Washington looks into more transit

As we go to press, the Sound Transit board is mulling over whether to go back to voters in November with a renewed package of light rail, commuter and express bus investments. This year’s measure is both smaller and cheaper, without the expensive road projects we saw last year with Proposition 1.

The 2008 package would likely include expansion of light rail to Northgate, Bellevue and Des Moines, and a streetcar line from the International District to Capitol Hill. New to this year’s package is a major expansion of service on the highly successful Seattle to Tacoma commuter rail line, as well as expanded bus service to Bellevue and Everett. Tacoma’s light-rail line would also be extended.

Additionally, the Climate Action bill (see page 1) establishes goals to reduce per capita vehicle miles travelled while charging the state Department of Transportation with developing the plans to achieve those goals. Such strategies could eventually include more state investment in commuter trip-reduction programs, congestion pricing, and more rail and bus transit service.

EPA urged to strengthen smog standards

Environment Washington continues to press for stronger smog standards that would force more polluters to clean up. 

On Jan. 3, Margie Alt, executive director of our national federation, Environment America, joined several of our allies in urging EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson to strengthen the nation’s smog standards.

Half of all Americans live in places where air pollution threatens public health. The EPA’s smog standards force polluters that exceed air pollution limits to clean up, but several studies show that smog standards are too low to protect public health.