Larry Lange/seattlepi.com:
Puget Sound’s year-old light-rail system, expected to provide economic and social benefits along with train rides to the airport, is doing so slower than some had predicted in Seattle’s Rainier Valley.
A few new apartment buildings are beginning to rise, promising more riders for the 15.6-mile system opened last summer. Some travelers have discovered new bars, restaurants and sights a few blocks off the line, and more building is promised. The soured economy, however, still has its boot on Seattle’s neck as well as the country’s, limiting housing and business growth along the rail corridor until a better time. It may take years for rail’s benefits to reach the neighborhood that endured years of its construction.
Things are happening “but everything is just happening a little slower than we wanted it to be,” said Susan Davis, executive director of the Rainier Chamber of Commerce, the valley’s major business group. Read more.
Last month, your RVP ran a poll asking readers, “How would you characterize light rail’s impact on the Rainier Valley?” 54 respondents said “mostly positive”, 13 said “mostly negative”, 17 said “little bit of both” and 6 said “not sure yet”. What do you think? Photo/David Mullarkey Images
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“There’ll be parking, but just 260 stalls for 352 apartments, located as they are on a rail line where residents can give up cars and ride a train.”
Look out after work when everyone is flying around trying to get one of those spaces. I wouldn’t give up a car to live there, you’ll still have to go shopping in other areas and it isn’t safe to have valuable items showing on the train.
Well since the Light Rail has openned, I no longer own a car. IT HAS COMPLETELY CHANGE MY LIFE THE BETTER. It is SO easy to get around. Thank you Link, you’re the best
I think the light rail is great, especially with two little boys to transport (much easier than the bus). However, I was surprised to see that our “walk score” actually went DOWN since the light rail has opened.
I bought a town house in Columbia City one block from the Light Rail stop, and I would have not have even considered moving here if not for the Light Rail. I ride it to work every day and it takes me approximately the same amount of time to get downtown as it did when I used to walk there from Capitol Hill. I’m lucky enough to have an Orca pass from my work, so my commute costs exactly zero dollars and I love it. Guess I’m a light rail success story!
Let it bring on gentrification!
Sound Transit’s social engineering trounces citizens, residents, small business and neighborhoods.
“It’s a Barnum and Bailey world …” (Nat King Cole)
catch22 – you’re a loony. It’s a train.
Yeah, catch22, there was no “social engineering” in the valley before Sound Transit came along.
Holly Park, Rainier Vista and all the SHA units must not count. Or is it Social Engineering is A-OK as long as someone else is paying the rent?
I use it every day to get to/from work or the UW. It is infinitely better than the bus portion of my commute. The buses I need to take routinely get stuck in traffic and can’t run on time, and the thought of driving anywhere during the day makes me want to jab my eye sockets with a fork. Link just zips through it, even at-grade. At the risk of sounding like an ST commercial: it is freaking fast and reliable. Unlike catching a bus, I no longer bother to run across the street to catch a waiting train because another one will be there, reliably, in about 7 minutes. Also, my walk to and from the station takes me past several great restaurants that I patronize regularly. I phone my order when the train gets to Columbia City and by the time I detrain at Othello and walk up my order is ready.
I have not checked the ridership numbers lately; however, I have qualitatively noticed a large increase in ridership in the last few months. I ride Link at various times of day and have noticed a lot more passengers, especially at mid-day, non-rush-hour times when I would expect less riders.
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