The election is less than (a week) away. This election will not be remembered for the candidates, but for the initiatives voters will approve or disapprove. There is I-330 and I-336, medical malpractice lawsuit awards limits; I-900, performance audits,; I-901, smoking ban in "public" places and I-912, no new gas tax, among others.

I-912 is the initiative I am going to address. There is a lot of debate, sometimes very spirited, on this initiative. Let's take a look the myths and facts at what the 9.5 cent gas tax will do to the state transportation bill the Legislature passed this last

session.

Myth: By repealing the gas tax, the plans for the Alaskan Way Viaduct will be scrapped.

Fact: There are no set plans for the viaduct. There are ideas. Should it be repaired (least expensive),

replaced, demolished or a tunnel built (most expensive). The Transportation bill provides $2 billion for the, as yet undetermined/undecided, viaduct project. Mayor Nickels, the downtown businesses and developers desire the tunnel option. But what is the total cost? Best guess estimates place the final cost at $4 billion to $6 billion. Where is the city/state going to get the remaining $2 billion to $4 billion?

Myth: By repealing the gas tax the 520 bridge project will be canceled.

Fact: Like the Viaduct, the 520 bridge has no set plans. Is it going to be four lanes, six lanes? Is it going to replace the existing the bridge or be built alongside it? There has been only one decision made on the 520 bridge, it will contain a 14 foot bike/pedestrian lane for each direction with a "turn out" in the middle. The state has said that the condition of the 520 bridge has reached emergent status, yet construction isn't scheduled to begin until 2013, once plans have been decided on and approved. If it is such an emergency why are they waiting eight years to begin construction?

Myth: The repealing of the gas tax will (permit) projects that relieve congestion to be canceled.

Fact: Of all the projects that the $8 billion transportation bill funds, only one included the construction of general use lanes. A stretch of I-405 between Kirkland and Bothell would have one lane added. In fact until Oct. 3, the Anti-912 website stated that the transportation bill would not relieve congestion. They changed their mind and remove the disclaimer when a survey indicated that congestion relief is of utmost concern to commuters.

Myth: By repealing the gas tax the $8 billion transportation bill will be deprived of any funds.

Fact: Even with the 9.5 cent gas tax repealed testate will still collect an estimated $3.5 billion to $4 billion. I-912 only removes the tax on gasoline. The increase tax on diesel, weight fees and other fee increases will remain. Diesel is considered a "Special Fuel" by state law and because of the "single subject" clause on initiatives, (it) was not included in I-912.

Some more facts that many might not know is that the transportation bill gives hundreds of millions to projects that have nothing to do with road repair.

Some are:

- Overpasses/underpasses on I-90 for deer and other animals so they won't get hit by cars/trucks.

- Sound Transit, for more stations on the Everett/Seattle route that has an average of 69 passengers per roundtrip. If the passengers were to receive the money they would be able to each buy a Cadillac Escalade with enough gas to run it for 10

years.

- Mass transit systems that are used by 3 percent of commuters in the Seattle area. A drop of 3 percent in 20 years.

- HOV Lanes that cater to carpools.

It's not the "nine cents, it's the nonsense" as someone has said. If the state had come out with plans with total cost estimates for easing congestion, replacing the viaduct and 520 bridge, other road projects and funding to complete them I wouldn't be supporting the repeal of the gas tax.

By using the $3.5-$4 billion wisely the state can still complete most, if not all, of the safety and refit projects that are already in the transportation bill.

Frank Coluccio

Westwood