The video of the July 27th Sound Transit Board Meeting typifies the actions of a transit organization willing to spend countless millions on projects that do nothing to increase transit ridership or reduce roadway congestion
In this case it’s their approach to delivering on the Sound Transit 3 proposal voters approved in 2016 for I-405 Bus Rapid Transit. They intend to spend hundreds of millions on a transit system that won't increase ridership or reduce I-405 congestion.
What voters approved was detailed as Key Attributes in a Sound Transit 3, July 1, 2016, ST3 Map. The 38-mile, 11 station route between Lynnwood and Burien was costed at $812--$869M (2014$) and was projected to have 15,000—18,000 riders when completed in 2024.
The ST3 Map Details PDF included a Key Attributes list of 20 Project Elements. it included a 600-stall parking garage at Kingsgate P&R, 200 stalls at NE 44th St in Renton, and a 700-stall garage at South Renton. That 34 coaches would be purchased with plans for 10-minute headways between trains during peak operation.
The Key Attributes also included the following as one of the 10 “Not Included” projects:
Operations and maintenance facility not included
Yet the Sound Transit Board in the July 27th meeting approved Resolution No. R2023-17 to spend $499,500.000 on a Bus Base North. The SR522 Stride adds 14 coaches to the 34 planned for I-405 BRT. Thus most of the facility's 120-bus capacity will be used by Snohomish Community Transit to service SCT buses. .
The meeting also included a Program Review detailing that what was promised in 2016 for 2024 will be delayed until Q3/2028 for S1 South and Q2/2029 for S2 North. That the I-405 portion, costed in 2016 as $812--$869M (2014$) had increased to $1,769M in 2023.
What was also not discussed in the July 27th meeting was the following as listed as “Not Included” in ST3
Operations beyond the I-405 and SR 518 BRT corridor
The ST3 map and Sound Transit Board version of I-405 BRT didn't include those currently riding ST560 from South Bellevue P&R to SeaTac with stops at Newport, Kennydale, and Renton T/Cs. Those using ST532 from Alderwood Mall and ST535 from Everett Station, South Everett, and Ash Way P&R to and from Bellevue T/C and route through downtown Bellevue were also not included.
The Board also chose to reject what was included in the ST3 map, the parking at Kingsgate, 44th St in Renton, and South Renton. Instead funding a $300M NE 85th station with no parking and millions to improve access to existing parking.
For example, the Board approved Motion No M2023-55 to provide up to $74.8M of up to $215.99M for WSOT to, “Design-Build Delivery of the I-405 BRT Brickyard to SR 527 improvement Project”. Yet, the station only has 443 stalls. Just part of $1,269M the Board authorized with Resolution No R23023-18. The lack of parking for access to I-405 BRT will limit ridership to a tiny fraction of the 15,000-18,000 claimed in 2016.
Any benefit from I-405 BRT travel time reduction from no longer stopping at some stations and improving access at others is dependent on the “Issues & Risks” in the 2016 ST3 Map Detailed PDF.
Relies on WSDOT to maintain adequate speed and reliability of I-405 express toll lane system
The problem being the WSDOT I-405 express toll lane system requires 2-person carpools transfer to GP lanes, or like SOV drivers, pay HOT fees to travel on one of two HOV lanes. The increased GP lane congestion increases the number of those willing to pay the fees. During peak commute, the large numbers of those willing to pay WSDOT's maximum $10 fee increases HOV travel times for those paying the fees and BRT buses. Especially between Bellevue and Renton where WSDOT 2-lane HOT lanes will leave only 2 GP lanes. The increased travel times dwarf any savings from Sound Transit improving access to stations as well as those paying the fees.
Both HOV and GP lane travel times could be reduced if WSDOT was "persuading" to limit HOT to one lane with fees raised to limit those willing to pay for faster commutes. (Typically limiting traffic to 2000 vehicles per hour assures 45mph) The additional lane reduces congestion for GP lane commuters.
The bottom line is the July 27th Sound Transit Board meeting was another example of incompetence. They approved plans to spend $500M on a Bus Base North that wasn’t included in ST 3 and its 120-bus capacity will be used primarily to maintain SCT buses. They refused to increase access by deleting the parking detailed in ST3 map PDF.
Instead. choosing to pay $74.8M as part of WSDOT plan to spend $216M to improve access to a Brickyard Station with 443 stalls and $300M on a NE 85th station with no stalls at all.Their I-405 BRT route doesn’t include Everett or SeaTac and many stops between with thousands of current riders.
Yet any potential I-405 travel time reduction will be dwarfed by the increased congestion if WSDOT implements HOT on 2 HOV lanes. If so, the ST/WSDOT I-405 debacle continues.
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