Transportation diet tips for government

Social Services  Transportation  K-12  Higher Education Local Government  Budget & Taxes  Health Care Audit Reports  Complete List  Success Stories How can Washington address its gridlock problems without raising taxes? Try eliminating these inefficiencies: Save millions on squirrels Pierce County officials have proposed spending $5 to $10 million to elevate portions of a new six-mile highway so squirrels can pass safely underneath...more Let the LeMays pay their own way Believe it or not, taxpayers have "donated" $11 million to build a private car museum in Tacoma...more

The rest of the story . . .

Million dollar squirrels posted on 12/18/02 - WW09 Pierce County is about to decide if squirrels are worth about one million dollars each. The county is studiyng options to help squirrels cope with a new six-mile stretch of highway that would connect Spanaway to Interstate 5 while crossing a squirrel habitat in remote areas of Fort Lewis and McChord Air Force Base. Among the alternatives being considered is a plan to elevate portions of the highway so the squirrels can pass safely underneath. Estimated cost: $5 to $10 million. An early 1990s survey found about 200 western gray squirrels in the area. A similar survey in 1999 found only six. Sounds like something else got to the little critters before motorists on the new highway even had a chance. Pierce County is currently preparing an environmental impact statement. Meanwhile, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is being urged to include the Western gray squirrel on the federal endangered species list. You can click here to visit the Pierce County Council website, or call them at 800-992-2456. You can also click here to visit the website for County Executive John W. Ladenburg, email him at jladenb@co.pierce.wa.us or call his office at 253-798-7477. You can email the U.S. FWS at endangered@fws.gov or click here to visit their website. top   Public funds private museum posted on 12/18/02 - WW07 Two years ago, the state Transportation Improvement Board awarded a $1 million grant to the Harold E. LeMay car museum. But that's nothing compared to the $10 million in land, parking, and other improvements kicked in by the Tacoma City Council last August. Construction on the private museum could get the green light in the fall of 2003. The museum will sport some of the nearly 3,000 cars that LeMay collected during his lifetime. That means taxpayers have "donated" more than $4,000 per car. But don't expect any free rides: the museum will be open to paying customers in 2005. It might be too late to change their minds about the LeMay project, but at least you can let the Tacoma City Council know how you feel about future spending. Click here to visit the Tacoma City Council website or call 253-591-5000. top

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