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1

Now if only there was a solution to our transit problem, like, now and not 20 years from now...

Posted by Bus Bitch | September 10, 2008 1:30 PM
2

Now if only there was a solution to our transit problem, like, now and not 20 years from now...

It's exactly that kind of thinking that's gotten us into this mess in the first place.

And anyway, there's a ton of immediate additional bus service that comes along with Prop. 1.

Posted by Martin H. Duke | September 10, 2008 1:46 PM
3

I saw the map of their plan, and it looks like it's mostly designed to serve long-distance commuters in the exurban sprawl. Do we want to subsidize long-distance commuting and sprawl? I think not. I'd rather see a plan that helps us get around town than around the sound.

Posted by Brendan | September 10, 2008 2:09 PM
4

@3 The sprawl is already there whether you like it or not, and judging by all the new construction I'm still seeing in the exurbs, it's going to get a lot worse before it gets better. The question you should be asking is, "Do I want those long-distance commuters driving single-occupancy vehicles to work every day, or do I want them utilizing transit options?" Personally, I'd rather get those cars off the road.

Posted by Hernandez | September 10, 2008 2:25 PM
5

#1 and #3, you have come to this discussion about 38 years too late. Please educate yourselves before we continue.

Posted by Greg | September 10, 2008 2:34 PM
6

@3: They call it "Regional Transit" because it connects major population and business centers in this region--it's not a local system designed to get people from Ballard to the U District.

Posted by J.R. | September 10, 2008 3:51 PM
7

Brendan @3: I saw the map of their plan, and it looks like it's mostly designed to serve long-distance commuters in the exurban sprawl. Do we want to subsidize long-distance commuting and sprawl? I think not.

Brendan, sounds like your understanding of urban planning is comparable to Sarah Palin's understanding of foreign policy.

My "elitist" argument aside, though, where are these exurbs of which you speak? Downtown Bellevue, the Microsoft campus, Northgate, Federal Way? Maybe if we just stop light rail expansion, we can stop thousands of people from commuting to work in Redmond? Oh, never mind. I think that would require a time machine.

Y'know, the same Brendans types who are griping now that Sound Transit is too regional were probably griping earlier this decade that the Seattle monorail wasn't regional enough.

Posted by cressona | September 10, 2008 4:49 PM
8

They finally layed it all out for us. GOOD!

Posted by AJ | September 10, 2008 7:11 PM
9

@7,

Stop the presses - I agree with Cressona 100%. Suburban cities aren't the exurbs.

While I'd like better local mass transit, that was never Sound Transit's mission (and, I would argue, where ST went wrong was when they decided to turn light rail into a project that was more oriented toward encouraging development in Seattle than meeting regional transit demand, but I digress).

Now if ST were going to Arlington, Monroe, North Bend, Black Diamond, Maple Valley, et al, that'd be different. That said, if you want people from the aforementioned areas to use rail once it gets to their nearest suburban city - you're gonna need park-and-ride facilities or they'll just drive all the way to their destination (and I suspect Cressona and I will part ways here!).

Posted by Mr. X | September 10, 2008 9:26 PM
10

"No transit system anywhere fully funds its operations"

That is not true. Transit systems in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong turn a profit. They have much more transit-oriented development than the US will ever have, of course.

Posted by Christopher | September 10, 2008 9:31 PM
11

Strange.

I was there, behind ECB, and this doesn't represent the gist of the questions.

But, hey, reality is all about cynicism in a McCain/Bush/Palin kind of world, right?

Posted by Will in Seattle | September 10, 2008 11:29 PM
12

@5. Too bad you'll be dead before light rail even scratches the ass neck of the transit problem in this city.

Posted by Bus Bitch | September 11, 2008 8:20 AM
13

@12. We need to start being a little less selfish and more forward thinking. It's not JUST about us but about the future of the Seattle region.

Posted by jKc | September 11, 2008 10:29 AM
14

AMEN @13!!

Stop being selfish and think about the future...

Posted by Kelsey | September 11, 2008 10:52 AM

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