Rethink the Link’s ‘route walk’ draws light-rail supporters as well as skeptics

(Across from potential Delridge station location)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Today’s West Seattle light-rail “route walk” organized by Rethink the Link wasn’t a rally or protest.

What we heard and saw, walking along, was more like a collection of conversations. The three-dozen-plus participants included not just the light-rail skeptics of Rethink the Link and curious residents but also light-rail supporters, including at least one member of the Transportation Choices Coalition, and an advocate who toted this sign throughout the hour-and-a-half event:

Other transit advocates, including writers for the Seattle Transit Blog, were there too. So there were many perspectives in play as participants talked one-on-one along most of the round-trip mile-long walk from West Seattle Health Club to the middle of the low bridge and back, between multiple stops along a potential path for the train. At those stops, whoever was in earshot heard from RTL’s Alan McMurray, a route-area resident described as someone who walks to work in SODO and is therefore quite familiar with the route: “For the last four years, as I walk, I wonder how they’re going to do it.” The group gathered in the parking lot of the health club, whose management has expressed concern about a potential path that could take out its pool.

From there, walkers headed over Longfellow Creek via the SW Yancy footbridge – where environmental concerns were noted – then to Andover and into the office park that’s in a potential Delridge-station footprint, home to Alki Beach Academy and other businesses, alongside the Nucor steel plant, and looked upslope at the back of Delridge-fronting businesses also facing displacement – Ounces, The Skylark, Mode Music Studios (WSB sponsor) and Mode Music and Performing Arts. Here’s the station rendering that’s been most recently shown:

Walking toward the low bridge, participants’ attention was directed toward Pigeon Point, along which the high bridge already runs, with West Seattle light rail requiring an additional new bridge to cross the Duwamish River.

The new bridge is expected to be at least as tall as the existing bridge, McMurray noted. How that’ll be built has yet to be finalized, but it’s expected to require some digging into Pigeon Point – “some kind of major cut” –
where herons nest. One took wing as walkers looked on, while birds’ coexistence with human-built infrastructure was on display too, as peregrine falcons’ nesting boxes on the underside of the high bridge were pointed out.

After trooping back along the path on the east side of Delridge, the group stopped for another perspective of the Skylark/Mode business building, when a person standing along the road shouted, “We don’t need no damn light rail!” A few participants responded “hear, hear”; he then said cheerfully, “OK, I’m done.”

Wrapping up shortly thereafter, McMurray explained the intent of the walk was “just meant to give you an idea of what it’s going to take” to build the West Seattle Link Extension through that area. A participant asked, “What can we do?” McMurray noted that the Final Environmental Impact Statement – precursor to a final vote on a route – is expected to be published this summer, and then there’s a “30-day window” before that final action can be taken. That’s the time to “be heard … make sure they hear you,” he said. Someone else pointed out that comments can be sent to Sound Transit now, too. (Contact info is on the project website.)

Whatever your view, McMurray concluded, “There is this common ground we all agree on – better transit.”

72 Replies to "Rethink the Link's 'route walk' draws light-rail supporters as well as skeptics"

  • Aaron B June 9, 2024 (8:00 pm)

    Birds suffer from air pollution, just like we do. How many herons are killed every year by the exhaust from our cars that we continue to use because we don’t have light rail in West Seattle. Meanwhile, the data about salmon and car tire dust is just terrifying: https://www.kuow.org/stories/scientists-pinpoint-chemical-that-s-been-killing-coho-salmon-it-comes-from-car-tiresNo route is ever going to be perfect and we need to stop making the perfect be the enemy of the good. I’m sure some of the people involved in the Rethink the Link are absolutely opposed to expanding light rail and are using these threats of displacement as a cudgel to stop the project. But, I’m also sure that they are a minority, and that most of the people who agree with or are even curious about Rethink the Link haven’t thought about the bigger picture of the climate crisis, and how a necessary component of making sure our grandchildren or great grandchildren survive with a standard of living equivalent to our own is to increase our density and decrease our dependence on cars. 

