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An Initiative 985 explainer

06:26 PM PDT on Saturday, September 27, 2008

By ALLEN SCHAUFFLER / KING 5 News

Tired of sitting in traffic, looking at an empty HOV lane you can't use? Do you wonder why you hit red light after red light on major arterials?

Video: An Initiative 985 explainer
Larger screen

Tim Eyman says he can help free things up.

"We can do a lot of little things to make things better, were not going to solve the problem we're going to make things better," said Eyman.

Initiative 985 is Eyman's attempt to force the state to spend money on easing traffic congestion.

Here's what you will read on the ballot:

"This measure would open high-occupancy vehicle lanes to all traffic during specified hours, require traffic light synchronization, increase roadside assistance funding, and dedicate certain taxes, fines, tolls and revenues to traffic-flow purposes." Yes or no.

But as with every initiative, there's a lot more involved than what you read in the ballot title.

I-985 would redirect hundreds of millions of dollars every year from vehicle sales taxes. It would expand the power and responsibilities of the state auditor's office and involve that office in traffic engineering decisions and oversight.

It would restrict spending on bike lanes, mass transit and public art for transportation projects.  

And all money generated by red light automatic ticketing cameras in cities around Washington would go into the "reduce traffic congestion fund" run by the state. Many cities say that will be the last of that program.

"Those cameras will be taken out if this initiative passes," said Eric Anderson, Tacoma City Manager.

I-985 opponents say some of the proposals will make some traffic worse and that as written, I-985 just has too much in it.

"This initiative is like a quilt, where everybody brings a silk tie to a quilting bee, and it will all stitch together, but it isn't working," said Doug MacDonald, Former State Transportation Secretary.

Eyman says its pretty simple, Washington drivers want action.

"What our initiative is about is trying to implement some of the more immediate cost-effective reforms without raising taxes, by identifying existing revenues," said Eyman.

you can see the full debate between Tim Eyman and former transportation secretary Dan MacDonald and learn much more about Initiative 985 Sunday on Upfront, airing on KING 5, KONG and Northwest Cable News.

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