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The Greater Marysville Tulalip Chamber of Commerce
RESOLUTION 2007-2008 #1
Support – Regional Roads & Transit Package
A RESOLUTION Supporting the Regional Roads & Transit Package to be Submitted by the Regional Transportation Investment District (“RTID”) and Sound Transit for the November 2007 General Election.
WHEREAS, state funding for improving and maintain the Puget Sound region’s transportation infrastructure has not kept pace with growth in the region and the demand placed upon our transportation system, and
WHEREAS, the current congestion levels across King, Pierce and Snohomish counties prevent people and goods from moving efficiently throughout the region and significantly impact the quality of life of Puget Sound residents; and
WHEREAS, reducing congestion and increasing mobility in all corridors of regional significance is essential in allowing for a vital economy and sustained economic development; and
WHEREAS, we have learned from other regions in North America that voters will approve regional investments in a joint roads and transit package that addresses our voters’ needs and is affordable; and
WHEREAS, RTID and Sound Transit have been working closely to integrate their efforts for a joint ballot proposal, and the two entities have coordinated planning, financing, and implementation approaches for a joint Roads & Transit ballot proposal; and
WHEREAS, the transportation improvements under consideration by RTID and Sound Transit are naturally and necessarily related to a single regional transportation system, and the construction of roads and transit projects as part of a comprehensive approach to transportation investments would help reduce transportation congestion, increase road capacity, promote safety, facilitate mobility and improve the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Washington State; and
WHEREAS, the Roads & Transit package is a 20-year plan to help relieve congestion of roads and improve local transit options in Snohomish County and includes $2 billion of roads and local transit improvements in Snohomish County,
WHEREAS, the members of The Greater Marysville Tulalip Chamber of Commerce has a vital stake in having a package of investments that address crucial transportation needs of Marysville, Tulalip, Snohomish County, and the Puget Sound region; and
WHEREAS, specific improvements projects that benefit our Chamber’s own immediate constituency include I-5/88thStreet Interchange and corridor improvements, an I-5/116th interchange, US 2 Trestle improvements and improvements to SR 531; and
WHEREAS, as the Roads & Transit package has been developed, it is appropriate and timely for The Greater Marysville Tulalip Chamber of Commerce to state its support for the Roads & Transit package as it heads toward the ballot in November 2007;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GREATER MARYSVILLE TULALIP CHAMBER OF COMMERCE THAT:
The Greater Marysville Tulalip Chamber of Commerce expresses its support for the integrated Roads & Transit package developed by RTID and Sound Transit for the November 2007 general election.
Furthermore, we support an integrated approach to transportation investments that includes funding for both roads and transit with a regional perspective. New transportation investments should build on current and authorized transportation infrastructure improvements, and new transportation investments should address the major corridors and chokepoints that currently exist. The Roads & Transit package meets both of these objectives.
We also support reasonable increases in the local option sales tax and the motor vehicle excise tax to fund this Roads & Transit package, as is proposed in the Roads and Transit package. We also support analysis of, and consideration of, the use of tolls on some projects as an additional funding source. We also support state backing of the bonds that will be issued for the Roads & Transit package, both because most citizens of the state will directly benefit from the Roads & Transit package and because it will lower financing costs, thus making more money available for projects.
Adopted by The Greater Marysville Tulalip Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors this 20th day of June, 2007.
2006 -2007 Index to Chamber Resolutions