    • Marie June 9, 2024 (8:31 pm)

      Sound  Transit depends on people not studying this proposal and it’s true ramifications. Their own studies show that the CO2 produced in the  building the Ballard and WS Links will take 200+ years to offset. Is that really what you want? https://www.whereiamnow.net/post/sound-transit-presents-an-excellent-case-for-the-no-build-option 

      • Hamm June 9, 2024 (10:34 pm)

        The blog’s author apparently did not read the charts she is attempting to use to make her case, because the plain text of the source she cites directly contradicts her claims. From table 4.2.6-3:”greenhouse gas emissions from the construction phase of the project would be offset by the emissions reduction during project operation, well within the project’s life span.”

        • Marie June 9, 2024 (11:37 pm)

          You didn’t read all the way through. You cherry picked what you wanted to believe. Keep going. In the following table, ST states that very little CO2 will be offset. Hence, the 200+ years to mitigate.

          • Hamm June 10, 2024 (12:38 am)

            Speaking of cherrypicking: your evidence is some blogger’s extrapolation from one figure in a table when that very same table (4.3.6-3) directly states the same thing as the one above: the carbon cost will be offset within the life expectancy of the project.

    • Paige June 9, 2024 (9:09 pm)

      Well said

    • Justin A June 9, 2024 (10:23 pm)

      The modes of transportation that have the lowest climate impact are human-powered ones. By a large margin. So I walk a lot.

      The stairs off the back side of Pigeon Point to the east are crumbling and have a dangerous pitch. After that, crossing the low bridge, the routes under the Spokane viaduct are mediocre at best, but functional. Same for Georgetown over the First Ave S Bridge.

      But there’s literally no safe pedestrian route across the three mile wall of SR 509 between the bridge and S 112th. None. South Park to White Center by car is just over two miles. Walking or biking it’s well over four because S Cloverdale to 1st Ave S is impassable. Don’t get me started on going from Georgetown.

      Things like stairs and sidewalks that break up car islands and provide functional alternatives are pocket change compared to the billions we’re spending to build a train that basically replaces existing bus headways. Maybe we could start there first?

      • Paige June 10, 2024 (11:51 am)

        What about differently abled people who aren’t as capable of traveling long distances on foot or climbing up stairs? 

        • heartless June 10, 2024 (1:02 pm)

          Sorry, what about them?  I honestly don’t understand your question here.  Did you think anyone was suggesting people in wheelchairs (for example) take the stairs?

        • ... June 10, 2024 (2:43 pm)

          Right. Let’s bring up people with profound mobility disabilities–who you’re not actually advocating for here very effectively, might I add, because many cannot drive or afford their extremely expensive modified cars needed to carry them. Having better sidewalks and safe ramps is better for people with profound mobility disabilities too because they can hopefully now use those passages that were probably unpassable in a wheelchair previously and will have less traffic to contend with if they do need to take a car. Let’s not, however, use people with disabilities as an arguing crutch to justify your personal car usage, which I’d guess is driving around alone the vast majority of the time without a mobility disability because it’s vaguely more convenient than biking or taking transit. No one was actually suggesting that people in wheelchairs take stairs, as the other commenter noted. Making sidewalks actually accessible improves access for everyone, particularly those with disabilities.

    • Street Chimer June 9, 2024 (11:25 pm)

      Thank you, Aaron B

    • Joe Z June 11, 2024 (12:19 pm)

      The “carbon” argument is such a joke that it’s barely worth responding to. Building dense neighborhoods around rapid transit mitigates emissions for so many different factors that are not considered in Sound Transit’s EIS. The math used in the EIS is not intended to capture the full carbon savings of the light rail. Many of the added benefits are laid out in King County’s strategic carbon action plan. The light rail is only one piece of the puzzle. When you take into account upzoning and construction of dense housing with modern carbon friendly building standards, you can measure things like the thousands of acres of forests that are saved by preventing suburban sprawl, as well as the vehicle miles saved by preventing people from needing to commute from Maple Valley to Seattle, you get a vastly different picture. The EIS doesn’t even take into account the ridership from the new developments! It only predicts how many existing residents in West Seattle will use light rail. By the 2040s the ridership will be well above the predicted numbers. If the city of Seattle does their part to build proper neighborhoods around the light rail stations, the carbon savings will be significant. 

