(I took a week off to visit Disneyland with the grand daughters)
This post is the first of several I intend to add to this blog over the next few weeks identifying those most responsible for allowing Sound Transit to proceed with the Prop 1 light rail extension debacle.
This post is the first of several I intend to add to this blog over the next few weeks identifying those most responsible for allowing Sound Transit to proceed with the Prop 1 light rail extension debacle.
Light Rail Hall of Shame,
Sound Transit has spent $2-4 billion over the
last five years as a “down payment” tor the $18.7 billion (2007$) Prop 1 light
rail extensions to Central Link voters approved Prop 1 in 2008. If allowed to continue over the next
ten years the result will set a new standard for mass transit mismanagement. The East Link extension will never have
sufficient capacity to meet cross-lake commuter needs at the same time the
capacity of the Central Link extensions to Lynnwood and Federal Way will dwarf
any rational ridership prediction.
East Link confiscation of the I-90 bridge
center roadway will result in inevitable gridlock on the bridge outer roadways.
Central Link operation will not only create a huge debt for construction and
start-up costs, its operating deficits will result in a perpetual “black hole”
for the area’s transportation funds.
What is truly “remarkable” is “everyone” is
obsessed with the need to do something about Metro’s current need for an
additional $75 million annually to avoid large cuts in service. At the same time no one seems concerned
with ST plans to spend nearly $20 billion over the next ten years on light rail
extensions that will do absolutely nothing to reduce the area’s congestion,
purported to be the 4th worst in the country.
This debacle can still be stopped. Two-way bus only lanes could be
operational on the I-90 Bridge center roadway in less than two years at a
fraction of light rail cost with bus routes that could easily meet cross-lake transit
capacity needs and reduce congestion throughout east side. Central Link could be limited to
light rail between a T/C at the University and SeaTac with improved access to the
Tukwila station.
Doing so would create a cost-effective “trunk
line” that would fully utilize the limited capacity of light rail in Seattle (i.e.
a 4-car train every 4 minutes).
The Lynnwood and Federal Way extensions would be replaced with less
expensive bus routes with shorter commute times than light rail and schedules
easily adjusted to meet local demand. ( It would also avoid the obvious insanity of Lynnwood
having twice the number of trains as the entire eastside.)
Unfortunately that’s not likely to happen since
“everyone” seems perfectly willing to go along with if not actively support ST
current plans. Thus “everyone”
will “share” the blame freeing those primarily responsible for the ultimate
debacle of any real rebuke. This
post is intended to clearly identify those most culpable for the debacle that
awaits the area. I call it the
“Seattle Light Rail Hall of Shame”.
It’s not as if the “inductees” aren’t aware of
the concerns. But, as the saying
goes “You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make them drink”. All have been “led to the
water” countless times by emails referring them to nearly all of the posts on
the blog. The result has varied
from 100-400 views a week totaling over 17,000 since the blog began. The large number of page views suggests the blog’s
“audience”, largely limited to those having an impact on transportation issues,
knew or should have known of Prop I problems. The fact they chose to “ignore the problems” rather than use
their position to “speak out about them” surely qualifies them for the “Hall of
Shame”.
The first “inductee” is the one person most
directly responsible for the current Sound Transit operation, Dow Constantine,
the King County Executive. He
appoints the Sound Transit Board members tasked with providing guidance to
those responsible for ST current operations and for the
implementation of new transportation projects. The “public” has very little
influence over how the board members approve plans to spend the 10% of the areas
sales tax they get each year along with funds from other sources. Also the board is apparently under no
constraint to have expenditures match revenue. (Contrary to King County Metro)
It’s not clear what Constantine requires in
terms of qualifications for the appointees. Any board member surely has a responsibility to understand
the basics of the operation they are “directing”. Transportation board members
should understand the basics of what is required to meet transportation goals
such as capacity and operating costs.
The issues are not that complex or difficult to understand. Like board members in countless publicly
held companies they also have an obligation to represent the best interests of
those owning stock in the company.
When “stockholders” (i.e constituents) raise concerns they have a
responsibility to respond.
For nearly 2 years the Sound Transit Board members
have failed to respond to countless emails concerning problems with the Sound
Transit Prop 1 extensions detailed in other posts on this blog. Its only fitting they “join” Dow
Constantine as initial “inductees” in the Sound Transit Hall of Shame. They are:
Paul Roberts, Councilmember, City Of Everett
Marilyn Strickland, Mayor, City of Tacome
Claudia Balducci, Mayor, City of Bellevue
Fred Butler, Mayor City of Issaquah
Dave Earling, Mayor, City of Edmonds
Dave Enslow, Mayor City of Sumner,
John Lovick, Snohomish County Executive
John Marchione, Mayor, City of Redmond
Pat McCarthy, Pierce County Executive
Joe McDermott, King County Councilmember
Mary Moss, Councilmember, City of Lakewood
Ed Murray, Mayor, City of Seattle
Mike O’Brien, Councilmember, City of Seattle
Lynn Peterson, Secretary of WSDOT
Larry Phillips, King County Councilmember
Dave Upthegrove, King County Councilmember
Pete von Reichbauer, King County Councilmember
All of the board members, except for Lynn
Peterson are leaders in the various communities that elected them. Their
collective failure to represent their constituent’s best interests when it
comes to overseeing Sound Transits mass transit plans is unconscionable.
Some members rate higher on the “Shame
List”. For example Lynn Peterson’s
position as the Secretary of WSDOT surely makes her most responsible for
providing guidance about the basics of what makes an effective transportation
system. While she is a relatively
new member, her willingness to go along with Dow Constantine is worthy of
special mention.
Claudia Balducci and Fred Butler, the Bellevue
and Issaquah mayors are also
worthy of special mention for their willingness to go along with an East Link
light rail system that will result in perpetual gridlock for their constituents who are cross-lake
commuters. Balducci’s position as chair
of the Transportation Policy Board that advises the Puget Sound Regional Council
Executive Board on “key transportation issues” makes her even more culpable.
The four county council members are also extra
“shameful”. They recently asked
voters to approve another burdensome tax and fee increase primarily to provide
the $75 million Metro needs to avoid drastic service cuts. However, they apparently have no
objections to ST spending $20 billion over the next ten years on Prop 1
extensions that will do absolutely nothing to relieve congestion. One would have thought Ed Murray, the
new Seattle Mayor would have similar concerns.
In conclusion, the consequences of the board’s
past failure to “guide” ST policies pales in comparison to the debacle that
awaits the area if ST proceeds with the current plan. All it takes to stop it is for a single board member to play
the role of the little girl in the fable “The Emperor’s New Clothes” who alerts
the “village” about the “weavers” and the “wise men” who went along with
them. The entire area would be in
their debt.
No comments:
Post a Comment