1. “WSDOT Secretary Roger Millar leaves agency to run bike-share company”

Last July, WSDOT-head Roger Millar said congestion “is a problem we simply cannot solve” and that congestion “is not a failure on the state DOT’s part.” His stance won him one of the 2018 “True American Heroes of the Year” awards by Streetsblog USA, a smart-growth, anti-car blog.

"So it came as no surprise when Millar left his job at the agency to work for a bike-share company where the job description more closely aligns with his views on transportation policy.”

2. “WSDOT resolves to dramatically reduce traffic congestion on roads to improve commutes”

 “Earlier today, Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) officials released their plans to dramatically reduce traffic congestion on I-5 and I-405. WSDOT’s new approach specifically targets car drivers and carpoolers – which make up the bulk of commuters – and is a bold, innovative and equitable strategy to create vibrant and thriving communities across the Puget Sound Region. Their resolution may include adding two lanes in each direction, additional auxiliary lanes, hill climbing lanes and other capacity improvements. Open and free for all, these lanes would be paid for by labor savings, streamlined environmental permitting, reducing abnormally-high overhead costs, and getting money from Sound Transit.”

3. “Sound Transit CEO Peter Rogoff declines salary raise and bonus until Sound Transit can deliver projects on time and on budget”

 “With over $1 billion in reported cost overruns in just one year at Sound Transit, Sound Transit’s CEO Peter Rogoff said, ‘I don’t feel I’ve earned a performance reward this year.’ With a multi-billion-dollar budget and no end date on its taxes, Rogoff matter-of-factly added, ‘My agency has plenty of money. Moving forward, not only will we deliver projects on time, but we will provide families with tax relief by cutting inflated car tab taxes. This will help everyone who pays taxes to Sound Transit, and will hopefully restore some of the trust I think we have lost with the public.’”

As a free market think tank dedicated to increased mobility for everyone, we know these encouraging headlines are unlikely. But hey, it’s a new year. We can dream.