  • WS resident June 9, 2024 (9:37 pm)

    Talking about environmental impact is insane when there is already two bridges and a steel plant in that area. That argument is in bad faith. 

    • Alki resident June 9, 2024 (9:41 pm)

      Bingo

    • Arbor Heights Resident June 9, 2024 (10:04 pm)

      Totally agreed. Sound Transit does environmental mitigation work in the areas potentially impacted by the light rail. Part of their plan for Pigeon Point includes invasive species control and revegetation with native plants, which will benefit wildlife!

  • Arbor Heights Resident June 9, 2024 (9:40 pm)

    As expected, the entire anti-transit group consists of no more than a handful of especially loud people. Good on them I guess for getting some exercise on a beautiful Sunday- now let’s get our light rail extension built already. The sooner we can connect to the regional rapid transit system, the better. 

  • Derek June 9, 2024 (10:27 pm)

    The bad faith concern trolling from the anti-light rail faction is just never ending. But when they plow a ton of trees and businesses for cars like 520, no one bats an eye. I’m so exhausted. Just build Lightrail already! No more of this nitpicking. 

    • Niko June 10, 2024 (4:04 am)

      That’s absolutely false people are very against trees being removed you’re cherry picking in support of light rail

      • K June 10, 2024 (11:42 am)

        “Concern” for cutting down individual trees to create infrastructure that reduces environmental impact and carbon footprint isn’t environmentalism, it’s concern trolling.  That’s like arguing that the 25 foot rule is bad for public health because making smokers walk 25 feet away from a building will hurt their knees.

      • Noop June 10, 2024 (12:05 pm)

        “Let’s keep our coal plants running since building new solar or wind would require us to cut down trees.” The world requires trade-offs. Would it be nice to never disturb any wildlife? Yes. Is it sometimes necessary to make a small, temporary disturbance in order to achieve long-term environmental improvement? Obviously yes.

    • Canton June 10, 2024 (7:50 am)

      Or when they plow a ton of trees for LR to Northgate…

    • Jay June 10, 2024 (8:51 am)

      The fact that they just create new organizations to make it look like there are more people opposing light rail needs to be covered more. Rethink the Link and SkyLink are literally the same people.

      • Jon Wright June 10, 2024 (7:13 pm)

        We should start a pool for what their next incarnation will be called.

        • K June 10, 2024 (7:53 pm)

          Shrink the link?  Let’s keep it, but just not in our back yards.

  • Rob June 10, 2024 (6:51 am)

    This will be an amazing public works project.  All the construction unions are comping at the bit to get started. 

  • Scarlett June 10, 2024 (9:43 am)

    The massive impact to the environment during construction will not be offset or recouped in the future.  This is pure nonsense and we all know its nonsense.  This is the absurd light rail argument in a nutshell:  Let’s build a wildly expensive piece of infrastructure that will displace people, busineses, fauna and flora,  and will add massive amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere during construction.  All this for a few new riders, most simply siphoned off from existing bus transit.  Yes,  this is truly nutty.

    • Jason June 10, 2024 (10:16 am)

      Construction CO2 comes nowhere close to the amount of CO2 emitted by cars that will be replaced, and before you scream about Electric (US doesn’t even have the infrastructure in place to replace gas vehicles until 2040-2045 optimistically), the amount of CO2 to make one single electric battery (which need replacements always) and strain on the electric grid far exceeds the negligible small period of construction. Also, you said nothing when they did a bunch of work on 405 or 520 all spring. I mean look at the project of 405 in Renton….. all that construction .

    • Arbor Heights Resident June 10, 2024 (11:31 am)

      The displaced flora in question? Ivy, blackberry, holly, laurel- all noxious weeds.

