Transportation is a constant struggle for growing cities. What are the major transportation projects or traffic problems you’d focus on?

 

Thomas John ‘TJ’ Filley

Issaquah has taken an approach of focusing on “mobility” rather than congestion relief. Mobility means spending transportation dollars on bicycles and pedestrians, and ignoring the cars that pay the gas tax money they are playing with.

Their goal is to get you out of your car. With the focus on mobility, we have seen boondoggles such as the bicycle and pedestrian overpass built while Front Street suffers on a daily basis.

This is the reason that Issaquah is developing a reputation as one of the worst traffic cities in Puget Sound. The city has taken an antagonistic approach to “cut-through” traffic, to the detriment of our businesses and residents, especially south of I-90 in Olde Town and on Squak Mountain.

I would work to clear congestion on Sunset Way, Front Street and Newport Way as well as widen the section on East Lake Sammamish that narrows to one lane going south for about a block.

I would also work to improve the parking situation for Front Street, and would work to get a parking garage so shoppers can more easily support our businesses on Front Street.

 

Joshua Schaer

As Council Transportation Committee Chair, I’ve worked to improve mobility, efficiency and non-motorized options for Issaquah residents. We need to still get around in our cars while adding more transportation choices.

During my next term, I will assemble key stakeholders to discuss an I-90 overcrossing near 12th Avenue. This connectivity project – supported by the state Department of Transportation and Central Area Citizen Task Force – would create direct-access HOV freeway ramps while retaining the center roadway for a future light-rail station. We must prepare now to reduce traffic on SR-900 before nearby redevelopment occurs.

Additionally, we must restore investments in our Complete Streets Program, and wisely prioritize improvements to add them where most needed. I’m disappointed that the proposed 2012 budget dramatically slashes the program again because our neighbors deserve critical sidewalks, lighting and bike lanes.

I will fight to protect our families through re-establishing Complete Streets funding and by eliminating wasteful road projects that fail to provide valuable and safe solutions.

I will also diligently continue to seek partners for effective bus service to the Highlands, Talus and Squak Mountain. Expanding the Route 200 will reduce vehicle trips, promote a meaningful alternative to commuters and better serve transit-dependent riders.