I-912, the feel-good mistake

It is 8:30 on a weekday morning on Highway 9, a picturesque, two-lane road framed by morning fog and trees of amber and red. But there is nothing charming about motorists stuck in traffic, inching along, wasting time, jangling nerves before the workday begins.

Promoters of Initiative 912, which would roll back a 9.5-cent gas-tax increase passed by the Legislature, want voters to believe new gas-tax money won't do anything to reduce traffic congestion.

Here in fast-growing Snohomish County, this not-so-little fib stands out as one of several falsehoods of the campaign. New gas-tax dollars would be used to widen and improve seven intersections between Clearview and Arlington. They need the help.

Washington voters are not powerless. They can take a stand and beat Initiative 912, the Neanderthals' answer to progress. Voters have two choices: Pretend traffic isn't that bad and maybe it will go away, which is illogical; or let the tax increase stand by voting no on I-912 and assuring some key projects proceed.

With deference to word-parser-in-chief Bill Clinton, the notion that the gas tax does not relieve traffic congestion depends on one's definition of congestion relief. If you mean leaving the tax in place won't make all roads into easy streets all the time, go ahead and support this instant-gratification initiative — as long as you also agree not to whine about traffic later.

The $8.5 billion transportation package cannot take care of what many experts see as a $40 billion problem. The state is growing faster than the public's patience with government or its willingness to invest in infrastructure.

Most Washington voters understand if the state expands and adds right- and left-hand turn lanes on Highway 9, as the new money is scheduled to do, and if the state adds lanes and onramps to crunch points on Interstate 405, as the new money is scheduled to do, it will make a difference.

I-912 is a quality-of-life measure in reverse.

The pro-912 campaign is based on the premeditated exaggeration that the initiative is all about gold-plated Seattle projects such as Mayor Greg Nickels' overpriced plan to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct with a $4 billion tunnel.

The tunnel would eliminate an eyesore that separates the waterfront from the city. But it is too expensive. Most smart people in the region understand that. Eventually, the mayor will, too.

The suburbs are where the rubber meets the road. Passage of I-912 is most likely to leave suburbanites stuck in traffic that will worsen with introduction of cars from each new development. And there are lots of new developments.

If I-912 passes, $2 billion appropriated for a rebuild of the Alaskan Way Viaduct goes away. When an earthquake hits — not if, when — the viaduct will be closed.

Seattle's problem? No, a regional problem. A statewide problem. Think farm to market and access to Seattle's waterfront.

The 110,000 cars a day that travel the viaduct will move to Interstate 5, and many drivers who can't navigate the I-5 bottleneck without an overdose of aspirin will move over to Interstate 405, which barely serves the fast-growing Eastside.

Millions of dollars from the new tax would be spent adding new lanes and interchanges to Interstate 405 to reduce choke points that stall traffic much of the day. For many people, the I-405 and Highway 167 interchange is ground zero. The new money would make significant improvements in both directions on I-405.

The most disturbing part of the I-912 campaign is the glibness. Who cares — it's not my problem if nothing happens?

Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma have a message for us all. Wishing natural disasters won't come our way is not sound policy.

About $3 billion of the new money is dedicated to congestion relief and choke points around the state. Other funds will be spent on safety improvements, such as adding new lanes on U.S. 12 west of Walla Walla, a most dangerous roadway.

It's easy to hate government and the Department of Transportation. It's easy to think, maybe some other, better plan will come along. It's easy to think gas prices are something in life an individual can control.

The considerable challenge is to persuade voters to move beyond inchoate anger and believe a community can do something to preserve its quality of life. This misguided initiative will feel good one day and terribly shortsighted the next.

Joni Balter's column appears regularly on editorial pages of The Times. Her e-mail address is jbalter@seattletimes.com