  • VN June 10, 2024 (10:07 am)

    West Seattle by Bus instead of Light Rail – Seattle Transit BlogExcellent article laying out issues that need to be addressed by the Sound Transit Board.While Metro promises to truncate the C and H lines at light rail stations and redirect bus hours to a certain extent to other parts of West Seattle, they do not plan to do so until the West Seattle Link extension is continued through downtown (currently anticipated by 2037). Our proposal however could be planned and put in place now. It would provide three main corridors (California/Fauntleroy, 35th Ave, Delridge) with ten-minute service. Several minor corridors (16th Ave, Admiral Ave, Alki Beach) would have at least 15-minute service. I believe higher and faster service and better coverage would bring more ridership than adding three light rail stations in West Seattle. Such additions could help the region’s carbon reduction goals by reducing VMT (vehicle miles travelled) sooner and potentially more than adding three light rail stations. It would certainly avoid the associated destruction and carbon generation (the DEIS estimates construction will generate 614,000 tons of carbon – more than what 10,000 regular cars generate in a decade).

    • Derek June 10, 2024 (12:04 pm)

      Do this AND build the train. Why do a half measure? If concern is environment, do both. Minimize polluting cars as much as possible. 

    • KM June 10, 2024 (12:13 pm)

      This is an opinion piece from one of the SkyLink/Rethink the Link ringleaders. 

  • VN June 10, 2024 (12:53 pm)

    There is a lot of discussion about carbon pollution but what is overlooked is that our transit buses will be electric by 2035 according to the plans by King County Metro.  There are already many electric buses in service today. These carbon free buses will allow all neighborhoods in West Seattle to have access to public transportation; unlike today where thousands of West Seattle residents lack any public transit (#37) or infrequent bus services like Arbor Heights.  Light Rail will only be readily accessible in one small area of WS; excluding direct access for the majority of the Peninsula.  The cost over runs for Lite Rail have doubled in cost whereas an expanded Metro bus system is available and will serve all of our region.  King County Metro green lights contract for 89 new battery-electric buses, growing its zero-emission fleet – Metro Matters

    • Hoon June 10, 2024 (3:00 pm)

      We all know that every great city relies solely on buses, because an efficient transit system is one that gets stuck in car traffic. Whenever they are implemented, whether in Seattle or elsewhere around the world, people reject trains and choose to take the bus.

    • K June 10, 2024 (4:19 pm)

      If you apply the Rethink logic, it will create more environmental hazard to build electric buses than to keep using the buses we have, so we should keep the buses we have instead and let Metro know electrifying the fleet is bad for the environment.  In the real world, the light rail (Sound Transit) and local buses (Metro) are two different agencies, with different budgets and different funding sources.  The light rail handling a large numbers of people going from major hubs to other major hubs frees up Metro’s resources to get more busses into more neighborhoods that are currently underserved (like Arbor Heights).  Metro being the only public transportation option for the big groups of people are WHY the smaller groups of people are being left behind.

  • Megan June 10, 2024 (1:10 pm)

    The anti light rail people honestly sound like the 19th century people who claimed women would die if they went on a train going too fast. Yeah, there’s going to be a cost to light rail – businesses, trees, homes. It sucks. But our transit infrastructure is woefully inefficient: busses are crowded and slow, traffic is always awful, and walking and biking are great, as long as you’re able bodied and don’t have any heavy crap to carry. And that’s just for the West Seattle of today. What is it going to look like a decade from now?? We need to build with future growth and development in mind. Saying that we don’t need light rail because the busses are good enough or because people can just walk is self centered and short sighted. 

  • Highland Park resident June 10, 2024 (1:45 pm)

    We the people of West Seattle need the light rail, we voted overwhelmingly for the light rail, and we are a democracy. Get it done now, on schedule, without endless bad-faith reviews and “concerns.” Rethink the Link and Skylink are a few people with loud voices that think they can take away our votes if they prevaricate and raise disingenuous arguments about the existing businesses and the environment. Get real, this is the same area with a steel plant and a gigantic bridge/overpass, not a pristine wilderness. The light rail station will only attract businesses and people to the area. The herons will nest further down the greenbelt and be fine.Our voices are clear: get the rail! 

