Comments on: ST2 Fifteen Year Plan to go to Ballot

By: New ST Board Members - Seattle Transit Blog

New ST Board Members - Seattle Transit Blog — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 00:52:09 +0000

[...] the shakiest from a “build as much rail as possible now” point of view, as he was one of only two board members (with Ron Sims) to vote against ST2 going to the ballot in [...]

By: Seattle Transit Blog » Plan Odds and Ends

Seattle Transit Blog » Plan Odds and Ends — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 03:24:05 +0000

[...] ST2 Fifteen Year Plan to go to Ballot [...]

By: Mike B

Mike B — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 18:31:25 +0000

Hardly any engineering has been done on that segment of line yet. Its for a good reason too. ST doesn’t have the funding to undertake the multi-million dollar, 3 to 4 year design process of the North Link until the voters say yes. A good portion of the line has to be bored between the UW Station and where it exits the tunnel around 85th. TBMing takes time. We’ve found some interesting geological challenges in the alignment. And the challenges of tunneling under a University. Some of the stuff being done for that is pretty cool.

The Link was suppose to be up and running by now. You can thank MANY parties involved for the delays.

By: John Jensen

John Jensen — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 18:27:51 +0000

According to this Times article:

One big question is the light-rail route in downtown Bellevue. The plan assumes an elevated or surface route. But if a tunnel is chosen, that would add $500 million and eat up the money to reach Overlake. According to Ric Ilgenfritz, Sound Transit planning and policy director, a tunnel would need city funds, private-sector money, or a downtown taxing district.

The state Expert Review Panel this week urged the agency to reach “closure on this issue” before voters make their decision.

By: Mark

Mark — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 18:21:09 +0000

I’m thrilled to see that this is heading to the ballot…. but now the real battle begins. The public debate taking place on transportation is being dictated by the Times and PI. They are a myopic bunch of old codgers, shaking their canes and shouting “no new taxes!”

We need to shift this debate from Seattle’s traditional “how does this benefit me right now?” to something like “what does our region need for the future?”

Our presence in the media is going to be critical… I encourage this blog’s readers to flood the opinion pages and call in shows to bring responsibility and sanity back to this debate.

By: John Jensen

John Jensen — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 18:05:31 +0000

Slight correction, last year’s plan got to Northgate by 2018. I’m not sure why the two-year difference is there.

By: John Jensen

John Jensen — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 18:03:38 +0000

The exact East Link alignment hasn’t been determined, but word on the street is that a tunnel through Bellevue is the most likely option.

I think a tunnel would be best, as well. If you close your eyes between the Chinatown station and the Bellevue Transit Center, you might think you’re on a subway system! :)

By: Schroeder

Schroeder — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 17:58:08 +0000

Does anyone know the specifics of the East Link portion of this plan? Will they tunnel through DT Bellevue to make underground stations, will it be at-grade, or elevated?

Or, are these details still up for debate? I personally would like to see them tunnel through dt Bellevue, (if possible), but I realize the significant expenses involved in doing that.

By: Chris

Chris — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 15:35:41 +0000

Why does it take unitl 2020 to get to Northgate? Seems like a long time when the old plan had it there in 2016.

By: Joshua Kelley

Joshua Kelley — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 08:47:23 +0000

Unfortunately, that would be quite difficult. At the platforms, both the King Street and International District Stations are pretty close to the same level. With the BNSF mains running between the two stations, either an overpass or an underpass is required. There’s already a bridge over the mains (albeit, not 4th Avenue).

The only other option would be to run a tunnel to the Pioneer Square Station, but that’s a good 1/4 mile or so.

Or put in a new station where the tunnels cross… ;-)

Wikipedia: Great Northern Tunnel

Google Map: DSTT and Great Northern Tunnel crossing

By: Jojo

Jojo — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 08:15:03 +0000

I wish the plan included some sort of pedestrian tunnel to link the Sounder platforms to the bus tunnel platforms..

By: John Jensen

John Jensen — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 05:36:22 +0000

Could possibly be funded by the Viaduct plan, too.

By: Daniel K

Daniel K — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 05:12:21 +0000

Ben – There are a lot of high tech companies north of Pike that would be serviced by a stop near Vine, where there is plenty of room for platforms. The trains need only make a 1 minute stop there to save many commuters from having to go all the way down to King Street, and then bus back up to locations walking distance from a Vine Street stop. It would save them 30 minutes each way for sure. It is crazy that there is only one Seattle stop for Sounder trains that head north. The Vine Street stop wouldn’t need to disrupt bus lines to be useful to a ton of people, but anything running along Alaskan Way or Western could service people who want to make a connection.

It is definitely doable.

By: John Jensen

John Jensen — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 04:23:05 +0000

Thanks for the correct!

I wouldn’t look forward to Sims coming on board, but I wouldn’t expect a vigorous campaign from him against it either. Maybe an op-ed or two, but I can’t imagine him partnering with the opposition campaign in any way.

By: Alexjonlin

Alexjonlin — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 04:07:05 +0000

(thats highline cc) but this is great news. and i’m glad that paula hammond came on board. i just hope that, now that it’s headed to the ballot, ron sims will do the right thing and support it.

By: Ben Schiendelman

Ben Schiendelman — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 01:41:45 +0000

A “Broad Street” station is in the plan, yes, along with Ballard. They are “maybes”, but Nickels is pushing for them.

It’s not a no-brainer, as much as it seems like it should be. Where Sounder stops at King Street is the focal point of all our downtown buses, basically, and will be the connection to Link. There are far fewer people working near a north downtown stop, and there’s limited transit access to it.

By: Daniel K

Daniel K — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 00:42:58 +0000

For Sounder that is.

By: Daniel K

Daniel K — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 00:42:39 +0000

Anyone know if they’ll add a second Seattle stop at Vine Street along Alaskan Way to service north downtown commuters? Seems like a no-brainer.