VEHICLE FEE: Ease the congestion

My wife and I have lived in the Coeur d’Alene/Post Falls area for almost 30 years. We enjoy the beauty and lifestyle. We have noticed the rapid pace of development brought on by the increasing demand for housing with the resulting traffic issues on the main arterials and highways.

New single family homes and thousands of apartment units are under construction and being built in every community in the area. Each new home and apartment mean more trips on the roads we all use. Everyone can see the traffic that we are currently experiencing, and it will only get worse.

The Kootenai County Citizens for Traffic Relief has studied this issue and are proposing that voters approve an annual increase in vehicle registration fees for the next 20 years at $50 per vehicle. The plan is to leverage the money raised by this initiative along with State and Federal highway grants for 12 specific regional traffic projects.

For a little over $4 per month per vehicle, or 14 cents per day, the initial funding and planning for these serious traffic congestion issues can take place. If this initiative does not receive approval, then each of us will be gnashing our teeth and complaining about traffic congestion with no practical solution in sight.

BRYAN BLEDSOE

Post Falls