatures to get it on the November ballot. The measure would ban tolls, but would consider tolling on case-by-case basis.
You can also weigh in on tolling on I-90.
"They need to keep their hands off of tolling the interstate," said Elizabeth Campbell of The Democracy Workshop.
Fighting words from the driving force behind the anti-tolling initiative. The state insists it has no choice but to rely on tolling to help pay for transportation projects and to alleviate congestion.
"WSDOT always has choices," Campbell said. "In life, we all have choices. They're far from being forced to levy tolls."
The non-profit Democracy Workshop is hoping to enact an outright ban tolling on all interstates that run through Washington.
It could mean a financial roadblock for at least three state projects -- the state is considering tolling I-90 to pay for unfunded portions of construction on SR-520. The initiative could also jeopardize tolling planned for an express HOT lane on I-405 between Bellevue and Lynnwood, and for a new Columbia River crossing bridge that would connect Oregon and Washington.
Campbell insists the federal interstates are the economic backbone of our state; and that they must be free and efficient.
But Reema Griffith, Executive Director of the State's Transportation Commission, says there is a price to pay to have a better commute.
She says she knows tolling impacts individual budget but she insists so does sitting in traffic.
In a statement, she fired back at the initiative's organizers: "The only way we can continue to address growing populations and growing demands for a more reliable and efficient transportation system is that we will need to rely on ourselves to fund the needed improvements."
The Democracy Workshop fears if voters don't put the brakes on tolls now, there will be more down the road.
"You want to stop it now rather than later when you probably won't be able to catch it," Campbell said.
The group needs 325,000 signatures to get it on the November ballot. The measure would ban tolls, but would consider tolling on case-by-case basis.
You can also weigh in on tolling on I-90.
Our state legislators at the federal level are some of the ones that pushed for a changeÂ
regarding changes in the laws regarding tolling of the US Interstate Highway system. Â
Originally, by law, tolls on the interstate highways could only be spent on the section ofÂ
road that the toll applied to. Now, largely thanks to the liberals that love to spend who
saw the interstate highways as yet another source of income to be spent on other things,
 those original laws and limitations are now history and funds can be used by states forÂ
other non-interstate projects.
You elected them and now you are going to get bent over big time.
Taxes, needs, requirements â itâs an endless catch-22 that not only are voters caught in the crosshairs of, but are also pulling the trigger, and nobody seems to be able to figure out a way to end this viscous cycle.
As soon as you have a large group of people form a community, you start laying the foundation for taxes to supply for the communal needs of that community. Hospitals, fire stations, police, roads, and even folks to manage all of it â those despicable politicians. Problem is, there is no way any one politician is going to satisfy every special interest group out there.
And the way our âtax and spendâ system is set up, itâs always going to be like this, and itâs never going to matter just how selfless and good any one politician or group of politicians are until a better way to do business is created.
Almost all voters work with a household budget with mostly known factors â we know what we owe, we know what our income is (baring sickness, job loss), we stand a chance to keep the ink in the black. On the other hand, politicians are working today with tomorrowâs taxes, and that is also tough. I remember one winter Seattle burned though all of the supplies it had set aside for sanding the roads because Mother Nature was a bit nastier than they had planned on, and they had to spend more, and still they took a bunch of static for their âfailureâ.
While I agree that spending needs to be looked at, and in economic down-turns, hard choices that are always going to upset folks needs to be made, I also see that most things cost more and taxes have to rise to cover the additional costs.
I donât have an answer, but as a government bean-counter (retired, that is), have had to live within Congress mandated tax laws, and understand that there is a problem when folks demand that the politician act, causing them to spend before taxes are paid. It doesnât work at home, and it doesnât work well in any capital, state or federal.
Tacoma and the Peninsula already pay a toll to cross their bridge. Apparently the rich people on Mercer Island think they are too important to pay for their own bridge and want all of us to pay for it. They should pay the toll and shut up about it.
signing up to collect signatures, should be a really easy job, saying stuff it olympia..... Now if Tim Eyman would get off  his butt, and get it in gear and start a new 30 dollar max car/truck fee's we would be in business..... also tim, cap gas tax at 40 cents, and no increasaes without a vote of the people.... Tim, ya listening
Nice idea if it makes people feel better but still a waste of time. If they get it passed the legislature and or courts will just ignore or get rid of it. Then the voters will put the same people who gave them the middle finger back in office. The people in the legislature will have a great laugh behind closed doors at what rubes they govern.
If this state has its way it will turn all the roads into toll roads which will become its new cash cow. The state should never be allowed to charge a toll on an Interstate road and should be limited to only tolling the road they are adding to or rebuilding. Another thing is the tolls should only be used for that project and nothing else. If these constraints are not put in place you will not even be able to drive to the grocery store without being stuck with a toll. If we do not mandate where that money will be used it will end up in the general budget and get used for any pet project that these sleazy politicians come up with.
Thank you for supporting our Initiative to Ban Interstate Tolling in Washington!! Please go to our facebook and "Like" our page to stay updated! Â www.facebook.com/pages/Democracy-Workshop/152713128216273?fref=tsEdit
Don't we all pay enough taxes to our Gov't (Federal and States) ?
They should have more than enough money to run the whole country,
but they just wasted all the money somewhere elses !!!!
