Brad Shannon:
The Politics Blog

Brad Shannon maintains this blog. He is political editor at The Olympian and can be reached at 360-753-1688 or bshannon@theolympian.com.

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DOT brushes off Eyman's I-985 taunts, says it's getting ready

• Published September 04, 2008

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Tim Eyman was feeling his oats this morning, sending out an email that taunts state officials over their readiness to convert highway carpool lanes to all-purpose traffic during non-peak hours. He told them they need to get signs ready and other steps ready to go.

The government’s asphalt-coated boots, so to speak, are not shaking over Eyman’s Dec. 4 deadline. But officials say they are making preparations to see what steps they will need to address in the 30 days after Nov. 4 — if Initiative 985 passes.

“What we are doing is we are looking at the kinds of things we would have to do to implement it. That is prudent. I am not ordering signs,” said Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond, laughing at the demand, which she said arrived 15 times in her e-mail. “ I don’t have the money or the authority for the signs. … I’m working off a budget that is law. His initiative is a proposal that is not law.’’

Most of the debate over I-985’s wisdom hasn’t occurred. But Eyman cited polls showing very high public support for it. As proposed, it would shift about $129 million a year from general funds that go for schools and prisons and put it into congestion relief, and it would force the state to help fund traffic synchronization equipment to speed traffic flow in non-highway locales, mainly congested Puget Sound counties.

It also would open carpool lanes to general traffic during non-peak hours, which Eyman said today must happen on Dec. 4, under terms of the initiatives.

Here’s a taste of Eyman’s “90-day” warning notice:

On December 4, 2008, Initiative 985's policies take effect — with this email, citizens are issuing a 90 day notice to you and the Washington state Department of Transportation — you better start getting ready. We draw your attention to sections 2, 3, 4, and 10(a) concerning I-985's changes to carpool lane policy and sections 15, 16, and 17 affecting toll policy (no more diversions). http://www.secstate.wa.gov/elections/initiatives/text/i985.pdf

90 days from today, citizens will be driving in the carpool lanes during non-peak hours — you better prepare for that — signs need to be changed and shoulders prepared for this immediate, cost-effective reform.

90 days from today, citizens will no longer be charged extra to drive in Highway 167's carpool lanes (toll lanes) during non-peak hours — you better be ready to reprogram the tolling equipment to reflect this new policy. And when it comes to the toll revenue generated from Hwy 167, in 90 days it will only be able to be spent on Hwy 167, not diverted and spent somewhere else — you should prepare for that.

“It appears mighty presumptuous to me. Of course we will be ready to implement the initiative if it becomes law,” said Pearse Edwards, spokesman for Gov. Chris Gregoire.

Former DOT secretary Douglas MacDonald has spoken out against I-985, saying it fails to make congestion relief a state priority as Eyman claims. Plus it will hinder the state’s expanded use of carpool lanes as “HOT” or toll lanes, MacDonald says.

That wider use of carpool lanes was one of the key recommendations of a state auditor’s performance audit that Eyman claims as inspiration for his measure.