This just in from King County Councilmember Larry Phillips:
The Washington State House of Representatives transportation budget is out of touch with the priorities of regional voters who five months ago overwhelmingly supported building light rail between Seattle, Bellevue and Redmond.
While the people of this region are eager to move forward with building light rail and leave behind the endless debating and delays of the past, legislators continue to throw up roadblocks that thwart the will of voters and delay light rail.
It is unacceptable that the House budget includes a proviso that prevents the state from signing the East Link light rail environmental impact statement or negotiating with Sound Transit over use of the I-90 center roadway for light rail. This proviso must be removed, and light rail must be allowed to move forward without delays that drive up costs and keep commuters stuck in traffic.
The House transportation budget also fails to keep the state’s commitment to fund its share of two-way HOV lanes on I-90, which are necessary to move forward with light rail. Further, the House’s transportation budget skips over Regional Mobility Grant funding for Sound Transit, even though Sound Transit had three of the five highest-rated projects in the state.
It’s time for state legislators to wake up to the will of the people and make a real commitment to transit funding.
Who to know, where to eat & what to do in one of America’s most diverse zip codes!
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I find it so interesting that we have county councilmembers fighting to position themselves as champions of Sound Transit. I guess it worked for Sims, look where he is today?
I can hardly wait until folks east of Seattle get a taste of Sound Transit. It may prove to be a political liability to be seen as the champion of Sound Transit.
“This proviso must be removed, and light rail must be allowed to move forward without delays that drive up costs and keep commuters stuck in traffic.”
If you watched any of the testing, commuters will be stuck in traffic for quite a while which will probably contribute to a rise in auto emissions not a decline. I’m trying to think of somewhere to fly to so I may have some sort of use for this train.
I have precisely the same observation, “Mark B”. I can’t think of any practical use for the light rail in my life except an occasional trip to the airport. I wish it weren’t the case.
I’m beyond frustration and anger at this point. The community tried and tried to have an influence in the design and the route. No amount of community input had any impact. We didn’t get any of the priorities the community wanted;
* underground along Rainier alignment through Columbia city, stopping at Rainier & Edmunds.
* re-surfacing south of Othello on MLK
* stations not platforms (with restrooms)
* more stops, especially at S. Graham
* parking garages
A few times a year I’ll use the train to get to Sea-Tac —but only if it’s safe to ride the train with luggage, briefcase, a laptop, money, credit cards, or other valuables. I won’t ride the train if it’s perceived that Sea-Tac bound riders are prey for local thugs.
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