Comments on: We’re Voting on The Monorail On Tuesday, November 8th Start Spreading the Word

By: Rob K

Rob K — Thu, 29 Sep 2005 04:08:03 +0000

Frankly, for West Seattle and Ballard (WS&B), it doesn’t matter whether monorail is better than light rail or not. WS&B won’t get anything if the monorail isn’t built. Sound Transit will be busy building light rail in Lynnwood, Issaquah, and Tacoma. Seattle may some day get the promised route to Northgate if we pony up enough money.

Monday it took 20 minutes for my bus to get from Redmond to Denny&Stewart, then another 30 to get to 4th&Jackson. This is pathetic. We can’t get from neighborhood to neighborhood in Seattle.

Putting light rail in will solve my anecdotal example, but it won’t solve the anecdotes of all of the people commuting WS&B, or all of the people with friends, family, or favorite businesses or cultural activity in WS&B.

Connecting people and businesses in Seattle communities is NOT a regional priority, and it’s not what our City Council is thinking about either. They think in terms of work commutes, and on a scale of their Michelin map of Puget Sound.

Check out this article in the PI today which reinforces my point: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/transportation/242549_transit28.html . There is no legitimate alternate plan for WS&B. WS may get a dreamy bus that gets stuck in traffic and has already been tried and cancelled! B may get a dreamy commuter train 3 times each morning from Everett and to downtown, and the reverse in the evening.

Those are worthless solutions that don’t address our real problem: The only way to connect with people, business, and coolness in West Seattle and Ballard is to own a car. Oh, and also to get back and forth from work.

By: Kdb

Kdb — Tue, 27 Sep 2005 02:56:49 +0000

I think CoreyAnn is right on the mark with regards to the Monorail making the biggest gains in W. Seattle. Why not pose a simple question to them? It would go something like this…West Seattle: the viaduct will be coming down in 4-5 years. How will you be getting downtown?

By: CoreyAnn

CoreyAnn — Mon, 26 Sep 2005 20:08:20 +0000

I disagree with Mark G because I think that we need to emphasize that the monorail is better than light rail. I think both are needed so that people have options. I think we need to focus on is the fact that the Link Light Rail, as both the initial segment and the proposed future extensions, only connect the east side of the Tukwila-Seattle-Northgate route. The monorail, however, is proposed to service areas not met by the Link Light Rail (West Seattle-Seattle-Ballard). With the merger of the two transportations in downtown Seattle, it will allow greater access to multiple areas of the region for those who rely on public transit.

I think we need to pound the pavement in West Seattle where I believe the biggest gains will be met. It is imperative to explain to those residents that in case of significant earthquake or renovation, the Alaskan Way Viaduct (a major West Seattle to Downtown route) will be out of service and will snarl traffic up for miles. It is important to let them know that if we start now, a viable monorail will help them access the downtown in the case that the viaduct is no longer an option.

Does anyone want to work with me in targeting West Seattle?

By: Mark G

Mark G — Mon, 26 Sep 2005 14:49:03 +0000

You may want to consider holding a protest at “Protest Central” a.k.a. Westlake Park. That always seems to get a lot of attention plus I would be able to join you guys since I work across the street from the park.

Just a thought.

There also need to be a bigger emphasis on why monorail is better than light rail otherwise I see people taking the attitude of, “why do I want to vote for the monorail again when Sound Transit is currently in the process of building a light rail?” We need to explain to them why monorail is better and more cost efficient, faster, safer and more reliable and since we are still waiting for the ‘big one’ why monorail could be beneficial during the aftermath like is has been in Japan when they got hit. People need to be better educated before they go to the polls to vote. The mayor and the council are getting down and dirty and they have their bias media on their side so it is time for us monorail supporters to quit playing mister nice guy and get dirty too if we hope to win this fifth go around. Something our group failed to do and now we’re paying for it. I believe you’ve had conversations with our new chairman Jurgen Brenkert.

I would be interested in hearing your thoughts as well.