The campaign against Tim Eyman’s I-976 is kicking off across the state this week, with events in three cities that shine a light on at-risk transportation projects and transit service at the state, regional and local level.

WHAT: No on I-976 Campaign Kick Off
WHEN: Wednesday, September 18, 2019
9:45-10:30 a.m.
(Due to proximity to building tenants, please arrive after 9:30 a.m.)
WHERE: 401 Second Avenue South Atrium (Ground Floor)
WHO:   King County Executive Dow Constantine
Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan
Steve Mullin, President, Washington Roundtable
Larry  Brown, President, Washington State Labor Council AFL-CIO
Anna Zivarts, Director, Rooted in Rights
Alex Hudson, Executive Director, Transportation Choices Coalition

The Spokane kick-off was on Monday, Sept. 16 and the Vancouver kick-off is today, Tuesday, Sept. 17.

I-976 puts at risk more than $25 billion in critical transportation funding. Right when our growing state should be investing in roads, bridges, rails, and transit options, this initiative reduces city-level maintenance projects and transit service, threatens voter-approved regional transit investments, and cuts funding for the state’s transportation budget. It also cuts direct services for veterans, children, senior citizens and people with disabilities and funding for the Washington State Patrol.

Seattle- and King County-Specific Impacts

I-976 would cut $20 billion of voter-approved funding for Sound Transit, delaying light rail and bus rapid transit expansion. I-976 would also cut $134 million of King County Metro services (2020-2025) and $30 million vanpool improvements.

In addition to putting state funding at risk, I-976 threatens local transportation projects across the state. More than 60 cities would lose an average of $60 million a year for the next 10 years; transportation benefit districts provide:

• $36 million a year to Seattle, which is used to fund more than 350,000 bus service hours
• $919,000 a year to Des Moines
• $834,000 a year to Shoreline
• $767,000 a year to Burien
• $376,000 to Mercer Island

TBDs collect local money to solve local problems. Local funding for street and traffic maintenance such as pavement repairs, crack sealing, lane stripping, street lighting, signals, and pedestrian improvements such as crosswalks, ADA ramp work, and sidewalk repairs.

There are significant safety risks to de-funding transportation maintenance and improvements. Our state already has 160 bridges that are identified as being in poor condition and a threat to public safety. Even smaller road projects, like potholes, contribute to dangerous driving conditions. Cuts to mass transit options will only put more people on the road, making congestion worse and causing further damage to roadways.

A broad coalition of organizations have come together to protect Washington’s transportation system. Business, labor, civic, environmental and transit organizations have joined the No on I-976 effort, and are working hard to help the public understand that I-976 cripples the ability of every community to fix roads, expand light rail, maintain ferries and improve freight corridors.

For more information about at-risk projects and the coalition, visit www.NO976.org.