This November, voters in King, Snohomish and Pierce counties have the opportunity to solve our transportation problems and improve our quality of life by voting for the Roads & Transit plan, Proposition 1. The plan will help us right here in Magnolia. How many times have you experienced the frustration of the Mercer Street corridor? This mess needs a solution, and without Roads & Transit we won't have the funding for one. Improving the traffic flow on Mercer Street will help alleviate commuting woes that many of us experience whenever we have to drive through this area.
Roads & Transit presents us with a critical opportunity to continue building momentum for mass transit with funding for 50 miles of light rail. Fast, safe, reliable transit will transform the way our region grows, a critical step toward a cleaner environment.
Additionally, the Roads & Transit plan represents the largest investment in bike lanes at any one time in the past 20 years. Many of the improvements included in the plan make it easier and safer for pedestrians and bicyclists to commute. A key step in improving conges- tion issues in our region is to provide people with safe alternatives to driving. This package does just that.
The bike lanes, fixing of the Mercer Street mess and light rail are only part of the reason why I'm voting for this package. The plan also redefines how we invest in our highways by giving people transportation choices to leave their cars at home. And, by focusing on HOV lanes, safety and infrastructure, the roads side of the package serves as a good starting point to addressing some serious traffic issues in our region.
I'm looking forward to riding light rail, and I'm looking forward to a clear solution to the Mercer Street mess. I hope that my neighbors will join me in voting YES for this plan in November so that we can clear up the Mercer Street mess and have a strong light-rail system in our region.
Brendon Cechovic lives in Magnolia and works for Washington Conservation Voters.
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