Federal Way council backs transit measure
STEVE MAYNARD; The News Tribune
The Federal Way City Council has unanimously endorsed a regional ballot measure that would bring light-rail and road projects to South King County.
Council members said the benefits of $18 billion Proposition 1 to Federal Way and the region outweighed their concern about the bite it would take out of families’ budgets.
“It’s expensive,” said council member Jim Ferrell. “Anything worthwhile is.”
Proposition 1 would fund $18 billion worth of road and mass transit projects in Pierce, King and Snohomish counties. It would increase the sales tax by 0.6 percent and raise the motor vehicle excise tax by 0.8 percent. Proponents say the typical household would pay an extra $150 in sales tax per year. The vehicle tax increase would amount to $80 for every $10,000 of vehicle value.
The City Council’s resolution, adopted Tuesday night, cited three main benefits of the Nov. 6 ballot measure for Federal Way:
• Light rail connecting Federal Way to Tacoma, Seattle and Bellevue with three stations in the city of Federal Way.
• $120 million for rebuilding the intersection of Interstate 5, Highway 18 and Highway 161, known as “the Triangle.” About $112 million is already in hand. The added money would fully fund the project.
• $1.05 billion for extending Highway 509 from SeaTac to Des Moines and connecting it to I-5, providing an alternative north-south corridor. The project would add general purpose lanes to I-5 from the Kent-Des Moines Road to South 320th Street in Federal Way.
The dollar figures are inflated to their value for the year they’re spent.
Many Puget Sound area city councils already have endorsed the transportation measure.
The Tacoma City Council voted 6-1 on Oct. 9 to support it. The lone dissenter, Tom Stenger, said Tacoma residents would pay $400 million in taxes and receive just one project in the city limits – a new ramp from Interstate 5 to Tacoma Mall.
In Federal Way’s case, council member Linda Kochmar said, the city would receive projects of great value but at great cost.
“I’m concerned about pricing people out of their homes,” Kochmar said.
Scott Hogue, general manager of Pacific Coast Ford near South 336th Street and Pacific Highway South, cited opponents’ figures that costs to taxpayers would skyrocket over time.
“Once this is voted for, there’s no backing out,” Hogue said.
He said the addition of elevated light rail along Pacific Highway South could destroy his business by keeping customers away during construction and beyond. Sound Transit also is considering elevated light rail along I-5 in Federal Way or a combination of both I-5 and Pacific Highway South.
Pierce, King and Snohomish county voters will decide on the proposal in November. The measure would add 50 miles of light-rail line, including an extension from Sea-Tac Airport to the Tacoma Dome. It also would expand bus service and help pay for major road projects in all three counties.
Steve Maynard: 253-597-8647
steve.maynard@thenewstribune.com
