Comments on: Taking a Moment to Look Back Before Moving Forward http://2045seattle.org/monorail/taking-a-moment/ Thu, 07 Aug 2008 21:21:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: jason styles http://2045seattle.org/monorail/taking-a-moment/#comment-356 jason styles Sun, 12 Mar 2006 20:55:00 +0000 http://2045seattle.org/?p=110#comment-356 A few months ago, after the election, Nickels was interviewed on public radio, and was asked about transit alternatives to the monorail. He replied that he "might look into adding a bus lane somewhere." He went on to say that "we're not interested in a substitute for the monorail." He explicity rejected the idea of expanding light rail to Ballard or West Seattle. So as of now, the future of transit in this town consists of one light rail line and lots of dangerously overcrowded, glacially slow buses. This seemed like a bombshell to me; after all, even the anti-monorail activists claimed to support some kind of transit system, and I believe a lot of people voted against the monorail under the assumption that there would be a "plan B." But Nickels' comments went totally unreported (I notified the PI and the Stranger, in case they were unaware of the radio interview, but nothing was ever printed about it). I'm getting the feeling now that everyone who cares has given up. I don't blame them, but this moment is too critical for that. If Nickels' "big dig" (which makes no provision at all for transit) goes forward, we'll be paying for it so heavily, for so long, that any new transit ideas will be out of the question. By the time we finish paying for the tunnel, it will be due for renovations, and once again people will choose highways over transit. By that time, Seattle will be a smog-choked, congested, depressing has-been of a city (maybe thirty years from now people will finally approve transit as a means of revitalizing what will by then be a dying city). As far as I can tell, there is no organization in Seattle that is currently agitating for transit. If we don't get transit back into the agenda now, it will be locked out for a very long time. I don't know the first thing about organizing this kind of thing, but I'm very interested in trying to get the ball rolling, somehow. If anyone from Seattle 2045, or anywhere, is reading this and still interested in the idea that cars and highways are not the only possibility for the future, please contact me, especially if you have any knowledge or ideas about a plan of action. jason styles firefly@burntmail.com A few months ago, after the election, Nickels was interviewed on public radio, and was asked about transit alternatives to the monorail. He replied that he “might look into adding a bus lane somewhere.” He went on to say that “we’re not interested in a substitute for the monorail.” He explicity rejected the idea of expanding light rail to Ballard or West Seattle. So as of now, the future of transit in this town consists of one light rail line and lots of dangerously overcrowded, glacially slow buses.
This seemed like a bombshell to me; after all, even the anti-monorail activists claimed to support some kind of transit system, and I believe a lot of people voted against the monorail under the assumption that there would be a “plan B.” But Nickels’ comments went totally unreported (I notified the PI and the Stranger, in case they were unaware of the radio interview, but nothing was ever printed about it).
I’m getting the feeling now that everyone who cares has given up. I don’t blame them, but this moment is too critical for that. If Nickels’ “big dig” (which makes no provision at all for transit) goes forward, we’ll be paying for it so heavily, for so long, that any new transit ideas will be out of the question. By the time we finish paying for the tunnel, it will be due for renovations, and once again people will choose highways over transit. By that time, Seattle will be a smog-choked, congested, depressing has-been of a city (maybe thirty years from now people will finally approve transit as a means of revitalizing what will by then be a dying city). As far as I can tell, there is no organization in Seattle that is currently agitating for transit. If we don’t get transit back into the agenda now, it will be locked out for a very long time.
I don’t know the first thing about organizing this kind of thing, but I’m very interested in trying to get the ball rolling, somehow. If anyone from Seattle 2045, or anywhere, is reading this and still interested in the idea that cars and highways are not the only possibility for the future, please contact me, especially if you have any knowledge or ideas about a plan of action.

