Tim Eyman\u2019s Initiative 976 Comes at a High Cost<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This essentially stops resources going to state, regional and local infrastructure projects,<\/strong> crippling our ability to fix dangerous highways, retrofit bridges and overpasses, fund transit, expand light rail, maintain ferries, build voter-approved projects, and improve the freight corridors that are the lifeblood of our economy.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
I-976 also specifically targets funds that pay for special services for senior citizens, veterans, children and people with disabilities.<\/strong> Other services who depend on transportation funding, such as the Washington State Patrol, would also see cuts.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Even local projects, approved by local voters, would be hit. <\/strong>Local communities use Transportation Benefit Districts (TBD) to pay for road construction, maintenance and local transit service. I-976 would eliminate $60 million in TBD funding for 61 cities as diverse as Zillah, Wenatchee, Mercer Island, Everett, Buckley and Mabton. <\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\nRead more about the projects at risk.<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\nDownload the fact sheets.<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\nI-976 FAQ<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
More Congestion. Not Fair. Too Costly.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
More detail about the transportation projects threatened by I-976.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\nMORE\nCONGESTION<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
I-976\nrepeals critical transportation funding, essentially eliminating our ability to\nfix dangerous highways, retrofit bridges and overpasses, fund transit, expand\nlight rail, maintain ferries, build voter-approved projects, improve freight\ncorridors, and invest in the Washington State Patrol. It hurts projects from\nSpokane to Seattle, Bellingham to Vancouver and all points in between. At risk\nare:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- State funding for critical transportation\nprojects like I-405, SR 520, North\/South freeway in Spokane, SR 167\/509\ncompletion and I-90\/Snoqualmie Pass<\/li>
- Voter-approved local transit and light rail\nexpansion <\/li>
- Highway safety projects including retrofitting\nbridges and overpasses and funding for the State Patrol<\/li>
- Ferry improvements<\/li>
- Improved Amtrak service, from Canada to Oregon<\/li>
- Freight mobility projects that make it easier\nfor our exports and imports to get to port <\/li>
- $60 million in funding every year is at risk to\npay for road construction, maintenance and local transit service in 62 cities. These\ncities are as diverse as Zillah, Wenatchee, Mercer Island, Everett, Buckley and\nMabton, and are all solving local problems with local funds.<\/li><\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\nNOT\nFAIR<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Vulnerable\nneighbors are impacted most by I-976.Not\nonly does I-976 threaten funds tobuild\nand maintain roads and transit options that people depend on to get to work\nands school, but it specifically targets funds that pay for special services for\nsenior citizens, veterans, children and people with disabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By repealing critical\ntransportation funding, I-976 puts major transportation projects across the\nstate at risk and makes it harder for local communities to solve their own\ntransportation problems. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
TOO COSTLY<\/strong> <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
I-976 threatens more than $25 billion in road, rail and public transportation investments that connect millions of people to jobs, education, health care, and each other every year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Resources<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The state did an analysis of I-976 when it was being considered by the Legislature in the 2019 session. Here are some supporting documents, detailing the projected project impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Detailed Fiscal Note<\/a> (July 2019)<\/li>
- Summary Sheet <\/a>(Feb. 2019) <\/li>
- Detailed Fiscal Note<\/a> (Office of Financial Management, Feb. 2019) <\/li><\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
Frequently Asked Questions<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\nI-976, sponsored by Tim\nEyman, is broadly written to dramatically cut our state and local\ntransportation funds. This initiative majorly threatens road infrastructure and\ntransit service from Spokane to Seattle, Bellingham to Vancouver and all points\nin between.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By repealing critical\ntransportation funding, I-976 cripples our ability to fix dangerous highways,\nretrofit bridges and overpasses, fund transit, expand light rail, maintain\nferries, build voter-approved projects, improve freight corridors, and invest\nin the Washington State Patrol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over $12 billion worth of\nprojects all over the state would be at risk if I-976 passes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\nWill this impact transportation in all areas of the state?<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Yes. Road, rail and transit\nprojects in every county in Washington are at risk. All areas of our state\ndepend on transportation infrastructure, from the farmers who move fresh food\nto buyers around the world, to every store in the entire state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I-976 would put a $4\nbillion hole in the State\u2019s transportation budget, including projects with\nsafety components, such as bridge repair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n