Comments on: Light Rail – Make It Work for You http://www.rainiervalleypost.com/letter-to-the-editor-light-rail-%e2%80%93-make-it-work-for-you/ Proudly serving Southeast Seattle since 2007 Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:33:41 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Bien http://www.rainiervalleypost.com/letter-to-the-editor-light-rail-%e2%80%93-make-it-work-for-you/comment-page-1/#comment-20792 Bien Sun, 10 Jan 2010 21:22:00 +0000 http://www.rainiervalleypost.com/?p=19445#comment-20792 I'm looking forward to seeing all the usual posters on the 5 PM news. That is, unless Mark B is wearing a banana hammock. I’m looking forward to seeing all the usual posters on the 5 PM news.
That is, unless Mark B is wearing a banana hammock.

]]> By: southseattlescarlettletter http://www.rainiervalleypost.com/letter-to-the-editor-light-rail-%e2%80%93-make-it-work-for-you/comment-page-1/#comment-20773 southseattlescarlettletter Sun, 10 Jan 2010 16:46:41 +0000 http://www.rainiervalleypost.com/?p=19445#comment-20773 This is one reason I'd either take the 25 minute busride to a station or take the 25 minute walk and brave the rain - just to see a lot of people getting loose and havin some fun in the valley.........probably the best party we've had down here in years. SSSL This is one reason I’d either take the 25 minute busride to a station or take the 25 minute walk and brave the rain – just to see a lot of people getting loose and havin some fun in the valley………probably the best party we’ve had down here in years.

SSSL

]]> By: ahow http://www.rainiervalleypost.com/letter-to-the-editor-light-rail-%e2%80%93-make-it-work-for-you/comment-page-1/#comment-20770 ahow Sun, 10 Jan 2010 16:17:07 +0000 http://www.rainiervalleypost.com/?p=19445#comment-20770 And if all these reasons to give LR a whirl were not enough... TODAY IS NO PANTS DAY ON LIGHT RAIL! Yes, you read that right. Drop 'em. http://seattletransitblog.com/2010/01/05/ride-link-without-pants-this-sunday/ And if all these reasons to give LR a whirl were not enough…

TODAY IS NO PANTS DAY ON LIGHT RAIL! Yes, you read that right.

Drop ‘em.

http://seattletransitblog.com/2010/01/05/ride-link-without-pants-this-sunday/

]]> By: southseattlescarlettletter http://www.rainiervalleypost.com/letter-to-the-editor-light-rail-%e2%80%93-make-it-work-for-you/comment-page-1/#comment-20725 southseattlescarlettletter Sat, 09 Jan 2010 19:56:07 +0000 http://www.rainiervalleypost.com/?p=19445#comment-20725 You can't force a square peg into a round hole. Light Rail doesn't work for the majority of SE Seattle in its current configuration. Park & Rides (free or low cost) are a must! This has been proven by the fact Diamond Parking was successful in their business venture. SSSL You can’t force a square peg into a round hole. Light Rail doesn’t work for the majority of SE Seattle in its current configuration.

Park & Rides (free or low cost) are a must! This has been proven by the fact Diamond Parking was successful in their business venture.

SSSL

]]> By: Davis http://www.rainiervalleypost.com/letter-to-the-editor-light-rail-%e2%80%93-make-it-work-for-you/comment-page-1/#comment-20586 Davis Thu, 07 Jan 2010 18:25:31 +0000 http://www.rainiervalleypost.com/?p=19445#comment-20586 Whoevers setting this policy or rules does not use LightRail. If more peoples can park near LightRail to use it - it may deter the crimes happening for LightRail riders to/from their commutes. Whoevers setting this policy or rules does not use LightRail. If more peoples can park near LightRail to use it – it may deter the crimes happening for LightRail riders to/from their commutes.

]]> By: Halebopp http://www.rainiervalleypost.com/letter-to-the-editor-light-rail-%e2%80%93-make-it-work-for-you/comment-page-1/#comment-20585 Halebopp Thu, 07 Jan 2010 18:15:25 +0000 http://www.rainiervalleypost.com/?p=19445#comment-20585 Thanks Tom T, just show how retarded the city is. Don't get me started on the new liquor license granted to a dollar store in Hillman City. This was done on the down-low, no way in hell that place should have a liquor license to sell beer, wine etc.. Thanks Tom T, just show how retarded the city is. Don’t get me started on the new liquor license granted to a dollar store in Hillman City. This was done on the down-low, no way in hell that place should have a liquor license to sell beer, wine etc..

]]> By: Tom T http://www.rainiervalleypost.com/letter-to-the-editor-light-rail-%e2%80%93-make-it-work-for-you/comment-page-1/#comment-20582 Tom T Thu, 07 Jan 2010 18:01:51 +0000 http://www.rainiervalleypost.com/?p=19445#comment-20582 Dig this from over at Publicola (http://publicola.net/?p=22323#comments) "The city has issued a cease-and-desist order against the Grocery Outlet at MLK Jr. Way S. and S. Rainier Ave. for illegally operating a park-and-ride for light rail users. According to the order, issued by the Department of Planning and Development in September, park-and-rides are illegal in areas near rail stations. The violation carries a fine of up to $500 per day." I believe this is the Diamond Lot. Gotta love our uber PC city that is intent on shoving their TOD manifesto down our throats! They are obviously against organic growth. Dig this from over at Publicola (http://publicola.net/?p=22323#comments)

“The city has issued a cease-and-desist order against the Grocery Outlet at MLK Jr. Way S. and S. Rainier Ave. for illegally operating a park-and-ride for light rail users. According to the order, issued by the Department of Planning and Development in September, park-and-rides are illegal in areas near rail stations. The violation carries a fine of up to $500 per day.”

