Almost Nobody Likes Initiative 1125, but Kemper Freeman, Jr Does
Infamous local anti-tax crusader and initiative-pusher Tim Eyman is at it again with this little nugget of anti-rail spite. On the surface, it simply requires that every toll increase be approved by a legislative vote instead of by the Washington Transportation Commission, but the implications run much deeper. If passed, it would block Sound Transit from being able to build light rail on the I-90 bridge through a little, hidden clause that says highway lanes funded by highway tolls and gas taxes cannot be used for "non-highway purposes," like rail. And, surprise surprise, 90% of its money comes from your friend and mine, the King of Bellevue* and notorious light rail opponent Kemper Freeman, Jr. (If you're not yet familiar with his work and his reputation, I implore you to read Eli Sanders' profile of the developer in this week's Stranger.)
As Freeman poured over a million dollars into I-1125, the Bellevue Downtown Association, who Freeman resigned from just earlier this year over light rail, is in strong opposition of the initiative. They're in good company: I-1125 is opposed by both our gubernatorial candidates (McKenna a little reluctantly, since the State Republicans are one of the few to support it), the Association of Washington Business, Seattle Downtown Association and a whole slough of others, including the Chambers of Commerces of Seattle, Bellevue, Renton and even Vancouver. 56% of Bellevue residents want light rail to the Eastside. The yes camp doesn't list their endorsements online, although I suppose the Bellevue City Council voting to have no opinion is close?
At best, this is a wrench thrown into the Sound Transit 2 package, gumming up the process of the Eastside getting efficient transit. At worst, it's a vanity project that benefits a select few at the expense of the City of Bellevue, and an attack on everything Sound Transit does.
Light rail is not the only thins I-1125 would do to gum up the work. It would ban variable tolling based on peak traffic hour. It would axe the funding source for not only the already fucked-up Viaduct Replacement Project and the Columbia River Crossing, but the 520 Bridge, just in case you like driving all the way around Lake Washington.
It's kind of a big mess, and it won't block tolls altogether -- just make then more complicated and ineffective. Plus, it's an Eyman project, which, you know. The initiative is being presented as part of the war on cars -- "It's Time To Stand Up For The 97% Of Us Who Choose To Drive Cars!" screams the tagline on a Google ad -- but this is bad for everybody who ever uses roads for any reason, car or no.
*There is no actual King of Bellevue. That's not a real thing. It was a joke. He just owns a pretty huge chunk of it.
