In two weeks Seattle voters will have the opportunity to address the city's transportation crisis when they chose to approve or reject on Proposition 1.

The measure would authorize a new sales tax of 0.5 percent, costing the average household $125 each year.

The resulting funds would provide $17.8 billion to invest in short and long term mass transit resources in response to anticipated population growth. In the first year the program would expand express bus and commuter rail service. By 2023 it would bring light rail to Snohomish County, South Seattle and the Eastside.

"Doing nothing is not the right choice," said Dow Constantine, King County Council member and West Seattle resident. "A fixed rail system will get the most people to where they need to be."

Supporters for Proposition 1 argue that light rail provides a quick, reliable mode of transportation. Each train holds 10 times the passengers of a bus under the operation of just one driver.

In comparison to bus transportation, a 2006 National Database revealed that, in cities across the country light rail is 54 percent faster and 55 percent cheaper per mile than bus systems.

King County Councilmember Larry Phillips said that every year Seattle does not make a significant investment in its transportation system the price of doing so goes up.

"We've dug ourselves into a 40 year hole and we need to stop digging," Phillips said.

Phillips also said that Proposition 1 would create thousands of new jobs and connect urban centers to benefit the local economy.

But some opponents of Proposition 1 say that now is the wrong time to increase taxes for working families. If passed it will be the largest local tax increase in the history of the United States.

"It costs too much, does too little and would take decades before it is complete," said Mark Baerwaldt of the No to Prop 1 organization.

Baerwaldt attributes the high costs of the project to Seattle's geography, which he says has too many hills and too much water to be appropriate for a light rail system.

Critics have also argued that the light rail system is inflexible and might not serve population centers fifty years from now.

Baerwaldt adds that for West Seattle and Ballard residents the tax increase would come with no local benefits at all.

Still, Phillips says that both communities would begin to benefit in the second phase of the project.

"Don't miss this opportunity, don't pass it up," Phillips said.

Rose Egge may be reached at 932.0300 or rosee@robinsonnews.com