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Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Late last Wednesday, the state Transportation Commission decided to change the rules for HOV carpool lanes on I-405. Instead of two riders, you must now have three riders in your car to ride for free in the HOV lanes, during peak hours. Otherwise you’ll have to pay a toll.

This is a terrible idea that will disrupt many people’s commutes. To make matters even worse, most of the toll revenues will go to an out-of-state company that’sRep. Mark Harmsworth on the House floor administering the tolls — not to the state transportation budget.

My bill to require some legislative agreement before changing the rules for HOV lanes could still be resurrected this session. I’m doing everything I can to put a stop to this.

To read the transcript of my interview with KIRO Radio’s Dori Monson last Thursday, click here.

Finally, a big thank you to everyone who took the 44th District transportation survey. There were 285 responses. Here are the results:

  1. Would you support replacing the gas tax with a road usage charge? Yes: 15%; NO: 56%; Need more information: 29%
  2. Do you support changing the I-405 HOV lane ridership rule from two people to three? Yes: 11%; NO: 89%
  3. Should HOV lanes be replaced with general-purpose lanes? Yes: 30%; NO: 70%

 

Sincerely,


Mark Harmsworth

State Representative Mark Harmsworth, 44th Legislative District
RepresentativeMarkHarmsworth.com
466 John L. O'Brien Building | P.O. Box 40600 | Olympia, WA 98504-0600
mark.harmsworth@leg.wa.gov
(360) 786-7892 | Toll-free: (800) 562-6000