I was pleased to read in the papers that Build a Better
Bellevue was suing to block East Link on environmental grounds. This should be an easy suit to
win. Section 4(f) of the
Department of Transportation Act (23 United States Code Sec.138) protects parks
and recreation areas, historic sites, and waterfowl and wildlife refuges that
may be affected by a project with U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)
involvement. Under the law, the
Secretary of Transportation cannot approve a transportation project that uses
or adversely affects such properties unless (1) there is no feasible and
prudent alternative, and (2) the project minimizes the impacts as much as
possible.
Sound Transit admits that East Link encroaches on the Mercer
Slough Nature Park. It’s important
to note all of the configurations ST considered for Segment B south of Bellevue
also encroached. The BBB proposal
to tunnel from the South Bellevue P&R though downtown does not encroach and
is surely feasible. Sound Transit
may argue that it’s not prudent because of the additional cost, as least in
their estimation.
The surest way to stop East Link’s devastation of the park
as well as the Bellevue residential area along the current route is to offer a
“no-build” alternative to light rail.
The 1-90 center roadway is ideal for inboard and outboard bus rapid transit
(BRT). The HOV traffic could be
moved to a 4th lane on the outer roadway allowing more than 12 buses
per minute to use the center roadway.
The lanes would have more than enough capacity for both current bus
routes and additional express buses serving the entire eastside. BRT capacity would dwarf
light rail’s and it would be accessible from every eastside P&R not just
the South Bellevue P&R. No one could possible rationalize BRT is not both "feasible" and "prudent".
The Sound Transit spokesman commented that all of the
organization’s public involvement on route selection led him to conclude: “We
are confident our process was compliant with the federal process and went above
and beyond”. All the public
involvement in the world doesn’t change the fact it “violates” the law.
I wasn’t surprised the Bellevue City Council avoided
commenting on the issue. Three years ago I raised this issue in
one there “extended sessions”. They simply ignored it as they did with all my
other East Link concerns.
In conclusion I urge the BBB to offer the BRT solution as
the “feasible and prudent” alternative to East Link rather than the
tunnel. Commuters throughout the
eastside would benefit.
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