I believe this is the Diamond Lot. Gotta love our uber PC city that is intent on shoving their TOD manifesto down our throats! They are obviously against organic growth.

]]> By: meridian http://www.rainiervalleypost.com/letter-to-the-editor-light-rail-%e2%80%93-make-it-work-for-you/comment-page-1/#comment-20551 meridian Thu, 07 Jan 2010 06:09:14 +0000 http://www.rainiervalleypost.com/?p=19445#comment-20551 The pedestrian light cycles at Othello Station are crazy, and virtually everyone jaywalks there to avoid a 5-minute wait. From the Safeway side, you'll wait 3 cycles of the cars having red, but can you cross to get to the station? Not officially. They really need to put in an intermediate cross-walk light mid-way like the intersections at Corson and Henderson. Love the train otherwise :) The pedestrian light cycles at Othello Station are crazy, and virtually everyone jaywalks there to avoid a 5-minute wait. From the Safeway side, you’ll wait 3 cycles of the cars having red, but can you cross to get to the station? Not officially. They really need to put in an intermediate cross-walk light mid-way like the intersections at Corson and Henderson.

Love the train otherwise :)

]]> By: Allison http://www.rainiervalleypost.com/letter-to-the-editor-light-rail-%e2%80%93-make-it-work-for-you/comment-page-1/#comment-20546 Allison Thu, 07 Jan 2010 04:38:11 +0000 http://www.rainiervalleypost.com/?p=19445#comment-20546 I live near CC station and it is great. Although it's faster for me to drive to work than take public transportation (30 vs 60 minutes), the train has given me an option I didn't have before; I use it a couple times a week. I feel so lucky that we happened to buy a house ten years ago that is now a ten-minute walk from light rail. I live near CC station and it is great. Although it’s faster for me to drive to work than take public transportation (30 vs 60 minutes), the train has given me an option I didn’t have before; I use it a couple times a week. I feel so lucky that we happened to buy a house ten years ago that is now a ten-minute walk from light rail.

]]> By: Mary http://www.rainiervalleypost.com/letter-to-the-editor-light-rail-%e2%80%93-make-it-work-for-you/comment-page-1/#comment-20540 Mary Thu, 07 Jan 2010 01:51:02 +0000 http://www.rainiervalleypost.com/?p=19445#comment-20540 A problem for me, besides that I live too far from it to get to the light rail for a casual trip, is security. I have gotten off at Beacon as well as Columbia City at 10 PM, after a play downtown. No one's around and I am absolutely on my own. Eerie. Bicycling teens, friendly-seeming bum guys looking for cigarettes--they are not fun to run into when there's no one else around. And all they have to do is wait at the station, so far from the next one, to follow you. If the stations were closer , more of them, it would be less difficult to target the lone evening or night traveler. But the not-so-nice guys know exactly where and when people are getting off and how far those people have to go to get to their parking spot. That gives them the edge for the few blocks. If I were looking for a walking ATM, I would know exactly where to wait and when to be there. If the city doesn't allow parking, and there are no connecting buses, and there is no security, then they should have more stations. When I go downtown at night, I still take the light rail, but I choose the Beacon station, where I could park within a block. It's still scary to be alone or with one unknown man, in that elevator, but no where near as vulnerable as the Columbia City station. At least i can park within a block. I won't pay $4 to park at the Mount Baker station (which seems safer) plus my fare, when I can pay $7 to park in a downtown garage for the evening. The altruism of "using public transportation" only goes so far. More stations would alter the entire picture. A problem for me, besides that I live too far from it to get to the light rail for a casual trip, is security. I have gotten off at Beacon as well as Columbia City at 10 PM, after a play downtown. No one’s around and I am absolutely on my own. Eerie. Bicycling teens, friendly-seeming bum guys looking for cigarettes–they are not fun to run into when there’s no one else around. And all they have to do is wait at the station, so far from the next one, to follow you. If the stations were closer , more of them, it would be less difficult to target the lone evening or night traveler. But the not-so-nice guys know exactly where and when people are getting off and how far those people have to go to get to their parking spot. That gives them the edge for the few blocks. If I were looking for a walking ATM, I would know exactly where to wait and when to be there.

If the city doesn’t allow parking, and there are no connecting buses, and there is no security, then they should have more stations.

When I go downtown at night, I still take the light rail, but I choose the Beacon station, where I could park within a block. It’s still scary to be alone or with one unknown man, in that elevator, but no where near as vulnerable as the Columbia City station. At least i can park within a block. I won’t pay $4 to park at the Mount Baker station (which seems safer) plus my fare, when I can pay $7 to park in a downtown garage for the evening. The altruism of “using public transportation” only goes so far.

More stations would alter the entire picture.

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