    • Scarlett June 10, 2024 (4:55 pm)

      Rethinking a decision is part of the democratic process, too.  I think its better to present an argument for light rail, hopefully one that hasn’t been already rebutted or a better solution proposed.  No one is trying to disenfranchise voters, just educate them.  

      • k June 11, 2024 (10:24 am)

        Using the appeals process to upend a project because you don’t like it is not democratic.  Maybe the first attempt to derail the project was education, but every rehash since then (this is at least your the third iteration) is just an exercise in beating a dead horse.  Your neighbors don’t continue to support light rail because they’re stupid.  You don’t have a well of magical knowledge that needs to be shared with others.  Continuing to stage events with the goal of delaying a wanted project is annoying, but trying to dress it up as education is just insulting.

        • Scarlett June 11, 2024 (3:01 pm)

          I’ll continue to “beat the dead horse,” as you term it until many well-intentioned realize they’ve been  had, that this is a lollipop for private interests dressed up as mass transportation solution I’ll emphasize mass transportation solution – as opposed to relatively few who write glowingly that they took light rail to the game, or to work, or elsewhere.  

          This isn’t a minor undertaking.  We’re talking billions of dollars, K, massive dislocation to people and businesses and environment for a short trunk line that is already duplicated and could be improved by bus transit.   This notion that riders are going to add more public transportation segments – such as another bus ride – to access stations is not thinking clearly.  

          If you prefer I’ll refer to light rail boosters as “generously optimistic,” if that salves the wounds and quiets the sobbing of those (no, not you) who already have their light rail Xmas ornament ready to hang on the Xmas tree.  Sorry,  there I go again! 

          • k June 11, 2024 (4:10 pm)

            Your neighbors are not idiots.  Your condescending attitude toward those who are of a different opinion on light rail than you is off-putting and SkyLink/Rethink’s general idea that they have some secret knowledge that the other 99% of the city can’t figure out borders on delusion.  No one has “been had”.  Well-educated people disagree with you. That’s the only story here.

    • Martin June 10, 2024 (9:15 pm)

      Voters approved $1.7 billion to improve transit to West Seattle for 37,000 riders!The latest plan is to spend $4 billion on a system which will require most people to transfer from a bus to light rail in West Seattle and again in SODO. No wonder Sound Transit only anticipates 5400 daily riders. Even when it ultimately connects to downtown (2037?), they now only anticipate 27,000 riders. If we increase bus service to Highland Park and beyond, I bet it would increase ridership much closer to the 37,000 ridership goal.

      • Pete June 11, 2024 (9:18 am)

        Martin, the figures you cite were from pre 2018 when the measure went to the voters. Please show me any major infrastructure project that has taken over 8 years to go through all of this PROCESS that does not show substantial increase in cost due to inflation, labor costs and rising real estate values. Take a look at the present city of Seattle Transportation levy if you need an example of how rising costs impact what you can build. You are also comparing two separate transit agencies and making it sound like ST and Metro are one and the same. 

    • Wseattleite June 10, 2024 (10:37 pm)

      HP Residebt.  No one is going to get what was voted on.  There is no time and no budget for it.  It is not democratic to force unvoted results onto the citizenry. That is fascism.  Don’t be aa fascist. 

      • Arbor Heights Resident June 11, 2024 (11:31 am)

        What an absurd thing to accuse him of. If fascism is when a project changes on the road from proposal to implementation, then every society in human history is fascist. You have no idea what you’re talking about.

  • Kristian Kicinski June 10, 2024 (1:47 pm)

    The only way to turn American cities into places with extensive mass transit systems like the rest of the developed world is to… stay with me… build mass transit. Yes it’s expensive and yes it’s frustrating when costs increase and yes we should scrutinize the projects and the agency to hold them accountable and acting in good faith. But we need to build transit. Now. Obstruction is not the solution. I’m sorry about the pool. The needs of the city for the next 100 years override the needs of one business today.

