As mentioned earlier, one of the doorbelling campaigns under way today in West Seattle, as by-mail voting gets into full swing, is for Sound Transit Proposition 1 (aka “Mass Transit Now!”). This one may be a tough decision for West Seattleites, as it’s mostly about projects in other parts of the region (with some money for studying West Seattle). We have the full text, plus the pro and con websites, linked from the WSB Election page, but if you would rather talk about it in person – here’s the perfect chance: Monday night’s Sustainable West Seattle meeting, 7 pm at Camp Long; Andy Silber from SWS’ transportation team says speakers will be there “representing both the pro and con positions.” Meantime, we recently asked pro-Prop 1 spokesperson Alex Fryer what supporters would say to West Seattleites who are asking “why should I support it – what’s in it for me?” The answer, ahead (and then we’d love to hear what YOU think):
From Alex Fryer of “Mass Transit Now!”:
As a West Seattle resident, I can answer your question from personal perspective.
We in West Seattle benefit from building 36 miles of light rail. Consider this: I rarely go to Bellevue. But I’d go a lot more often if I could take the No. 56 to 1st Avenue South, get off at Lander Street, and hop on light rail. West Seattle folks who work at Microsoft could take the same bus and arrive by light rail on campus. Traveling to the airport? Same bus route, different direction on light rail. University District in minutes.
By 2030, 70 percent of residents in the Sound Transit area will be within easy distance to light and commuter rail, either by bike, foot or a single bus ride – no transfers. Everyone in West Seattle fits in that category.
Proposition 1 also plans for the future. Here’s the web link:
future.soundtransit.org/details.aspxSound Transit will begin planning studies on a Ballard-West Seattle-Burien route. Board members Dow Constantine and Larry Phillips made sure that when the Sound Transit board considers a third phase around 2016, they will have on hand completed studies that include light rail service directly to West Seattle.
Proposition 1 is good for West Seattle and good for the region. We all benefit when people get our their cars. We live under one sky, and reducing climate pollution by riding clean, electric-powered light rail is good for all of us. West Seattle’s economy is dependent on the region’s. And the region needs to keep moving as 40,000 new people move into the central Puget Sound region each year.
Disagree? Agree?
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