Attention Washingtonians

[wealhtheow]

I'm going to Sen. Murray's last weekly coffee this session, where Washington constituents get to have their picture taken with the Senator and tell her what issues are of concern to them. I want to mention transit and expanding light rail for sure, but what else should I bring up? I know nothing about the Viaduct, and since leaving Walla Walla I've

Comments

[wealhtheow]

I got to mention this when I brought up SCHIP (which is what zinnea was talking about in the comment below). :)

[naruvonwilkins]

Thank her for the money she's already gotten for University Link, and ask her to press on for the remainder of the $750 million FTA New Starts grant for same.

The Viaduct is a state project, and likely ineligible for federal dollars. It's also unclear as to whether the Viaduct will be replaced, as the vote is being spun locally as an indication that most people don't want either major option.

If you want to ask her about a highway project, ask her if she can talk to the federal highway administration about giving the state DOT permission to toll I-90 when they toll SR-520. Tolling only 520 would shift a lot of traffic to 90 and reduce overall revenue for the 520 replacement - essentially, both have to be tolled to pay for the project.

[wealhtheow]

I didn't get the chance to mention this, which sucks since she's on the Transportation Approps Committee... sorry :(

[zinnea]

Urge her to continue the fight to preserve/expand SCHIP.

[wealhtheow]

Done!