  • FindANewHobby June 10, 2024 (3:31 pm)

    Thank you Megan. But in true West Seattle form, sadly these Lightrail deniers will probably win the day because they are the squeakiest wheel, looking at you Pickleball courts. I find it comical for a neighborhood significantly sequestered from the rest of the city to be so vocal about preventing transportation progress to reduce the number of cars on the road. If we could just rename West Seattle to West NIMBY I think the city would finally stop throwing any sense of progress our way and the neighborhood can crumble. 

    • Derek June 10, 2024 (7:14 pm)

      They didn’t and won’t win. We voted in it. It’s case closed as far as I’m concerned! 

    • Reed June 10, 2024 (7:18 pm)

      I think they will get steamrolled like the Alki For All group.

  • Gary Richardson June 10, 2024 (5:26 pm)

    If they build above ground, I’d hope the structure is a work of art and not like the monorail pillars.If they are made with high quality ingredients the pillars could also occupy a smaller Footprint.

    • WS Guy June 10, 2024 (6:54 pm)

      Yeah design aesthetic is a big part of my support or non-support of this.  I drove over the I-90 bridge recently and those steel electrical support frames look absolutely terrible.  Like they put zero thought into their appearance and only made the cheapest thing they could.  How about some style or decoration?  Here you are driving across a beautiful lake with visible mountains and on your left… a series of tangled wires and shoddy looking steel posts.

      • Reed June 10, 2024 (7:23 pm)

        How about looking at the road in front of you rather than a bridge off to either side? No wonder there are daily accidents on the I-90 bridge.

  • Chuck Jacobs June 10, 2024 (9:25 pm)

    I saw the crowd out walking the route Sunday morning. It’s good to see so many concerned citizens involved. There were posters advertising this event posted on telephone poles in the neighborhood. Some of them were defaced with stickers. This tells me more than anything which side deserves my support:

    • KM June 10, 2024 (10:53 pm)

      I, too, appreciate a well-placed DK reference.

      • YIMBY Punk June 12, 2024 (12:26 pm)

        Just happy to have a new name to post here under. 

    • walkerws June 11, 2024 (10:36 am)

      You should form your opinion based on which side has the most merit (in this case, the pro-transit side), not which side happens to have one or two people whose impatience with reactionary obstructionists has led them to be a little bit impolite.

      • Bus Rider June 11, 2024 (12:12 pm)

        We can be for pro-transit AND want to have more information.  We can be regular transit riders (including light rail) AND feel that light rail is not the best solution for West Seattle.  Terms like “reactionary obstructionists” does not seem to apply to the thoughtful people in our community who have questions – and some solutions – and are simply asking for a discussion.  Apparently, Dow Constantine has requested that Sound Transit hold a forum here in West Seattle regarding the route going through the WS Health Club.  

    • Bus Rider June 11, 2024 (10:40 am)

      Why are the PRO Light Rail people so angry?  Imagine being trapped  150 feet high (parallel to the WS bridge) with a few of them when there is a glitch in the system.   Hey, now I am wondering how will Sound Transit  get us down?

      • Jason June 11, 2024 (10:59 am)

        It’s the other side that is angry, in my opinion Bus Rider…

    • 98126res June 11, 2024 (12:46 pm)

      Recommend this excellent site by – a West Seattle resident – researching the No Build Alternative:
      https://www.whereiamnow.net/post/sound-transit-presents-an-excellent-case-for-the-no-build-option

      • walkerws June 11, 2024 (5:16 pm)

        This is not an “excellent site.” It is misinformed and bordering on rambling.    

      • YIMBY Punk June 12, 2024 (12:25 pm)

        We voted. No build is not an option. The vocal minority will not win. 

      • heartless June 12, 2024 (2:10 pm)

        I mean, this is a transit version of Kersti Mull.  I wouldn’t take a random person’s musings as “researching”, get a grip.  We’re gonna build, y’all are gonna gripe.  Life goes on.

      • Jason June 12, 2024 (2:39 pm)

        NOT AN OPTION.

