Mercer island Should Sue to Block Sound Transit Reserved Parking

The announcement “Sound Transit to Launch Permit parking Option on December 2” continues their apparent disdain for Mercer Island residents and commuters.  Prior to the Prop 1 vote Sound Transit assured islanders they would retain SOV access to I-90 Bridge outer roadway HOV to make up for the loss of the bridge center roadway.  That ended with Sound Transit promises of millions for “loss of mobility”.  It’s still not clear how much or where those funds were spent.

Sound Transit later decided to use Mercer Island as a terminus for I-90 corridor bus routes into Seattle.  That will result in the island light rail station being inundated with thousands of bus riders forced to transfer to and from light rail for commutes into and out of Seattle.  Those transferring at the station will reduce access for islanders with both likely having problems finding access during peak commute because of trains will be full before they ever reach island.

The latest example of Sound Transit ‘s Mercer Island disdain is their decision to inform residents on November 26 about plans to launch permit parking on the island.  They intend to do so with online sales beginning at 7:00 am Dec 2 on a first-come first-served basis.  The permits will be used to reserve half the stalls, cost $120 a month, and become active on Jan 2 2020.   

This is apparently the Mercer Island version of what was initially detailed in a December 7, 2017 Seattle Times article nearly two years ago.  

Reserved parking: Sound Transit looking at expanding paid parking permits to solo drivers

It was a follow-up to Sound Transit previously allowing carpools to reserve parking.  The carpool permits cost $5 a month.   Beginning in 2018, up to 50% of parking was to be permitted with fees projected to cost up to $90 a month based on the market-rate average of pay lots near the permitted stations.

Any revenue from the program beyond administrative cost coverage would fund access improvements in the communities where the money was collected.  Commuters would be required to use the parking 12 times a month to remain eligible.

At the time they were considering implementing the permits at nine different locations, none of which were on Mercer Island.  Sound Transit waited for nearly 2 years before giving Mercer Island one week’s notice their P&R would be “permitted”.

Again, the permits will be used to reserve half the stalls, cost $120 a month, and become active on Jan 2 2020. Sound Transit justified the $120 using “comparable costs” in Seattle rather than “where permitted”.  Meanwhile Issaquah fees will be $60 a month.  Sound Transit’s explanation is they base prices on proximity to Seattle.  Only Sound Transit would think those commuting the 5.5 miles from Mercer Island should pay for parking twice what those commuting the 15 miles from Issaquah were paying.

However, the most perverse example of Sound Transit antipathy is their decision to make the sale of the Mercer Island permits first-come, first serve.  Other I-90 corridor commuters have other parking options prior to Mercer Island.  Islanders have no other alternatives.  Thus they surely deserve to have priority for the permitted parking.  Sound Transit claims they can’t do so. 

The bottom line is it's way past time for the Mercer City council to end their feckless response to Sound Transit's mistreatments of residents and commuters.   They should sue to force Sound Transit to explain how they intend to spend the revenue to improve access to transit on the island.  That they justify the lack of advance notice, the higher permit fees, and their refusal to give islanders priority for permits. 

While it’s likely to be too late to stop Sound Transit from issuing the permits the suit can still stop them from using them to assure parking.  Islanders surely deserve it.