One for the roads

A new statewide poll on an initiative to repeal a 9.5-cent gas-tax increase shows voters thinking about the measure in a more sophisticated way. In general, no one should read too much into public-opinion surveys, but sounder thinking may be emerging.

For most people, the first response to the question posed by Initiative 912 — do you want to reduce gas prices? — is, "Yes, of course, who wants to pay extra for such a basic need?" The second response, perhaps following greater reflection and time, is wiser. Voters may not favor higher gas prices but some understand the need for new, improved roads and bridges. Nonpartisan pollster Stuart Elway asked voters about I-912 in June and August and found a modest but surprising softening of support. By most accounts, I-912 still will pass as a pocketbook and lack-of-trust-in-government issue. The poll, however, shows a possible "no" campaign a way to talk to voters about the initiative beyond its knee-jerk, no-new-taxes nature.

The poll found many people want to upgrade roads and understand new money is needed. Others are uncomfortable with rising gas prices and feel the gas tax is too high already.

In the August survey, 52 percent of voters said they would repeal the gas-tax increase, down from 55-percent support three months earlier. The no vote increased 5 percentage points over the same period.

Whether that reflects voter thinking or a pollster's margin of error is uncertain, but voters ought to consider long-term fallout from this initiative.

Growth pressures and the clear need for roads and bridges should convince people they have a responsibility to invest in infrastructure. The case has been made repeatedly for a new Alaskan Way Viaduct in Seattle, with $2 billion in state funds that would be jeopardized if I-912 passes.

With the economy improving, voters ought to be thinking long-term. The wise course requires planning ahead and investing in basic infrastructure.