Spokane7
65°
April 18, 2011 in City
Support for road and transit fixes wanes at wallet
Survey finds taxes less popular than projects they’d fund
Transportation projects enjoy wide public support in Spokane, but that support drops when people are asked if they would pay specific taxes for them.
A survey of 353 respondents in early March showed more than 90 percent support for road and transit improvements.
Eighty percent think that completing the North Spokane Corridor is important, while 56 percent agree with building a high-performance transit network.
But when respondents were asked about paying for improvements, the support wasn’t nearly as strong. Only 31 percent supported increased property taxes, while 55 percent said they would support a small local-option sales tax, according to the survey conducted on behalf of the Spokane Regional Transportation Council.
Increasing the sales tax for transit, which may be needed to build a rapid transit system, had only 39 percent support in the survey.
Support for taxes went up when community benefits, such as economic growth and job creation, were explained.
The survey by Moore Information Inc. of Portland was part of a yearlong effort to define the Spokane region’s vision for future transit improvements.
Nearly all of the region’s big-ticket projects drew majority support, including transit. In addition, the survey showed public backing for making land development fit the region’s transportation system.
It also showed support for the environment when it comes to transportation development. The idea of building “complete streets” with sidewalks and bikeways is favored, too.
“There was kind of something for everybody in it,” said Staci Lehman, spokeswoman for the transportation council.
A separate online game with public responses showed even stronger support for bikeways, trails and a new rapid transit line downtown.
Hundreds of public officials, community leaders and citizens have participated in developing the vision, which was compiled through MIG consulting firm.
Now, a new draft of a Spokane Unified Regional Transportation Vision and Implementation Strategy is open for public comment until May 9.
The draft goes up for review before the transportation council board May 12 at 1 p.m. on the third floor of the Intermodal Center at 221 W. First Ave.
Adoption by the board could come as early as June 9.
The draft plan calls for coordinating transportation and land-use planning; focusing projects for economic benefit; developing integrated transportation; providing sustainable choices; and keeping livability as a priority.
The rubber will really meet the road when the SRTC board implements the vision as part of its criteria for awarding federal grant money to Spokane-area projects, Lehman said.
Bike to Work events planned
Bicycle riders in Spokane and Kootenai counties are gearing up for the annual Bike to Work Week on May 15-21 and bike month in May.
The Kootenai County Bike to Work Committee is planning a kickoff ride, moonlight ride, movie and wine tasting night, a team bicycle event and a wrap-up celebration during the week. Bike shops will give free bicycle checks.
For more information, go to the city of Coeur d’Alene parks department webpage at cdaid.org. Follow the links to parks, then trails and then Bike to Work.
In Spokane, the organization that promotes the annual bike events has changed its name to Spokane Bikes. This year, it is emphasizing May as a full month of bike riding in addition to the tradition of Bike to Work Week.
To register or learn more, go to spokanebikes.org. Bike to Work Spokane is on Facebook and Twitter (Bike2WrkSpokane).
I-90 rut repairs begin
Work to repair rutted pavement on Interstate 90 west of Maple Street will involve lane restrictions starting as early as this week, the Washington State Department of Transportation said.
Traffic will be reduced to two lanes in each direction to provide room for the construction at Latah Bridge and other overpass sections.
On I-90 to the east, nighttime travel could be reduced to one lane in each direction through a widening project from Sullivan to Barker roads. The freeway is being expanded to six lanes.
On the North Side, lane and speed restrictions continue around the North Spokane Corridor project.
Hatch Road upgrades start
Work starts today on reconstruction of Hatch Road from 43rd to 57th avenues. New curbs, sidewalks, a bike lane and turn lane are included in the $515,000 project funded through a voter-approved street bond in 2004 and the federal economic stimulus act of 2009.
Road work details online
With so many big road projects under way this season in Spokane County, local agencies have set up a website to keep drivers informed about locations, detours and construction scheduled: www.spokaneroadfix.net.
MLK Jr. Way opens Thursday 
oneanddone on April 18 at 4:45 a.m.
NEVER a word about increasing business taxes. It’s idiotic. Any tax increases planned for the rest of us needs to include increased business taxes. I’m sick and tired of business welfare.
westerly on April 18 at 8:06 a.m.
Was in Spokane 2 weeks ago and headed out on I-90 west bound from downtown.Could not believe the ruts in I-90 west bound..all the way to Four Lakes!!! Seems all the money for transportation, NS freeway, is going for rut repair and very few dollars for new roads. Guess its the studded tires on cars. My car fit perfectly in the rut channels. Here is what Gregoire has in the plans:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politicsnorthwest/2014704244_new_bill_would_boost_all_sorts.html
Ron_the_Cop on April 18 at 9:50 a.m.
Mr. Prager,
Gee are we preparing the ground for our trolley system Downtown?
In view of the recent research work of this blog:
Spokane Economic And Demographic Data
Raw and Uncensored – Economy, Jobs, Education, Government
http://inlandnw.wordpress.com/
This correlation between concrete and jobs has not panned out in other projects. Who’s doing the explaining?
ManleyPointer on April 18 at 10:35 a.m.
