Bellevue City Council,
For more than 3 years I’ve been regularly addressing the
council regarding my concerns about East Link. I’ve done so in an effort to convince the council to refuse
to approve the 10 permits identified in Sound Transit 2008 DEIS
During that time I’ve explained in great detail how ST had
lied to the voters with their truly absurd claims in the DEIS that a 4-car
train every 9 minutes was like adding 10 lanes of freeway across the bridge
that would increase cross-lake capacity by 60%. I frankly didn’t believe anyone could possibly believe that
claim. Apparently I was
wrong.
The council ignored my claims that two-way bus lanes on the
center roadways would have 20 times light rail capacity, with access from all
east side P&R lots, 10 years sooner, at a fraction of the cost. You also ignored my
suggestion you hire your own consultants to evaluate these claims. Instead you persisted in totally
futile efforts to reroute light rail through Bellevue, which I said was like
arguing over which side of the Titanic was safer.
I’ve also explained how ST has lied with promises that
adding a 4th lane to the outer roadway for bus and HOV traffic will,
to quote the DEIS, “Travel times
across I-90 for vehicles and trucks would also improve or remain similar with
East Link”. I left the
council with pages from a 2004 FHWA document that concluded combining buses and
HOV traffic on a single lane reduced the capacity resulting in unacceptable
congestion. You apparently ignored
that conclusion.
I read recently where one of your constituents is faced with
the prospect of light rail literally dividing his back yard in two. Also that Bellevue is facing such dire
financial straits needed capital improvements have been delayed for years. At the same time the council is
agreeing to give ST 200 million to fund a tunnel. That truly is insane.
I have no idea what motivates the council to go along with
this debacle. I can only conclude
that nothing I say will make a difference. I’ve therefore decided to end my attempts to persuade
the council with the firm belief that in the end I will be vindicated. In 2016 when cross-lake commuters
experience the effects of ST shutting down the center roadway, they will not be
happy. When your constituents see
ST literally destroying a beautiful part of your city to install light rail and
5000 volt power lines, they will not be happy. When construction companies dig a huge trench through
downtown Bellevue, they will not be happy. What will really enrage them is after
7 years of this congestion and devastation they experience the miniscule
benefit from spending 5-6 billion on light rail.
I’ve spent the last three years explaining these facts to
the council. No one has disputed
any of them. Your refusal to use
the permitting process to stop it puts a whole new meaning to the term
malfeasance.
Bill Hirt
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