Bellevue Patch Interview

(I was unable to complete what I had intended to say during my Bellevue Patch radio interview so am posting it)

I’m a retired Boeing engineer whose only previous elective office was president of 25 class-of-‘57 seniors in Armstrong, Iowa.  I’m here today to attract listeners to my blog “stopeastlinknow.blogspot.com.  It’s my attempt to inform voters about the devastating effect of the Bellevue City Council’s East Link agreement with Sound Transit. The council could have used the permitting process and the fact eastside taxes provide more than enough funds to insist on whatever light rail route they preferred. 

For example they could have demanded ST tunnel from 1-90 through the city to the Hospital area as they recently agreed to do with their Northgate extension.  Or they could have demanded ST consider BRT through the city and across I-90 Bridge.  Either option would have eliminated the devastation to the city from construction and subsequent operation of light rail.  ST not only refused to even consider either option, they demanded the council agree to pay for half a tunnel under downtown area.

The council not only acceded to this extortion, their recent agreement allows ST to proceed with plans to spend billions installing a light rail system that will devastate parts of the city, disrupt commuters throughout the east side, do nothing for I-405 and I-90 congestion, and increase rather than decrease cross-lake congestion.

Listeners need to recognize that, for a fraction of light rails cost, ST could have moved non-transit HOV to 4^th lanes on the outer roadways 15 years ago and initiated BRT service on the center roadway.  Its far greater capacity and access from every east side P&R could have attracted additional transit riders and reduced congestion throughout the area.  It’s still not to late to do so.  That’s why I’m here today.