Democrat State Senator Rosemary McAuliffe (Bothell) decided to wrap-up the 2016 legislative session (it is scheduled to end on Thursday) with a last-minute attempt to make it appear as though she is listening to her constituents. According to reports, McAuliffe has “responded” to the frustrations of her constituents over the I-405 tolling scheme by introducing a bill that would “conduct a study on the implementation of the Interstate 405 express toll lanes.”
Via MyNorthwest.com:
“The legislation is a result of hearing from ‘thousands’ of constituents, who are frustrated over pricing, congestion, and ‘inefficiencies,’ she told the Kirkland Reporter…
“The study would consider the possibility of eliminating the requirement to use a flex pass when driving in the toll lanes, including an analysis of alternative methods of tracking vehicles and collecting fees. The legislation would also require a survey of drivers, including socioeconomic status, trip purpose, and mode of transportation.”
So, just to be clear, rather than support a bill that would actually solve some of the problems that are producing frustration in her constituents, McAuliffe is proposing a bill that would study the frustration of her constituents.
It’s a desperate ploy to make it appear as though she cares about I-405 commuters. If she cared, McAuliffe would have supported a bill introduced by GOP State Senate Ways & Means Chairman Andy Hill and State Representative Mark Harmsworth that would have eliminated one of I-405’s vaunted toll lanes, and let the drivers (who already paid for it through gas taxes) use it as a general-purpose lane. Additionally, the bill would have made other changes intended to reduce congestion on the busy roadway.
But, McAuliffe didn’t support the bill. Instead, she wants to study something that really doesn’t need another study. It just needs a fix.
