Better times

After the past couple of years here in Seattle, just about the only news that could sink the local economy deeper would be news of Boeing all but leaving to build its new line of planes elsewhere. Thankfully, that has not happened, and instead, there seems to be a bright patch of light at the end of this long, dark tunnel.

It has been more than a decade since this state has passed any laws to raise the gas tax or to provide funding for road construction. The people and representatives of this state have been squabbling over how to address transportation funding for so many years that traffic has become much worse than their nightmares of the early 1990s, which included the accidental sinking of one of Interstate 90's floating bridges. Gov. Gary Locke is very excited about getting this transportation package passed in time for this construction season, and he should be. This transportation bill may be one of the most opportunistic laws ever passed in Olympia.

Now is a very critical time for Seattle's economy. Boeing has just received an order from the Pentagon for at least 100 new airborne refueling tankers built out of 767 frames. This contract will both preserve and create much-needed local jobs. This deal also solidifies a shaky relationship that has been brewing between Boeing and the state of Washington. Boeing has moved its corporate offices and other jobs from the Seattle area and is considering building its next generation of jets somewhere else. At the heart of Boeing's concerns is the terrible state of the Seattle area's transportation system.

The passage of this measly 5 cent gas-tax increase will do so much to help the economy in so little time. First off, it will create jobs in the construction industry, which has been hurting since Initiative 695 was first passed in 1999. Secondly, for the first time in 10 years, funding is being created that will actually help to ease traffic congestion in this area. This will lead to quicker delivery and trucking times, quicker commutes and a more prosperous economy. It will also send a signal to Boeing and other big companies that the people of Washington are finally ready to improve traffic congestion, maybe even to levels acceptable for the commuting and shipping needs of big companies.

Of course, there are some people who are against fixing our economy. The gas-tax increase will be used to create jobs and bid for more jobs. And all of the money will be funneled straight back into the local economy through the construction companies and workers who will be employed on transportation projects. That is not good enough for Tim Eyman. He feels we should let Boeing leave and build planes elsewhere. Maybe instead of putting money into the local economy through fixing our traffic woes, we should follow his plan. We could just wait out the government, the big businesses and all of the people employed in the Seattle area. Sooner or later, enough people will have to move away from Seattle that traffic will not be bad anymore.

Eyman's threats to continue to make initiatives and force referendums -- impeding our state's progress in fixing our growing transportation issues -- are ridiculous. He has made some good points and received a lot of public support, but the truth of the matter is that our state does not have any money lingering around to be funneled into transportation packages. Any further delays to fixing our traffic mess could damage the economy forever.

Boeing needs reassurances now, and to believe that traffic congestion will continue to be dealt with in the future, or it will take its billions of dollars elsewhere. Likewise, our construction industry could really use the help after nearly four years of surviving on bare bones. Right now, there is a huge light at the end of the tunnel that may lead us all the way out of our recession and back to more prosperous times. I hope our transportation package stays around for longer than this summer -- and that it is enough to keep Boeing around for years to come as well.