Interstate 5 south of downtown Seattle. Initiative 745 tried to redirect funding from transit to be spent on building bigger and wider highways. (Photo: Andrew Villeneuve/NPI)
Summary: Attempted to force the Washington State Department of Transportation to spend ninety percent of its funds (including revenue collected for transit) to be spent on road construction. Eyman qualified the measure with help from the asphalt pavers’ union.
Before Voters In: November of 2000
Ballot Outcome: Measure failed.
YES: 955,329 40.65%
NO: 1,394,387 59.34%
Fate: The initiative was overwhelmingly rejected, obviating any legal challenge and dealing Tim Eyman his first great defeat. The NO coalition comprised over eighty organizations, including the Washington State Labor Council, Washington State Council of Firefighters, League of Women Voters, American Planning Association, Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce, Association of Washington Business, Washington Conservation Voters and Puget Sound Council of Senior Citizens.