jason styles
firefly@burntmail.com

]]> By: Michael http://2045seattle.org/monorail/taking-a-moment/#comment-354 Michael Fri, 03 Mar 2006 01:29:35 +0000 http://2045seattle.org/?p=110#comment-354 Ok is the whole city of Seattle blind? Hmm lets ee if you see what I see? Voting to approve sound transit after first voter approval...none!!! Now how many times did we have to vote for the monorail? Hmm wasn't one of the projest leaders for sound transit appointed to run..(over run) the monorail project? How many times did the monorail vote go back to the voters before it was finally voted down, even when they boosted our tabs!!! Come on folks if you wont file a lawsuit or sick the feds on the city of seattle then tell me who I can contact to make this happen. If you cant see that this whole debacle was mastermined and criminal..can you spell collusion? Ok I cant but I know it when I smell it. Ok is the whole city of Seattle blind? Hmm lets ee if you see what I see? Voting to approve sound transit after first voter approval…none!!! Now how many times did we have to vote for the monorail? Hmm wasn’t one of the projest leaders for sound transit appointed to run..(over run) the monorail project? How many times did the monorail vote go back to the voters before it was finally voted down, even when they boosted our tabs!!! Come on folks if you wont file a lawsuit or sick the feds on the city of seattle then tell me who I can contact to make this happen. If you cant see that this whole debacle was mastermined and criminal..can you spell collusion? Ok I cant but I know it when I smell it.

]]> By: Robert Slate http://2045seattle.org/monorail/taking-a-moment/#comment-339 Robert Slate Sat, 31 Dec 2005 17:44:30 +0000 http://2045seattle.org/?p=110#comment-339 I suppose it is too late (Dec 31, 05) to make constructive comments that anyone will hear, but personal problems have prevented earlier submittals and actions. In my opinion there are viable alternatives to monorail routing and financing that have not been explored. If anyone is still around to read this, I would very much appreciate obtaining the email addresses of one or more people who are connected to the monorail activist group. I suppose it is too late (Dec 31, 05) to make constructive comments that anyone will hear, but personal problems have prevented earlier submittals and actions. In my opinion there are viable alternatives to monorail routing and financing that have not been explored. If anyone is still around to read this, I would very much appreciate obtaining the email addresses of one or more people who are connected to the monorail activist group.

]]> By: Kurt Zumdieck http://2045seattle.org/monorail/taking-a-moment/#comment-332 Kurt Zumdieck Thu, 08 Dec 2005 20:05:33 +0000 http://2045seattle.org/?p=110#comment-332 Something good needs to come out of the ashes of the Monorail. Seattle needs mass-transit, particularly down the Westside corridor, and we have a still-working institution with the funds and resources to change over to a light-rail project. So I am proposing making a Seattle Transit Authority out of the Monorail project to keep the MVET for Seattle only mass-trasit purposes. We may not be able to fly over the traffic, but going down the medians, in the center turn lanes and along the Waterfront, would make the light rail plan fast enough and cost-effective. Daren's idea is good but it would work better if a light rail system were integrated into the rebuild of the viaduct, along with some of the money from the MVET. Leaving out Ballard from the last vote was its death knell. We need a good political and mass-transit solution for this town and maybe the monorail was not just not the right fit. But we shouldn't just give up. Something good needs to come out of the ashes of the Monorail. Seattle needs mass-transit, particularly down the Westside corridor, and we have a still-working institution with the funds and resources to change over to a light-rail project. So I am proposing making a Seattle Transit Authority out of the Monorail project to keep the MVET for Seattle only mass-trasit purposes. We may not be able to fly over the traffic, but going down the medians, in the center turn lanes and along the Waterfront, would make the light rail plan fast enough and cost-effective. Daren’s idea is good but it would work better if a light rail system were integrated into the rebuild of the viaduct, along with some of the money from the MVET. Leaving out Ballard from the last vote was its death knell. We need a good political and mass-transit solution for this town and maybe the monorail was not just not the right fit. But we shouldn’t just give up.

]]> By: Daren http://2045seattle.org/monorail/taking-a-moment/#comment-321 Daren Mon, 21 Nov 2005 19:41:37 +0000 http://2045seattle.org/?p=110#comment-321 I don't know if I mentioned it here, but what do you guys think of a joint project of a viaduct replacement with the monorail somehow utilizing its columns? How about if the northbound lanes are underground, the southbound lanes are elevated and the monorail actually shares the columns?! Among many other combinations?! Innovative thinking! I don’t know if I mentioned it here, but what do you guys think of a joint project of a viaduct replacement with the monorail somehow utilizing its columns? How about if the northbound lanes are underground, the southbound lanes are elevated and the monorail actually shares the columns?! Among many other combinations?! Innovative thinking!

