'Yes' Vote on Seattle's $930M Transportation Levy Emboldens Boosters in Portland

McClatchy, via MassTransitMag:



Nov. 25--Earlier this month, Seattle residents approved a record $930 million property tax levy to pay for a laundry list of transportation projects.

Portland has its own list -- including a backlog of paving work, two proposed high-capacity transit lines, a bottleneck through the Rose Quarter -- and transportation leaders think the ballot-box victory in Seattle might be a model that could be replicated here.

Already, Portlanders are expected to weigh a gas-tax hike to pay for paving projects in Portland in May.

And Rep. Earl Blumenauer earlier this month told the TriMet board they might have a fleeting window for a big funding ask, given a compelling enough package of projects.

"I will admit that I am shamelessly lobbying for people to look at 2016," the Oregon Democrat told the board. "There will never be, I think, a better time in our lifetime to be able to make the case to the public and secure support." ...............(more)

http://www.masstransitmag.com/news/12143904/yes-vote-on-seattles-930-million-transportation-levy-emboldens-boosters-in-portland