Washblog || People to Sims: WE WANT THE RAILS

People to Sims: WE WANT THE RAILS

By chadlupkes
Sat Dec 01, 2007 at 08:13:57 AM PST
Section: Diary Topic: transportation

[Front paged, N.M.]

Warning, this is a rant after reading one article.

I can't frickin' believe this. Ron Sims, King County Executive, is telling the Port of Seattle that if they don't tear up the rails on the Eastside line that they are buying from BNSF, he will pull out of the three way bargain.

Ron, point blank here. You're wrong. I don't give a rip what the deal said in February, it was wrong then and you are wrong now. Even being a cyclist myself I don't want a recreational trail before we have more transit options in this area. You came out strongly against the Roads and Transit package in November because it wasn't good enough. Now you're throwing in the towel on an existing rail line that could be used within one year, while talking about some other rail line that given the ability of political compromises in this state would take another 25 years to build, if ever.

You talk about a vision for transportation in this area in the same way that you talked about a progressive income tax in the 2004 primary election. Great vision, and it's something I support at the same level that it was presented, as an academic exercise showing what the world would be like if we ignored reality and went with the vision of one man. You're giving us your vision for the future, and telling us that you'll pick up your toys and go home if we don't play in the sand box the way you want us to.

Do you know what I call people with the "my way or the highway" approach?

Conservatives.

Creighton is right. We need to rethink the situation after Prop 1 died due to lack of support from key Democrats and the people. Give us more options, not less. Get off your high horse and get on the train.

< Jane Hague's DUI Blood-Alcohol Readings Were 0.135 And 0.141 Percent | Hunting for images >

People to Sims: WE WANT THE RAILS | 7 comments (7 topical)

I recommend research...

Most specifically, smell out the money trail and see where it goes.

Who gains by the rail staying in place or improved upon immediately? Note that Creighton and Yoshitani are actually the latest in a string of what I'll politely call people that support money first (as opposed to citizens first) promoting this idea. (A couple of people have made noises in public about running for office in 2007, centered around maintaining this rail line, but they disappeared as fast they made their announcements.) Why?

Does killing the trail idea result in leverage to attacking other rails to trails plans? Is this a means of potentially "derailing" the existing RTID situation? Who owns adjacent properties from which development of stations and related infrastructure for a commuter line would need to be built? Is there a valid means of expanding a potential commuter line from this existing parcel of land, and if so, how? Again, who would benefit from such an expansion?

I'm not saying egos aren't or couldn't be in play. But again, who benefits?

by palamedes on Sat Dec 01, 2007 at 11:26:02 AM PST

* 1 none 0 *

More options, not less... by STSally, 12/04/2007 02:05:40 PM PST (none / 0)

But how many people will use it to commute?

I'm all for light rail, but I've never quite understood who the commuters will be that will use this specific rail line to commute to and from work - and that's the major user group for any light rail line: workers.

Where are the studies I can look at that describe projected ridership?

Seattle to Redmond/Microsoft makes perfect sense.

Seattle to Bellevue makes perfect sense.

North and south routes to Seattle make perfect sense.

But Woodiville to Renton? I just don't see it, and especially on a line that is mostly single track.

On The Road To 2008: Countdown to the next opportunity to change the direction of America

by Daniel K on Sat Dec 01, 2007 at 04:22:04 PM PST

* 2 none 0 *

Why does rail have to go over the lake? by chadlupkes, 12/01/2007 05:05:00 PM PST (none / 0)

Much too long a commute by Daniel K, 12/01/2007 07:10:14 PM PST (none / 0)

different perspective by chadlupkes, 12/27/2007 08:46:59 AM PST (none / 0)

Sound Transit Prop 1 Poll

I don't how this relates.

Yesterday, on Mind Over Matters (KEXP 90.3fm), Geov Parish and the co-editor from Eat The State mentioned the results from Sound Transit's poll (post-mortem) of Prop 1. Apparently, 64% of voters supported a rails-only solution. The primary reasons voters gave for voting against Prop 1 was that it was too large, with too little oversight, and voters didn't trust Sound Transit to manage the much complexity.

I google'd a bit and couldn't find any references. Hopefully Geov will post something on Horse's Ass.

by zappini on Sun Dec 02, 2007 at 05:31:24 PM PST

* 5 none 0 *

People to Sims: WE WANT THE RAILS | 7 comments (7 topical)

SEATTLE TIMES STORY

PNW TOPIC HOTLIST

WELCOME AND FAQ
ABOUT

Login


Make a new account
Username:
Password:

HELP

Recommended Diaries

Bernie Sanders to the richest: via Youtube
What Bernie says -- in 2005 the top 1% of earners made more than the bottom 50% in the United States.
By chadlupkes (2 comments)
Terry Bergeson Has To Go - Do The Math
At the Thursday July 10th 36th Disctrict Democrat endorsement meeting, some people spoke in favor of Terry Bergeson. I thought they
By rmdSeaBos (18 comments)
Eye Candy from 08 Pride Parade
A girl has to have SOME fun. Above, 34th District Obama delegates Dinazina (moi) and Jody Rogers. This year I
By dinazina (7 comments)
It's election day somewhere.
The sun is hot and the calendar pages are flipping slow And so am I Election season passes like molasses in
By chadlupkes (3 comments)
Democrats MUST quit using Republican framing
I have been tearing my hair out reading all the nitpicky squabbling in cyberspace about minor differences in the platforms and
By eridani (7 comments)
On How The State Gave Me MRSA (Part II), Or, What, Me Worry?
We began a story this week that describes how poor clinical practice in a State-operated healthcare facility holds the potential to
By fake consultant (15 comments)