ST Ballard Link Bus/Train Transfer Incompetence

The previous post detailed the absurdity of Sound Transit plans next year to use Starter Line to replace ST550 routes from Bellevue to South Bellevue P&R and Lynnwood extension to replace ST510 and STC 400 riders into Seattle.  This post details how Sound Transit plans to require King County Metro riders transfer to Ballard Link for their commute into and out of Seattle carry that incompetence to a whole new level. 

The July 13^th Sound Transit System Expansion Committee meeting agenda included the following as Reports to the Committee:

a.                  Ballard Link Extension-Denny Station Status Report 

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The Public Comment period earlier in the agenda was largely used to express opposition to Sound Transit current plans for Denny Station that required closing Westlake to traffic for four years. Sound Transit’s presentation concluded with a decision to shift Denny Station west, leaving Westlake Ave substantially open and a $440M cost savings due to consolidation of Denny and Harrison Stations.

That additional studies were needed to assess the Performance, (ridership, transit integration and passenger experience) for what was called the South Lake Union Station (SLUS).  The additional ridership assessment included Sound Transit’s decision to use bus-rail transfers to provide 32% of total boardings at station. That 80% of all bus-rail transfers were from E-Line, Route 5, Route 62, and Route 8/11.  Presumably meaning they intended to terminate those four routes as well as those that made up the other 20% at SLUS. 

Thus, all those riding on E-Line from Aurora Village, Route 5 from Shoreline Community College, or Route 62 from Sand Point and Route 8/11 from Seattle Center through Madison Park, or all those on the remaining 20% would all be forced to transfer to Ballard Link for the commute into and out of downtown Seattle.  

Presumably all those on the routes beyond SLUS would lose access to bus routes into Seattle.  Those forced to transfer would be limited to new Westlake Station for egress and access rather than the choice of multiple stops in Seattle.  A clear recipe for fewer transit riders into and out of Seattle.

The bottom line is the video of the July 13^th System Expansion Committee meeting exemplifies a Sound Transit and Board that fails to recognize forcing commuters to transfer to and from light rail is a disincentive for public transit.  They’ve ignored Northgate Link results that demonstrated that reality.  The East Link debut which would have confirmed those results this year in June has been delayed for two years.  Thus, it will take until next year’s Starter Link and Lynnwood Link debut to demonstrate that result. 

 

Another demonstration of  Sound Transit and Board incompetence