Pac NW Plannergeek Honeymoon | Seattle 4/4: Transit

[mhays]

Certainly the most comprehensive summary ever.

Woefully inadequate definitely. It's getting worse in Pierce County (Tacoma) and Snohomish County (Everett) both with lines into Seattle, due to massive funding cutbacks at the county level. King County Metro was saved, for two years, by a car tab increase. A public vote a couple of years ago also added some express "kinda BRT" lines which are starting to come into service. We thought we were adding 19% more overall Metro bus service but that's been eaten up by the economy.

Regarding light rail, lines currently funded are north and south extensions of the existing line, plus a new line to Bellevue and Redmond. A portion of the northern extension is under construction, with two new stations including Capitol Hill and Husky Stadium. Next to break ground will be an extension north to the U District, Roosevelt (your photo), and Northgate Mall / P&R. A single-station extension to the south end of Sea-Tac Airport should start in 2013 I think. Other north, south, and east extensions are longer off, but approved via the $20b voters have passed. The eastern line just passed two big hurdles -- we turned down a statewide initiative that was primarily about variable tolling but also tried to kill rail on the I-90 bridge, and also the Bellevue City Council approved the concept of a tunnel through their downtown, which will also require funding.

A new streetcar from Union Station over First Hill to the new Capitol Hill Link station is funded and will start in 2012. Due to distance, density, and a big hill, it'll be popular. Frequency might be a problem.

Seattle voted down a car tab measure this month that would have funded street repair, sidewalks, bike infrastructure, and millions to study more streetcars. Long story.

While I agree on the inadequacy point, we manage to outdo many rail-intensive cities in commute mode share. Seattle is significantly below Boston, Chicago, etc., but above Portland, LA, Denver, St. Louis, etc.

The ferry system is important. Something like 5,000 walk-offs every morning rush hour.