Seattle Times Abets ST 2nd Tunnel Stupidity

The Seattle Times Traffic Lab article “Rolling in the Deep" typifies the paper’s failure to recognize the Sound Transit’s transit system debacle. First, that the $54 billion ST3 voters passed in 2016 has now increased to $138 billion. What was to be completed in 2041 will now take until 2046 with taxes extending for decades beyond. 

The Times claim “the 62 miles of light rail in three counties “serving three-quarters of a million daily trips” ignores Sound Transit’s continuing their decade-long failure to add parking for access to transit and recognition that light rail extensions do nothing to increase DSTT capacity. The Northgate Link debut’s ridership, a fraction of their predicted “42,000 to 49,000 added by the Link’s three stations,” demonstrated the results of that failure. 

The Times claims, “The new tunnel’s mission is to boost capacity, so that combined with the existing tunnel, light rail could carry as many as 48,000 passengers.”  They ignored a 2004 PSRC study, funded by Sound Transit, conclusion the existing tunnel was limited by DSTT to 8880 riders in each direction: leaving 39,000 for new tunnel, beyond optimistic to delusional.  

What’s needed is not a new tunnel but a recognition that the DSTT should have been used for the Ballard to West Seattle extensions and from the UW Stadium station to SeaTac, not for the light rail spine. Current and future extensions to Northgate, Angel Lake and beyond do nothing to increase capacity, reduce access to riders during peak commute, and needlessly increase operating costs, especially during off-peak operation.  

Rather than add further extensions, Sound Transit should implement BRT routes into Seattle from stations along I-5 from Everett to Tacoma. Terminate East Link trains prior to entering DSTT and implement BRT on I-90 Bridge to accommodate I-90 corridor commuters. Facilitate access to I-5 and I-90 BRT routes by diverting light rail extension funding to add parking and local bus routes to existing and new bus stations. Allow commuters to pay to reserve parking or for local bus routes from near where the live to stations and ride free into and out of Seattle. 

Facilitate the BRT routes on I-5 and I-90 with HOT fees set on HOV lanes to limit traffic to the 2000 vehicles per hour required to assure 45 mph lanes. Facilitate egress and access in Seattle with an elongated T/C along a bus-only 4th Ave. Riding free will facilitate both. 

The bottom line is the January 24th article continues a decade of Seattle Times failure to recognize Sound Transit incompetence. That the DSTT doesn’t have the capacity to accommodate peak commute rides on I-5 and I-90 into and out of Seattle. However, there is no need for a second tunnel. Use the DSTT for light rail from Ballard to West Seattle and from UW or Northgate to SeaTac or Angel Lake. Terminate East Link before DSTT for light rail commutes to Bellevue and beyond and implement BRT into Seattle for I-90 corridor commuters.