The new leader of the House transportation committee may boost chances for improvement in the Seattle area's transportation network.
Rep. Judy Clibborn (41st, Mercer Island) supports long-term transportation investment, for example by voting for a 9.5 cent increase in state gas taxes in 2005 to pay for statewide road and rail projects. During an earlier session she told me via email that, if she had her way, she would raise gas taxes by 20 cents or more in order to finish the projects the region needs. She also supported the idea of widespread congestion pricing.
Most reports about the appointment focus on how Clibborn opposes replacing Seattle's waterfront viaduct freeway with a tunnel. She was one of 30 Democrats who signed a letter to the governor stating the obvious -- that the state can't afford the project and still build rail and replace the 520 bridge. The letter was written by House Speaker Frank Chopp, who happens to control appointments in the House and supports a penny-wise, pound-foolish rebuilding of the viaduct.
But Clibborn's appointment may make a surface-and-transit replacement for the viaduct possible. She replaces Ed Murray, who is moving to the state Senate and recently penned his own letter to the governor urging a look at the cost and traffic implications of a surface package. When the rebuild-versus-tunnel debate bogs down, let's hope Clibborn can help steer the toward the the surface option as part of a regional fix .