  • LAintheJunction June 10, 2024 (10:04 pm)

    Looking forward to taking the Light Rail daily when it’s finally built after all the complaining is over. Build it and people will ride it!

  • Crowski June 11, 2024 (9:52 am)

    I agree with Chuck. It was good to see so many concerned citizens involved. The Walk the Route organizers provided an informative opportunity for people of all perspectives to see and discuss mass transit for West Seattle. I hope they do more! This was only the Delridge segment. I hope there will be a Walk the Route for the Avalon and West Seattle Junction segment.

    • Joe Z June 11, 2024 (12:02 pm)

      It would have been interesting for the “Walk the Route” folks to take Route 50 from the Delridge Station to the Junction and compare their experience to what Sound Transit is proposing. And perhaps they could have offered some commentary on the quality and speed of the current Route 50 experience, especially on a Sunday when it has 30 minute frequency and all three dozen of them would have had to cram on a single short bus! 

      • Scarlett June 11, 2024 (5:48 pm)

        So, you are proposing a multi-billion dollar project, with no flexibility to adjust to demographics as bus transit easily can  because Route 50 is….crowded??  How about advocating for more metro bus transit and asking Sound Transit to divert more funds from light rail to where its needed – greatly expanding county-wide bus sevice that does a fantastic job of moving people from point A to point B.   

      • Martin June 11, 2024 (9:12 pm)

        Joe, first Delridge Station is not really a destination until light rail gets built, not very many people want to visit the steel plant. It seems to be cherry picked for making light rail look good. A better, high demand destination would be for example the Youngstown Art Center or Delridge Community Center. Yes, route 50 is insufficient and I would increase frequency to at least 15min service if not 10min. In my article I also suggested a 2nd line along Genesee which I called the 35 which would provide service from Youngstown to Alki and South Seattle College. None of these destinations would even be served by light rail. 

      • Marmar June 12, 2024 (8:01 am)

        So, Seattleites missed the boat on forward thrust, voted for the monorail five times and didn’t get it built, conflated the West Seattle SkyLink Gondola with the monorail, and now they voted for ST3 and are learning that Sound Transit is betraying them.  Light rail fare box revenues cover less than 3% of total ST costs, ST overestimated Sounder North ridership by 90%, and underestimated revenue by 95%. ST is helping prevent Seattle & King County reaching their 2050 carbon neutrality & tree canopy coverage goals, and cars are still the most efficient way to get around the region. Unfortunately, the region’s urban-suburban development has been at odds with its transit development since about 1920.  The magical thinking is believing any Sound Transit project will correct that. See the Urbanist here:https://www.theurbanist.org/2023/03/17/st3-misunderstanding/

  • Scarlett June 11, 2024 (6:39 pm)

    Trolls!  Ignore them!  NIMBY’s!  Anti-progress!  Anti-suffrage! Anti-civilization!  

    This is the eye-ball rolling nonsense thrown at those who dare to question light rail and yet those same Bravehearts doing the hurling fly into a trembling rage when someone has the audacity to question their flimsy arguments and rationales.  I can take the slings and arrows, after all everything is fair in love and war, or on a comment thread –  can all of you?

    My worst offense?  I’ve accused some of you of  magical thinking, even if well-intentioned magical thinking.  For this I’m a condescending, a know-it-all.   Yep, better roll out the guillotine because I’ve accused people of engaging in self-deception, probably the most ubiquitous of all human traits.   

    My advice to the light rail snowflakes who act like a toy is going to taken away from them?  Drop the silly Seattle – notorious – fragility and toughen up because I’m not going anywhere.   

  • RogerThat June 12, 2024 (1:02 pm)

    They must have had a few flyers left over – they illegally stuffed one in our mailbox with no address and no postage.

  • Gary Richardson June 28, 2024 (8:34 pm)

    It makes more sense to have fewer stops in order to make route travel faster in our highly productive society.The costs of shuttling people to fewer connection points such as seen on some subway systems with transfer stops avoids the negative impact caused by stopping every few minutes.

Sorry, comment time is over.