Seattle Times Response to ST “Transit Development Plan 2020-2025

 

The Seattle Times Sept 2 Editorial, “Speak Up on Sound Transit Plans” typifies the paper’s failure to acknowledge ST incompetence. The editorial opines::

 

“The comment period will provide an opportunity for a broad conversation about transit plans going forward, as Sound Transit decides which projects to delay and possibly shelve”.

 

The editorial concludes:

 

“Concerned residents should review and comment on what’s in the works’.   Consider it the start of a vital, regional discussion”.

 

The Times apparently believes that after more than a decade of failing to urge Sound Transit be audited, a 30 minute comment period regarding their Transit Development Plan 2020-2025 will end Sound Transit incompetence.  

 

The paper neglects to mention those wanting to comment will have to go to the Sound Transit Sign Up window at 8:00 a.m.  That they will be called in the order they signed up.  That the 30 minute comment period will severely limit either the time each commenter will have or the number of those able to comment.

 

The Times still doesn’t recognize Sound Transit’s real problem contending:

 

 “The promised spine linking Everett, Seattle, and Tacoma must be completed”.    

 

The rationale being:

 

 “The needs of outlying areas that paid heavily into the system with little investment in return”.  

 

The paper apparently doesn’t recognize the DSTT limited light rail capacity to where the riders added by the extensions beyond UW and Angel Lake will reduce access to current Link Light rail riders, potentially ending access during peak commute.  

 

The editorial suggests:

 

Substantial revisions to Sound Transit’s work plan, including the current mix of rail and buses, may be needed

 

Apparent “may be needed” regarding buses is the paper’s response to the TPD reducing ST Express annual Revenue Vehicle Miles from 16.5 million in 2019 to 8.2 million in 2025 and bus passenger trips from 17.5 million to 8.0 million.  If the Times really wanted to help “outlying areas” they would have urged Sound Transit add thousands of parking stalls with access to added ST express bus routes into Seattle. 

 

Sound Transit doesn’t even add parking with access at light rail stations.  Choosing instead to use Link Light Rail to replace current ST express bus routes into Seattle.  Ending the bus routes will reduce transit capacity into Seattle, do little to reduce I-5 congestion, and reduce access for current Link riders. 

 

The bottom line is the Seattle Times has spent the last decade abiding if not abetting Sound Transit incompetence.  For years the “Traffic Lab” has been the Seattle Times project that digs into the region’s thorny transportation issues.  The editorial attempt to make up for their failure by urging “concerned residents” to respond to a 30-minute TPD comment period is absurd.