Four the Future - September 14

Transportation! Light Rail legal challenge, expanding valley highway, fewer youthful drivers, and transit cutbacks.

• State Supreme Court to hear fight to ban light rail from I-90
  Source: The Seattle Times; September 12, 2010
  Summary: The state Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case alleging that building light rail on I-90 would be a violation of the state constitution. Light rail opponent Kemper Freeman argues that using that the gas tax which built the freeway limits it to "highway purposes" and that using it for transit is a violation of the state's 18th amendment. The state argues that the lanes will be replaced by new ones, and that the lease of the property to the transit system is mere administration of the system. Transit has always had priority use on the inside lanes of highways.
  Opinion: First, as I've stated before, the 18th amendment is legislation posing as fundamental law of the land. It needs to be rescinded. Second, watch out: the North Spokane Corridor has a space allocation for dedicated transit lines. Third, next we'll hear that rail can't cross roads because that space is only to be used for "highway purposes." That's ridiculous, of course, but where's the line drawn? Transit uses the road space on a daily basis. Here in Spokane, it even upgrades major intersections to concrete. There’s space for everyone on the travelways. Let's hope the supreme court is rational about this.
  
• Third lane planned for I-90 from Sullivan to Barker
  Source: Spokesman-Review; September 13, 2010
  Summary: $25 million in construction bid savings is allowing WSDOT to expand I-90 from Sullivan to Barker to six lanes. Additionally, ruts from downtown Spokane to the Geiger exit will be repaired for $15.5 million. Construction will begin in the spring.
  Opinion: The ruts are caused by studded tires. The purchase of those tires should include a fee based on the expected amount it will cost to repair its share of the damage. That way those who think they improve driving can have them, and those who don’t do not have to pay for the inordinate amount of damage they cause. And with the widening project, now I-90 won’t be congested at the Sullivan exit. It will be congested at Barker, instead. Was ramp metering even in the alternatives analysis? (Was there an alternatives analysis at all?)
  
• Sweet 16 can be sweeter without driver's license
  Source: USA Today; September 13, 2010
  Summary: There are more and more 16 year olds who do not have a driver’s license. This bodes well for traffic safety. Some credit less mobile children, protective parents, and the poor economy, but graduated drivers’ licensing is to be credited.
  Opinion: Whatever the cause, one must consider what kind of society begins to form when 16 year olds cannot be assumed to have a license, let alone a car. Musing with my friend, KC Traver, I wondered out loud what would happen if the Eagle Pass program (which gives all Eastern Washington University students, staff, and faculty use of the bus system without payment at the bus) were extended to all high school students. We would have the opportunity to help teach students before that magical driving age how to get around without a car. And, in this economy, who wouldn't want to reduce the household transportation cost? In the long term, it would be better to have a community built in such a way that the need for transportation is reduced, such as mixed use neighborhoods. These are strategies which can be used to make ourselves more resilient in the face of a changing world. But, as the next story shows us, we're not always making progress in that direction....
  
• Riders sad for WTA's last day of Sunday bus service
  Source: The Bellingham Herald; September 12, 2010
  Summary: Whatcom Transportation Authority shut down its Sunday service to both regular route and paratransit riders after voters turned down a tax increase. Many riders were unsure how they'll get to church next week.
  Opinion: Whatcom is suffering the losses Spokane Transit managed to avoid. Still, STA is in route-cutting mode as well.