Point Wells: tolling as a possible revenue source
Saturday, January 10, 2015
Shoreline City Council to discuss tolling as a possible revenue source on Monday, Jan. 12
A joint statement by Richmond Beach Advocates and Save Richmond Beach
Earlier this week the Shoreline City Council posted an important announcement that could have significant implications for the City's ability to exert more control over the financial impact of the Point Wells development project. Specifically, the City Council will be discussing the topic of tolling at the January 12 Business Meeting of the Council.
For the past four years, Shoreline's city government has maintained that negotiating an agreement with the developer was the only way to insure the City received enough revenue to cover the costs of needed road improvements and on-going maintenance resulting from increased traffic generated by the Point Wells development. Both Save Richmond Beach and Richmond Beach Advocates, along with other Richmond Beach residents, have been researching the viability of tolling at the entrance to Point Wells as an alternate source of revenue to pay for road improvements and other increased costs for Shoreline roads generated by the development. In response to our research and communication with City officials, the Shoreline City Council announced this topic will be discussed by the City Council on Monday. It is important that you be there to hear this discussion and learn about the benefits and limitations of tolling.
In the first paragraph of the Staff Report prepared for the meeting, City Manager Debbie Tarry said:
"Recently a number of questions have been raised about the City's regulatory options in ensuring a safe, efficient and fluid traffic flow on its streets. Deputy Mayor Eggen along with Councilmembers McConnell and Salomon have requested this topic, and specifically tolling on Shoreline streets, be introduced as a discussion item to further understand all available options."
We believe this is a significant step forward for the City, which could give the City the ability to negotiate for a more reasonably sized development without fear of losing the revenue source necessary to upgrade and maintain the City's road system. The positive impact of tolling could provide a direct benefit to all taxpayers in Shoreline. We urge all residents to attend the meeting on Monday, Jan. 12, City Council Chambers, 7:00 p.m.
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2 comments:
With 30,000 residents proposed for addition around the light rail station, 1,000 dwelling units planned for the Aurora Square CRA, 3,000 dwelling units proposed for addition along Aurora, not to mention what the Town Square, Ballinger, and Crista have on the books, tolling seems to be besides the point to me.
The folks in Richmond Beach and Innis Arden are missing the main point while they have their proverbial axle wrapped around traffic to Point Wells: the City has upzoned large swaths of the single family neighborhoods in Shoreline. The City also has no impact fees for utilities. The City plans on having the single family ratepayers fund the buildout for utilities to support all of this new development and what two neighborhoods have been untouched by all of this rezoning? None other than Richmond Beach and Innis Arden, who elected this Council majority. I sincerely hope they enjoy paying for the utility unification in the form of greatly increased higher utility rates and new utility taxes.
@9:33 a.m.: You speak of the residents of Innis Arden and Richmond Beach as though we are of one mind. Your bias is showing, kiddo.
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