The defeat of one traffic measure and the passage of another in Tuesday’s general election could change the transportation outlook for Auburn residents for years to come.

As of late Wednesday, voters in 38 of Washington’s 39 counties were thumping Tim Eyman’s Initiative 985 by a hefty margin of 59.7 percent to 40.2 percent.

At the same time, voters in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties approved Sound Transit’s Prop 1 by a convincing margin of 61.32 percent to 38.68 percent.

Eyman’s latest effort purported to open high occupancy vehicle lanes to all traffic during defined hours, increase roadside assistance funding, and require traffic light synchronization.

And of special concern to Auburn officials, it also would have diverted local red light photo enforcement fines to state coffers to improve traffic flow. The city uses funds in excess of the cost of the system’s operation to pay for traffic calming devices.

Critics said it would have made the situation worse.

Finding its language unclear and the possible effects inconsistently stated, Auburn City Council members opposed I-985 with a resolution approved Oct. 20.

Had voters approved it, said Carolyn Robertson, government relations manager for the City of Auburn, the city would have had to cancel its contract with Red Flex Traffic Systems, which owns and operates the cameras.

“Auburn’s city budget is as tight as anyone else’s in this economy, and the city couldn’t afford to continue that program without the revenue stream to support it,” Robertson said

Robertson said the city is pleased with the result.

“We think it substantiates our belief that red light photo enforcement reduces accidents and enhances public safety. Because of this, the city will be able to continue to spend dollars on photo safe and traffic calming efforts in the community,” Robertson said.

Prop 1 calls for raising the sales tax in urban areas of King, Snohomish, and Pierce counties to pay for $17.9 billion in increased regional bus service, more Sounder round trips, a host of transit-related improvements at various stations along the way and 34 miles of light-rail extensions. Work is scheduled to be completed by 2023. The 5/10s of 1-percent sales tax increase probably would last until 2038.

For Auburn specifically, said Sound Transit spokesperson Linda Robson, it could mean construction of the second transit parking garage west of the tracks that was promised in the original 1996 Sound Transit package.