"The number has been going the wrong way since 2013," secretary said of the state's goal of zero traffic deaths by 2030. #UrbanistMeetup #VisionZero
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Millar said people walking, rolling, and biking have borne the brunt of that increase in deadly and injury collisions. #VisionZero #SlowTheCars
Background here:
"I hope people are concerned about the carnage on our roads," Millar added. He noted the pandemic has lowered congestion and allowed more speeding. #SlowTheCars #VisionZero
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We noted this trend in Seattle as elsewhere in the country. The increase in speeding erased the safety benefit we would have expected from lower traffic volumes. #VisionZero #SEAbikes
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Millar stressed maintenance first but just pivoted to voice support for highway expansion when it comes to JBLM, Puget Sound Gateway, and North Spokane Corridor, suggesting WSDOT had "tried everything else" to deal with congestion in those corridors. Seems a stretch. #NoNewRoads
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Millar declined to grade one state transportation plan over others, though he did note public feedback that went into them. House package had 90 listening sessions.
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Andrew Kidde of laid out the case for the more transit and active transportation focused House plan here. #ClimateAction
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. asked if freeway expansion plans are in conflict with WSDOT equity and climate goals.. Millar said those projects are determined by state legislature. He also made a case for Puget Sound Gateway...
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Millar argued if linking Port of Tacoma to Kent Valley created enough jobs and prosperity without being a driveway for sprawl development, Puget Sound Gateway could be a net benefit. Hinges on managing demand, he said. (E.g.. tolling.)
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On Amtrak Cascades, Millar noted the derailment and pandemic had set them back, but that WSDOT is aiming to ramp service back up. Here's some background:
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Millar said high speed rail is also part of the vision and commended for leading on that.
Note, Millar's quotes here about I-5 widening costing much more than high speed rail.
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On lidding I-5, Millar said it is important to right past wrongs. "We bulldozed an Olmsted park and we bulldozed minority-owned businesses" while building I-5. Didn't say exactly how to rectify. Cc: #LidI5 #EnvironmentalJustice
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