King County Executive Ron Sims
“Faced with catastrophic climate change, we need to have courage in our convictions, in our leadership and in our transportation solutions. We must question the environmental implications of our actions. I commend the Sierra Club, Cascade Bicycle Club and Conservation Northwest for showing great courage in asking these important questions. This plan is inadequate. We need to refocus on bold solutions that offer immediate relief and a better tomorrow — future generations deserve no less. Until we have real transportation solutions, I’m a “no” vote.”

The Stranger, Vote NO on Sound Transit/RTID Proposition No. 1
The new roads will just fill up, as roads do; they’ll contribute more to global warming than light rail takes away; and they won’t do anything to reduce congestion without further investments in transit in the future. But we won’t be able to make those investments, because we’ll be committed to paying for a compromised light rail system for the next 50 years.

Seattle Times, Reject Proposition 1.
Proposition 1, the increase in sales tax and car tabs to pay for light rail and roads, should be defeated. It costs too much, it lasts too long and it does too little.

Cascade Bicycle Club.
Proposition 1 provides little real funding for non-motorized projects. Walking and bicycling comprise 5% of trips in the region, yet receive a mere 0.3% of funds from this package.

32nd District Democrats.

Neighbors Against Prop 1.
This package is bad for the region and Seattle, creating a 13-lane wide bridge across Portage Bay, a 15-Lane wide bridge over and through the Arboretum, and increases pollution and dependence on autos.

Fremont Neighborhood Council (opposed)

Kirkland City Council member Dave Asher: “I would have much preferred the Kirkland City Council to take a strong position against the imminent threats of global warming, but we could not get there at this time. I felt we were caught up in the politics of business-as-usual, even though we have learned that the devastating impacts of global warming will have no such constraints.”

Redmond Mayor Rosemarie Ives: “I applaud Ron Sims for coming out against the transit package. The public is being mislead—the 520 bridge will not be replaced by this package as stated in the mailer sent by Joni Earl.”

Conservation Northwest
is opposed to the proposed November 2007 Roads and Transit ballot measure. The combined Roads and Transit package being put to Pierce, King, and Snohomish county voters this November does include funding for the Cross Base Highway. The final Regional Transportation Investment District (RTID) roads list to be funded through the ballot measure included $30 million for the Cross Base Highway that is unrestricted, and a potential $60 million additional dollars dependent upon a mitigation agreement on how best to move people and goods in Pierce County.

We do oppose this level of funding for Cross Base Highway through this ballot measure,. We realize that the full RTID list comprises many projects that we have not fully analyzed. It is important to recognize that the $30 million for the Cross Base Highway included in this package is unrestricted and can be spent to pave the prairie.

These leaders and groups couldn’t swallow the RTID pill (are neutral or “no position”):

• 36th District Democrats (no position)
• 43rd District Democrats (no position)
• 46th District Democrats (no position)
• Climate Solutions (neutral)

Visions of Solutions when RTID fails:

Aaron Corvin, Washington CEO Magazine:

Joni Balter, Seattle Times: After the defeat of Proposition 1