- "Why not solve the traffic conditions with new roads and buses?"
An all-bus system was analyzed in depth by an expert review panel. Simply
adding more buses to existing traffic will add to congestion instead of providing relief.
The Regional Express plan uses express buses but also incorporates light rail, commuter
rail, and improved HOV lanes for buses and carpools. Additional roads are neither
politically nor environmentally feasible, and they are not a cost effective solution.
- "Does Regional Express ease the congestion problem?"
In rush hour, Regional Express takes 53,000 car trips per day off the most
congested corridors. This translates into 265,000 trips per week, or close to 14,000,000
commutes per year. A review panel appointed by Washington state officials noted that this
figure may actually understate the potential ridership of the system.
- "It's the same taxes as last year. How can this plan be cheaper?"
This proposition is less expensive because it is a 10-year plan and is
smaller the former 16-year proposal. It can built and operated using the same tax rates
over a shorter time. After this phase is complete, voters will have to approve any
additions before the system can be expanded.
- "I hear that transit ridership is down and costs per rider are up."
Not true. Mass transit riders have actually increased in number. New
commuters who choose cars as a means of transportation do so because they have no
alternative. Costs per rider are on the rise -- because of the time it takes to
negotiate congested streets and highways. Regional Express directly attacks that problem
and frees up local transit resources so they can operate cheaper and faster.
- "What about the cost effectiveness of the plan?"
Electric light rail provides the carrying capacity of twelve lanes of
highways, all for 22% of the cost and 1/5 of the space. Commuter rail uses existing tracks
and entails no new property acquisition. On the other hand, just one mile of a new
12-lane freeway would cost taxpayers $360,000,000. Haven't we
waited long enough?
YES RTA HOME
Vote "YES" on the RTA Proposition No. 1 on November 5.
It's about time!
PAID FOR BY REGIONAL EXPRESS 2328 SIXTH AVE., SEATTLE, WA 98121
(206) 728-6051 MICHAEL LUIS, TREAS.
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