Appropriate use for red-light $$

Your news story “Red-light cameras on duty May 1” (Renton Reporter, April 23) says Renton officials won’t stop just because our Initiative I-985 uses the city’s camera profits to reduce traffic congestion.

That’s fine. If politicians are sincere when they say their only motivation for red-light cameras is safety, then they shouldn’t have a problem using the city’s camera profits to pay for I-985’s policies.

State Auditor Brian Sonntag hired transportation experts to do a performance audit on the Department of Transportation. Their recommendations form the basis for I-985’s policies. It opens carpool lanes to everyone during non-peak hours, requires local governments to synchronize traffic lights on heavily traveled arterials and streets and clears out accidents faster by expanding emergency roadside assistance. According to the audit, implementing its common sense recommendations will reduce traffic congestion 15 percent to 20 percent and provide $3 billion in economic benefits by simply utilizing more effectively our existing infrastructure.

But these policy changes cost money and so we identified funds that’d pay for implementing the audit’s recommendations. One of those revenue sources are the profits from red-light cameras. I-985 allows cities to receive all the operating costs necessary to put up red-light cameras, but it dedicates their profits to the “Reduce Traffic Congestion Account.” We think it’s perfectly appropriate that the profits from these cameras go toward improving transportation.

The overwhelming rejection of Proposition 1 last November shows us that voters want a no-new-taxes solution to our state’s worsening traffic congestion problem. Using existing revenue, like red-light camera profits, is better than jacking up sales taxes or car- tab taxes, especially during these tough economic times. Without I-985’s improvements to transportation, our state and our economy will literally grind to a halt.

And with I-985 in effect, if Renton officials learn that red-light cameras don’t make things safer (some studies show they increase rear-end collisions), profits won’t deter Renton from taking them down.

Tim Eyman

Mukilteo

I-985 co-sponsor

Comment on this story.

COMMENTING RULES: We encourage an open exchange of ideas in our online community, but we ask you to follow our guidelines for respecting community standards. In a nutshell, don't say anything you wouldn't want your mother to read.