I just checked the latest U.S. Census figures, and it turns out that Spokane has a 65% home ownership rate. Funny that 31% of the population is in favor of increasing property taxes for transit improvements. I wonder who these folks are? Could it be that they’re mostly renters, all for raising SOMEONE ELSE’S taxes so long as it doesn’t affect them? Or am I just being cynical?
reservedparking on April 18 at 11:01 a.m.
Until such time as transit is available where I need to go & when I need to be there, I’ll be a part-time user at best. Currently, it is not.
How many millions of dollars are spent repairing/replacing roadways rutted from studded tire use on bare pavement? Studded tires should be phased out. Soon.
misjustice on April 18 at 11:05 a.m.
Since you asked, Mr. Manly, I believe that you are being cynical.
Renters do pay, although indirectly. When property taxes go up for the owners of the property, so do the rents collected by the owners.
greenlibertarian on April 18 at 11:22 a.m.
Depending on the vacancy rate and elasticity of the market, a landlord will certainly factor in his/her property taxes when pricing a rental property.
Drawing nebulous conclusions such as renters favoring property tax hikes is ignorance and specious thinking.
Dazzeetrader11 on April 18 at 11:23 a.m.
J.that’s a stretch. Renters pay tiny increments on the INCREASES…….not the tax.
SO yes. Ask yourselves who might befefit most from a trolley system in your downtown? It won’t be the users. Ask yourselves who will pay for that system?
As far as highways and streets go though..ask yourselves where your money went that was set aside for these projects. Gregoire? Verner?…and just where are those “shovel ready” infrastructural thingies??? You already paid for those…….your money was the stimulus money….Where did Obama spend your money?
misjustice on April 18 at 12:47 p.m.
Well, duh, Dazzee; they pay “tiny increments”, yes monthly in their rent and over the course of the year will pay (most likely) the entire tax increase.
I don’t know a single landlord that would shoulder the entire Cost of Doing Business, which includes property taxes. The CDB is, largely, passed on to the tenant.
Dazzeetrader11 on April 18 at 1:02 p.m.
The solution then is to BUY a home. They you are allowed the entire deduction for your mortgage interest ( until your hero Obama abolished that too). That interest will more than offset the tax you pay. But, sigh……I suppose only the evil rich can afford a home or two….at least in your socialist world.
ManleyPointer on April 18 at 1:44 p.m.
Without meaning any disrespect to renters (as a former renter myself), I do not believe that the majority of renters, when considering whether to vote for an increase in the property taxes of landowners, think to themselves “Hey, if I vote for this increase in property taxes in order to get a government benefit that I want, it means my rent will go up.”
ManleyPointer on April 18 at 1:49 p.m.
And furthermore, I don’t think landlords necessarily pass property tax increases along to their tenants on a dollar-for-dollar basis. When I was a landlord (and may those days NEVER return), I charged what I believed the market would bear, and sometimes I charged less than I needed to break even, because getting SOME cashflow was better than getting NONE. I think the market will eventually and to some degree or another reflect property tax rates, but not immediately and not as an identifiable component of a rent increase.
misjustice on April 18 at 2:12 p.m.
Just because it isn’t easily identifiable doesn’t mean it isn’t in the equation. And just as you doubt that renters make that connection which then influences how they vote, I also doubt that most renters willy nilly vote for property increases as proposed above in the thread: “Could it be that they’re mostly renters, all for raising SOMEONE ELSE’S taxes so long as it doesn’t affect them?”
ManleyPointer on April 18 at 2:29 p.m.
I don’t suggest they vote willy nilly. I do suggest that people are more likely to vote for tax increases if it’s a tax they don’t have to pay. That’s all. Human nature.
misjustice on April 18 at 4:31 p.m.
But renters would/do pay the increase in property taxes; whether they realize it or not.
ManleyPointer on April 18 at 5:11 p.m.
Yes, I agree that the property owners will attempt to recoup the cost of the higher taxes if they can. However, I believe that renters mostly do NOT realize this and are therefore more likely to vote for a tax increase that they PERCEIVE they will not have to pay, to fund services that will benefit them.
misjustice on April 18 at 5:18 p.m.
Services which may benefit “them” which they pay for; whether “they” realize it or not. Maybe the joke is on “them”????
Ron_the_Cop on April 18 at 5:48 p.m.
Justy,
My point above wasn’t really on the merits of regional transit in Spokane. My point was justifying these programs/projects to the electorate based on the economic return on the investment (ROI) and job creation.
If you read my link above these capital concrete pouring projects in Spokane haven’t delivered as promised. These capital projects financed by taxpayer/user fees have only really benefited a few well connected. In some cases a good argument can be made these few have corrupted government to deliver these projects for their own enrichment at public expense.
I’m all for buying everyone a bicycle in Browns Addition and or a creating cheap bicycle rental/exchange system with multiple self-serve kiosks all over Downtown. In the Winter run trolleys with rubber tires and powered by natural gas. It would be a heck a lot cheaper and deliver the service to those who are in actual need instead of the shams and outright frauds on the public/private projects in the Downtown Core.
misjustice on April 18 at 6:58 p.m.
I understand, Ron; my argument wasn’t based on the merits of the plan/project, either.
I like your bicycle exhange idea, btw.
westerly on April 20 at 7:33 a.m.
Interesting money spent on roads;
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20110420/NEWS01/704209850&SectionCat=NEWS01
And they are taxed for these improvements, locally, transit taxes etc, property taxes, added sale taxes etc.