vision2020
Re: Moscow/Pullman gas prices
Wayne,
Our organization generally does not get involved with any electoral issues
because of our tax deductible status. I can speak personally about I-695,
however. In my opinion, it is a senseless initiative that will ruin the
funding base for public transportation in Washington State. Much of the
state-based funding for public transportion in Washington is derived from
auto registration fees which would be slashed back to $30 if I-695 were
passed. Many state programs would be in the path of the budget axe.
Currently only Idaho and Alabama are the two states in the nation with no
state support for public transportation. The initiative will make it
cheaper to operate a car in Washington, and put public transportation and
many road projects on the chopping block. I actually wouldn't mind seeing
some of the road projects re-examined (eg, the Pullman-Moscow 4-lane
proposal), but this isn't the way to do it.
I doubt that I-695 would have touched the Chipman Trail, however. The only
WashDOT money in that project was the $900,000 grant that was actually an
award of federal dollars. The initiative won't touch the federal dollars,
although it could make the state a bit ornery about how it chooses to
distribute "enhancement" dollars in the future.
I have read that the No on I-695 yardsigns will be available any day now at
the Democratic Party office on Main in Pullman, or the local transit union
office or the fireman's union.
Transportation Choices web site has a piece on 695 (see link below), mostly
concerning the environmental impacts of the initiative. Also, the
campaign's web site should be up and running on Monday. That address is:
http://www.no-i-695.com/
Tom
>Tom
>
>You are correct about how we need to look at reducing our consumption of
>oil. I take it, then, your agency will be coming out as being opposed to
>I695. While it is on the Washington Ballot, it will have a tremendous
>impact on the region as a whole. Some modes of Public Transportation will
>be impacted very negatively. Pullman Transit. Whitman County COAST, even
>the Wheatland Express Commuter between the two schools. This is to say
>nothing about alternative modes of transportation. If I695 was in effect
>two years ago, the Chipman Trail would not have been possible.
>
>Hope you don't mind me venting some tonight.
>
>Wayne
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: Tom Lamar <lamar@pcei.org>
>To: <vision2020@moscow.com>
>Sent: Friday, October 08, 1999 12:31 PM
>Subject: Re: Moscow/Pullman gas prices
>
>
>> I would be much more interested in having a discussion about how each of
>us
>> are reducing our consumption of gasoline. Or better yet, what could we
>> change in our community so that it would be easier to avoid driving our
>> cars in the classic "one errand, one car, one occupant mode" that many of
>> us get caught up in.
>>
>> If we are supposed to be "visionaries", let's envision something a bit
>more
>> creative than cheaper gas on the Palouse. If cheap gas is truly the goal
>> we are after, then let's stop driving. They'll get the message.
>>
>> Thomas C. Lamar, Executive Director
>>
>> ===================================================================
>> Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute
>> P O Box 8596; 112 West 4th St; Suite #1
>> Moscow ID 83843-1096
>> Phone (208)882-1444; Fax (208)882-8029
>> url: http://www.moscow.com/pcei
>>
>> Please note our individual staff email addresses below:
>>
>> Thomas C. Lamar, Executive Director: lamar@pcei.org
>> Kimi Lucas, Office Manager lucas@pcei.org
>> Laurie Gardes, Financial Manager: gardes@pcei.org
>> Anita Grover, Watersheds: grover@pcei.org
>> Peggy Adams, Watersheds/Food Systems: adams@pcei.org
>> Ashley Martens, Environmental Education: martens@pcei.org
>> Lizabeth Edlund, Environmental Education, AmeriCorps: edlund@pcei.org
>> Jon Barrett, Idaho Smart Growth: smartgro@micron.net
>> Elaine Clegg, Idaho Smart Growth: eclegg@micron.net
>>
>> Celebrating thirteen years of connecting people, place and community.
>> ===================================================================
>>
>>
>>
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