]]> By: Ray Gilbride http://2045seattle.org/monorail/taking-a-moment/#comment-303 Ray Gilbride Thu, 17 Nov 2005 00:18:35 +0000 http://2045seattle.org/?p=110#comment-303 To Whom It May Concern: While watching the 10:00 o?Äôclock news on Tuesday night. I saw the story about the West Settle Meeting, regarding the rejection of the new Mono Rail that was turned down by the voters of the city. The news people asked about any ideas that could help or improve systems like this. That made me think of a gentleman out in Custer Washington that is working on a system along the same lines of public transportation. Mr. Howard Andreasen of Custer, has been working on a new innovative project for the on the fly transfer of modules, containing fright or passengers on to or off of a moving train. This transfer of containers could be done in a one step, non stop motion from a moving train to a moving truck, making it in to a bus. Eliminating extra stops and the need for large storage areas by the transit sites or by railroad yards would help to keep people moving in a more eficiant manner. I think this would go a long way to solving the problem referred to in the industry as the Last Mile. This would make it very easy for people to leave the train and get to where they need to be with out even giving up their seat or having to hall goods or children around a busy bus station. Mr. Andreasen has applied for a grant from the (IDEA) Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis Programs. He has been working on the design of this system over five years and is now ready to make presentations of this system to the public. You can contact Mr. Andreasen at his home, his number is 360-366-3331 or on line at andreasen@juno.com I hope this will be of interest to you even if nothing more than a very interesting approach to the problem. Ray Gilbride Publisher of the Weekly Construction Reporter Bellingham Washington 360-738-0370 To Whom It May Concern: While watching the 10:00 o?Äôclock news on Tuesday night. I saw the story about the West Settle Meeting, regarding the rejection of the new Mono Rail that was turned down by the voters of the city. The news people asked about any ideas that could help or improve systems like this. That made me think of a gentleman out in Custer Washington that is working on a system along the same lines of public transportation.

Mr. Howard Andreasen of Custer, has been working on a new innovative project for the on the fly transfer of modules, containing fright or passengers on to or off of a moving train. This transfer of containers could be done in a one step, non stop motion from a moving train to a moving truck, making it in to a bus. Eliminating extra stops and the need for large storage areas by the transit sites or by railroad yards would help to keep people moving in a more eficiant manner.

I think this would go a long way to solving the problem referred to in the industry as the Last Mile. This would make it very easy for people to leave the train and get to where they need to be with out even giving up their seat or having to hall goods or children around a busy bus station.

Mr. Andreasen has applied for a grant from the (IDEA) Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis Programs. He has been working on the design of this system over five years and is now ready to make presentations of this system to the public.

You can contact Mr. Andreasen at his home, his number is 360-366-3331 or on line at andreasen@juno.com I hope this will be of interest to you even if nothing more than a very interesting approach to the problem.

Ray Gilbride
Publisher of the Weekly Construction Reporter Bellingham Washington
360-738-0370

]]> By: Glenn Mitchell http://2045seattle.org/monorail/taking-a-moment/#comment-300 Glenn Mitchell Tue, 15 Nov 2005 08:07:24 +0000 http://2045seattle.org/?p=110#comment-300 The Monorail seems to me to be such a rational desire. Why did all those others vote against it? Having lost, would it be useful to know what part of the pro monorail effort was effective and what parts were not? Also, what parts of the anti monorail effort were effective and what parts, if any were not? Is the Monorail Authority conducting this sort of an after action review? Is it in their budget? If they don't, will some industrious grant writers have access to the Monorail Authority's data and all the other publicly available data to prepare a comprehensive AAR? My votes are often cast for lost or losing causes. As a consequence I think most of my fellow voters are either self deluded or simply simple. On the other hand, maybe I'm the self deluded simpleton. In the case of the grass roots monorail malfunction an I'd like a panel of experts to review the data and prove who the idiots are. Them or me? The Monorail seems to me to be such a rational desire. Why did all those others vote against it? Having lost, would it be useful to know what part of the pro monorail effort was effective and what parts were not? Also, what parts of the anti monorail effort were effective and what parts, if any were not? Is the Monorail Authority conducting this sort of an after action review? Is it in their budget? If they don’t, will some industrious grant writers have access to the Monorail Authority’s data and all the other publicly available data to prepare a comprehensive AAR? My votes are often cast for lost or losing causes. As a consequence I think most of my fellow voters are either self deluded or simply simple. On the other hand, maybe I’m the self deluded simpleton. In the case of the grass roots monorail malfunction an I’d like a panel of experts to review the data and prove who the idiots are. Them or me?

]]> By: chas redmond http://2045seattle.org/monorail/taking-a-moment/#comment-294 chas redmond Mon, 14 Nov 2005 10:29:45 +0000 http://2045seattle.org/?p=110#comment-294 Bravo! and Thank You - ALL. See you in the future, the one we both want. Bravo! and Thank You - ALL. See you in the future, the one we both want.

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