Regional Transportation Plan Boosted

Seattle— Officials from the Regional Transportation Investment District and Sound Transit held a news conference in September to launch an effort to inform the public about the need to finalize work under way on a comprehensive Roads and Transit ballot measure.

The district, formed to

develop a list of projects and supportive taxes for voter approval, produced a tentative $7.2-billion list earlier this year. Officials working on the roads and transit proposal met with news media to announce forums for the public to provide input into the transportation measure and discuss the latest information about the Alaska Way Viaduct and Highway 520 bridge replacement plans.

"We must keep moving on solving our transportation problems quickly before escalating costs drive critically needed projects out of reach. Delay is not an option, and it's getting more expensive every day," said RTID vice chair Julia Patterson.

The roads and transit plan will go before voters in the fall of 2007. The plan integrates transit and road improvements to reduce traffic backups and travel time, improve safety, and keep people and freight moving in the most congested corridors.