Why is it that only the urban areas will get the pleasure of having to pay a toll every time that they use the freeways, while the rural areas don't? Â I fail to see how that is equitable.
@UtterReality I have no problem at all. Why should we in the rural areas be stuck with paying for the luxury of you being able to drive on super multi-lane roads? If you want to live in the big city expect to pay for it.Â
Great slap a toll on every highway out in the country that I never use yet get to pay for.
I'd sign that initiative.
I heard on channel 7 news this evening that, included in the proposed gas tax hike is a $140 addition to car tabs ( which they said was the estimated amount for a $20,000 car.)Â For someone on a fixed income, I don't know how that would be affordable!
They don't seem to get we are on hard times, so the need to cut back on non-essentials and only do what is needed. But nope they continue to want more money and waste it on projects that are not crucial to our society.Â
WSDOT....LOOK!!!!
No TOLL on I-90!!!!
I hope that all Govt employees get to be exempt from having to pay any proposed new tolls and are able to drive in the carpool lanes with only one person in the car.  I recall that If the state receives money from the Federal Highway Trust fund to maintain the roads then they may not put tolls on the roads.  Even if we do receive money to maintain the interstate we should pay for the luxury to be able to use them.  I mean where do we get off at?  This isn't our State or our Government we are their taxpayers, and thats all we need to know.  It also wouldn't hurt us to pay the new proposed additional ten cents gas tax.  Until fuel cost is over minimum wage per hour for a gallon we should have and need no say.  We have no idea how tough it is on our elected officials to add additional taxes and tolls on us.  It is enjoyable to watch all this stuff keep happening, we deserve it all for voting for democrap career politicians like Inslee.  (Who is for both the gas tax and the tolls.)  Spend and tax, spend and toll!Â
Where do I sign? I hope they get 750,000. What part of they have already over spent and used the reserves for crumbling, cracked, rusting, and leaking pontoons for this totally out of control boondoggle do they not get? Drop the project and sink those worthless chunks of cracked cement.Â
Why couldn't the Liberal Lamers running our State Government (for the past thirty years) exercise some Common Sense? For instance, if they had to use a toll to pay for the 520 Bridge why not make it low enough so that it does not represent a hardship for Commuters? If more People drive the 520 Bridge and pay a lower toll the State might bring in comparable revenue based on an increased volume of People willing to drive 520.  Instead, they set the Tolls at a high enough figure to discouage Drivers from choosing the 520 Bridge. Now they want to further restrict choice and spread the misery to I-90. I'll sign the initiative in a heart-beat.
Guess no new taxes that we voted on don't apply to tolls, since this really isn't going to pay for anything on I-90. I may be wrong on this, but isn't it illegal for the state to toll an interstate?
@Zoso I'm pretty sure that WSDOT can get Federal permission. After all, I-90 is already tolled in Boston.Â
@randomuser I did find out some info that said that tolling is prohibited on interstates constructed with federal interstate funds unless if it was first constructed with state funds before becoming interstates. Most of these exemptions are in the eastern states since they already had highways in place before Interstates were adopted. Now the question is, did the state of WA build the freeway with their own funds before it became an Interstate?
Do the government employees that are allowed to drive their tax payer funded cars home have to pay tolls or are they exempt? Anyone know?Â
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@the unvarnished truth I have no problem with cops taking their cars home.  It's all the government office workers I see driving tax payer cars that makes me wonder why they need them. The reason I ask is that there are so many government workers around here along with the non-working people and the folks in the 509 that have no problem tolling the folks in the 206 that I doubt a no toll initiative can pass...
If they can't keep our roads maintained with 37.5 cents a gallon tax then they're not going to be able to di by tolls or increasing the gas tax either. We don't need any new roads or bridges or any other new widening projects, things are just fine the way they are. They just need to use that 37.5 cents for maintaining what we have and we'll be fine. I'll be signing up on this petition too.
Where do I sign?
@Glassman Seriously though, anyone know where we can sign?
People need to realize that WSDOT also wants to toll I-5, 405 and 167 in addition to I-90 and 520. And of course they want to keep the 37.5 cents per gallon gas tax which is among the highest in the country.
It isn't just the wealthy people on Mercer Island who are going to get hosed, even if you live in south king county you better get used to paying $4 whenever you get onto a freeway.
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Tolling/ProgramMap.htm
@ChrisJericho Chris makes a good point. It appears that some in the media are trying to position this as Mercer Island against everyone else, as if some will simply support tolling just to spite the "rich folks" who live on the island. I am not opposed to paying a one-dollar toll to pay for the cost to build a bridge, but three to four dollars is out of line.
Gotta keep shelling out those Cadillac Wages and Benefits to Unionized State Employees, and expand the scope and depth of Free Services offered to Democratic Party Constituencies (i.e., Illegal Aliens).
Who's the Democracy Workshop? Â A Koch-style political action org funded by Kemper Freeman and Tim Eyman?
At an average $1 million per house, I think they can afford the toll. Use the road, pay for the road, and stop whining.
@Sanctuary Put down the bottle.
@Sanctuary That is some fine bud you be smoking, aren't you glad it is now legal.
You think everyone who has to use I-90 has a $1 million house?
@Sanctuary I use I-90 for work and I can only afford a small apartment. Do you live with your parents or something?