One of the most important choices on November’s packed ballot will be rejecting I-2117, an irresponsible initiative backed by a wealthy conservative hedge fund manager that would obliterate funding for a laundry list of great things Washington State invests in like clean air, asthma prevention, wildfire prevention, Safe Routes to School, trails, ferries, public transit and more. Even if you don’t like transit and biking (boo!), this initiative would also cut funding for state road and highway improvements.
Specifically, I-2117 would overturn the 2021 Climate Commitment Act, a so-called cap-and-trade law on carbon emissions that is already baked into the state’s budget including 2022’s Move Ahead Washington transportation funding package. The initiative would also limit the state’s ability to pursue other carbon-reduction strategies in the future. It’s so bad, even the Seattle Times Editorial Board says to vote NO on I-2117.
The initiative would benefit large carbon-emitting businesses at the expense of everybody else. Regular people across Washington will get nothing good from it. If you think that the oil conglomerates are going to lower your gas prices out of the kindness of their hearts as a thank you for passing I-2117, then I’ve got an oil refinery in Anacortes to sell you. The companies will put all their tax savings in their pockets, and you will be left with deteriorating roads, longer ferry lines, and fewer alternatives to driving.
It’s no surprise that Cascade Bicycle Club is strongly against I-2117, and the organization is even hosting an online event 1 p.m. September 17 about the impact on bikes and to help folks get involved in the effort to reject the initiative. They also wrote a blog post outlining their case for voting NO:
Washington has been named the nation’s most bicycle-friendly state many times over–and that’s not just because it’s so beautiful. It’s because we invest in it.
That’s why we’re urging you to vote NO on Initiative 2117 on your fall ballot. I-2117 is a misleading initiative that would slash investments we’re making in bike, pedestrian, and active transportation projects across Washington.
Remember two years ago when we passed that epic transportation package with funding for bike trails like Eastrail, Safe Routes to School, and more? I-2117 would devastate Move Ahead WA, a historic funding package that would invest $16 billion over 16 years into our transportation infrastructure. Critically, that includes nearly $1.3 billion in investment in 56 bike and pedestrian projects–all potentially on the chopping block if I-2117 passes. And when you look at “active transportation” more broadly on the Risk of Repeal map, that number balloons to 155 projects at risk–from Spokane to Seattle, Yakima to Bellingham, and everywhere in between.
Here’s What’s At Risk
- $290 million for Safe Routes to School, which supports projects that improve safety and mobility within two miles of primary, middle and high schools–like crosswalks, and signage near schools and playground;
- $216 million for the School-Based Bicycle Safety Education Program, which teaches kids of all ages to be more confident cyclists and to understand street safety;
- $591 million to bicycle and pedestrian projects and grants, including sections of the 42-mile Eastrail multi-use trail, extensions of the Interurban Trail, work on the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trail;
- $313 million in Complete Streets grants to make streets safer for people on bikes, in cars, waking, and riding transit
- And more!There are no two ways about it: I-2117 would slash funding for walking, biking, and trail projects across our state. It would make Washington a worse place to ride bikes–especially for our kids.
