Bellevue Reporter - Latest Comments in Let Sound Transit pay bridge tolls - Bellevue Reporter

Re: Let Sound Transit pay bridge tolls - Bellevue Reporter

Ben Schiendelman — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 09:34:14 -0000

Sound Transit spends money collected on the eastside only on the eastside, and money collected in Seattle only in Seattle. The requirement is called 'subarea equity' - and it's why the eastside has about $1B in the bank today to be spent on East Link.

Neither the original Sound Move taxes nor the ST2 taxes could pay for East Link on their own. Waiting and saving up is the only way to pay for the project.

Re: Let Sound Transit pay bridge tolls - Bellevue Reporter

MarkNRenton — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 03:23:14 -0000

Seriously, Bill Hirt is one of the most poorly-informed letter writers out there. It's one thing to offer critical commentary. It's another to rely on a constant string of distortions to make those arguments.

Re: Let Sound Transit pay bridge tolls - Bellevue Reporter

Seattle Guy — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 01:45:02 -0000

You are incorrect; authorities are NOT saying that "Eastsiders should have to pay a toll to finance the rebuild of the 520 bridge." Westsiders, we Seattleites would have to pay the toll too!

It may come as a shock but commute traffic is pretty much even in both directions, certainly on 520 and getting there on I-90. Tolls would be for everyone, Mr. Hirt, not just you poor Eastsiders.