Comments on: TRANSIT TOWN HALL, REPORT #1: Timeline, recap, rumors

By: Marie

Marie — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 02:05:05 +0000

In reply to Jeff. Jeff, the Ballard extension is not coming to West Seattle. It is going to Sea-Tac. The West Seattle extension is going to Everett - eventually. Never the twain shall meet. By 2032-ish, Sound Transit expects to build 4 miles of rail from West Seattle to what they call a "stub" in SODO. Once they figure out the logistics of continuing downtown - where the station(s) will be and how to construct the tunnel(s) - the line will continue from SODO to downtown and beyond. That portion of the project is expected to be completed in 2042-ish. You will not have a one-seat ride downtown from West Seattle for almost 20 years. Here's a good explanation of what we are going to get. https://www.theurbanist.org/2023/03/17/st3-misunderstanding/ If you are anxious to connect to Light Rail sooner, you can do it today via bus. Did you know that 9 different West Seattle bus lines connect to Light Rail today? Did you know that the Light Rail from the Junction to SODO does nothing more than replicate the existing Metro 50 bus? Here's an inventory of our bus lines and where the real gaps in transit are. https://www.whereiamnow.net/post/here-s-why-west-seattle-needs-a-comprehensive-transit-plan

By: Jeff

Jeff — Wed, 24 Jul 2024 19:17:20 +0000

the West Seattle bus routes will NOT be restructured until the Ballard extension is complete too (currently projected for 2039, seven years after West Seattle), which will enable West Seattle light-rail riders to get downtown without transferring. <----feel like this needs to be hammered into people's heads lol. There's some weird myth going around that this is "4 mile only train" (bad faith because transferring is so simple) but it will also extend eventually. 2039 will be here before people realize. I mean 2024 once seemed so far away when we started all this.

By: SO

SO — Wed, 24 Jul 2024 17:58:17 +0000

I, like many in attendance, am very excited about this project! Connecting WS to the larger light rail network will not only provide faster but also more efficient and easier service across the sound. Imagine riding traffic-free to Westlake in 16 minutes! Not to mention the business it will bring into WS. Like others have said, im disappointed in Fox13 and their complete mischaracterization of this meeting.

By: Lawren

Lawren — Wed, 24 Jul 2024 16:20:47 +0000

It was great to see so many people show up! I wish there had been more engagement by our local elected officials. Councilmember Mosqueda took the time to come listen to her constituents, but (unsurprisingly) no sight of Executive Constantine or Councilmember Saka. Maybe we shouldn’t expect a Sound Transit Board member or Seattle’s Transportation Committee Chair to care enough to show up?While Fox13 is taking the opportunity to misrepresent the tone of the town hall, I thought it was informative and well-balanced. Nice to see someone who could represent the Chamber, Dems, and an affected business be the moderator! His opening remarks were nice — too bad they aren’t included in the video.Thanks, West Seattle Blog, for being there and reporting on it! Incredible work as always!