This past November, amid fluctuating gas prices and recession fears, voters in King, Snohomish and Pierce counties approved Proposition 1, Sound Transit’s 15-year mass transit package. The measure proposed an estimated $17.9 billion in transit investments for the tri-county area.
Prop. 1’s passage stands in striking contrast to voters’ rejection of 2007’s Roads and Transit ballot measure in the same three counties. According to Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, who is also the Sound Transit Board chair, this year’s plan is “faster, better, and cheaper.”
The new-and-improved package delivers both long-term and short-term expansions to the regional transit system, including:
- Sound Transit express bus improvements, including an increase to 100,000 bus service hours in 2009, overall service increases of 10–30% along key corridors, and rapid transit bus service on the 520 bridge.
- Increased access to transit facilities, including Auburn, Edmonds, Kent, Mukilteo, Tacoma and Tukwila. Potential projects are increased parking, pedestrian improvements, additional bus/transfer facilities, bike access and storage, and expanded drop-off areas to encourage ride-sharing.
- Light rail extensions: northward from the University of Washington to Northgate by 2020 and to Lynnwood by 2023; eastward to Bellevue and to Overlake Transit Center in Redmond by 2021; and southward to Highline Community College by 2020 and to Federal Way by 2023.
- Expansion of Sounder commuter rail service, including a 65% increase in service between Lakewood and Seattle.
The Roads and Transit measure, which bundled extended light rail and improved bus service with nearly 200 miles of new highways, was opposed by many, most notably the Sierra Club, which said Roads and Transit would put more cars on the road, resulting in increased traffic congestion and greenhouse gas emissions. Fifty-six percent of the voters agreed and the measure was defeated.
Prop. 1, on the other hand, calls for faster light rail expansion: five years earlier for the northward and southward expansions and seven years earlier for the eastbound line. In addition, partnership funding will provide for Eastside passenger rail on existing freight tracks and possible extensions of Tacoma Link light rail and projects in Bothell and Burien.
Also included are planning studies that will evaluate future expansion phases, such as Lynnwood to Everett, the U-District to downtown Seattle via Ballard, Burien to Renton, downtown Seattle to Burien via West Seattle, South Bellevue to Issaquah, and along the 520 corridor linking Redmond, Kirkland and UW. Finally, Prop. 1 funds preliminary engineering and right-of-way acquisition for a light rail extension from Federal Way to Tacoma.
According to Sound Transit, ridership on its Sounder commuter train increased 38% from July 2007 to July 2008, and the number of users of its express buses rose by 25% during the same time period. Soaring gas prices likely contributed to some of those increases, but a December 8 Seattle Times article reported that even though fuel prices are now dropping, many U.S. commuters are still switching to public transportation. The story quoted American Public Transportation Association President William Millar as saying that people may have tried transit to avoid paying high gas prices, but have since found that the subway, bus or rail works for them. In downtown Seattle, the article went on to say, 40% of workers arrive by public transit.
These trends bode well for the future of mass transit in the Puget Sound area. The new year will bring the opening of the first leg of Sound Transit’s light rail. Late this year, Sound Transit promises a “36-minute ride from the airport to Downtown Seattle — every time regardless of the weather or highway traffic.” Whether people will continue to leave their cars at home in favor of the new light rail is yet to be seen — and something Sound Transit is banking on.
* * * * *
Sources:
Sound Transit’s Web site, www.soundtransit.org.
“More Americans turning to transit,” The Seattle Times, December 8, 2008.
King County Elections website, www.kingcounty.gov/elections.
Sierra Club’s website, www.sierra club.org.
Maura Kelley Deering is a solo practitioner in Seattle focusing on environmental law, land use and real estate law. She can be reached at 206-679-8486 or through her website, www.raining.us/attorney.htm.
Go Back