The P-I talks about re-development plans for the Duwamish valley as part of the Superfund clea-up, and I noticed light rail on the map. Obviously, there’s no funding source for it, but wouldn’t it be nice? Taking a train to Georgetown is probably a distance dream.
The West Seattle alignment is intersting also. I wonder if the Spokane street viaduct could hold light rail. Even if it could, I am not sure those trains could actually travel through the Downtown Transit Tunnel. I think after ST2, that corridor’s capacity would be essetially maxed out.
The diagram seems to support the ST2 visuals with regard to the Royal Brougham light rail stop becoming a ‘transfer point’ for other rail lines.
If you recall, the ‘stadium’ stop was a time point for the eastbound light rail link in ST2.
So, this would mean that the long term vision of light rail would not include cramming every light rail line into the tunnel, but instead use the stadium stop as the terminus for the south and east lines.
Also, the ROW is mostly intact for a Georgetown line.
I think the Eastside lines come straight from I-90 into the tunnel.
brad, east link would not have stopped at the stadium station, no.
I think Brad has an interesting point here.
If West Seattle Link trains terminated at the Stadium station, that would ease capacity problems in the tunnel, and could get us out of digging another one.
Unless, of course, a two-seat ride is deal breaker, or you want to get to Ballard.
It would also be an interesting interim step as tunneling goes on.
Idea for a post for you guys:
Please explain, for transit-loving dumb guys like me, why the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel will be “maxxed out” capacity wise after ST2 come online.
will, I’ll write that later, sure.
The quick thing: Once the spine is built; not ST2, but ST3, from Everett to Tacoma, trains will run at 2.4 minute headways from Everett-ID Station, then at 5 minute headways on to Tacoma, 7.5 minute headways to Redmond, and presumably 15 minute headways to Issaquah. That could change, but look at how that line has to split – East AND South main lines have to go through that DSTT.
but you have to wonder: by “light rail” do they mean grade separated, or streetcar? because many, if not most people, think “streetcar” when they hear light rail.
Ummm, more importantly here I think are the gondolas!!! I know they may seem absurd but honestly, something like them are a good way to connect hill communities to lowlands communities. You see things like this all over Europe and South America (although usually called funiculars).
Heck ya Josh! In my drafting class in school I designed a gondola landing on top of what is now the brix on Capitol Hill which dropped down to S. Lake Union. How about that for transit?