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Monday, April 20, 2009

At Large Why I'm Looking Forward to Light Rail Opening On July 18

Posted by Dan Savage on Mon, Apr 20, 2009 at 3:45 PM

Because it means I'll never have to see this again:

Comments (44) RSS

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That's just the cool tax and only cool people pay the cool tax. It's also collected in parking garages.

It's never EVER collected on transit for obvious reasons.

Posted by Baconcat on April 20, 2009 at 3:50 PM

I know you know this, but there is no reason you "have" to see that ever, even now. Between Shuttle Express, the 194, and friends, paying $45 for a ride to the airport is not a necessity.

Posted by Levislade on April 20, 2009 at 3:54 PM

Shuttle Express is no THAT much cheaper than a cab ride. And it often takes you on a tour of the entire county before you get to your home/terminal.

Posted by ship yards on April 20, 2009 at 4:01 PM

Ahh, July 18. The day my rides to the airport become slower and more expensive. I'll miss you, route 194.

Posted by joykiller on April 20, 2009 at 4:01 PM

@2 - um, it doesn't run late enough, sometimes when you get in late and eventually pick up the bags, the bus drops you off downtown after all the bus lines have stopped running.

Posted by Will in Seattle on April 20, 2009 at 4:02 PM

Also, hate to be a total killjoy, but light rail opens to Tukwila on 7/18. Service to Sea-Tac is still a few months after that.

Posted by joykiller on April 20, 2009 at 4:02 PM

The 194 has always been a joy.

Waiting in the rain-free bus tunnel, hoping on the 194, and then zooming to the airport, and then walking to the door just 40 feet away.

Posted by stinkbug on April 20, 2009 at 4:04 PM

I loved the part where the 194 burst into flames.

Fire beats electricity any day of the week!

Posted by Baconcat on April 20, 2009 at 4:08 PM

The 194 is the best thing ever -- it will be a sad day when it goes away, even if Dan "I don't ride buses" Savage never used it. It's faster and cheaper than the train will be, although as Will points out, it doesn't run late enough at night and the 174 is really no alternative.

As far as July 18th goes, I am sure we will be regaled with some douchebaggy post from Dan bitching about the bus shuttle service between Tukwila and the airport.

Posted by Good Grief on April 20, 2009 at 4:11 PM

Or you could never see that again NOW by taking the bus. The 194 is pretty good really.

Posted by Hunter on April 20, 2009 at 4:12 PM

Oh Dan, you'll always be the $45 Airport Troll to me.

Posted by mrbanana on April 20, 2009 at 4:12 PM

maybe if you were nicer...people would be willing to pick you up at the airport.

Posted by datajunkie on April 20, 2009 at 4:15 PM

getting there on the 194 is peachy... it's the rides BACK from the airport at 11:59PM that I'd prefer not to ever expierence again.

fuckin damn busriding thugs ain't ever ever gonna get on the light rail tho...

Posted by train looking for thug on April 20, 2009 at 4:16 PM

@5 the bus drops you off downtown after all the bus lines have stopped running.

The #82 leaves 4th and Univ. and heads towards your Fremont at 2:15am and 3:30am every night/morning.

Posted by stinkbug on April 20, 2009 at 4:17 PM

I've always enjoyed taking the 194....agreed that having to take the 174 back when my plane arrives after 9pm is no joy, but it's sure better than taking a cab. Anyone who chooses to pay $45 for a cab when there is a perfectly good alternative has no valid complaint.

Posted by genevieve on April 20, 2009 at 4:23 PM

Shuttle Express blows. Not fast, not direct, not inexpensive. I'd rather take the 194 or the Airporter.

Posted by Lloyd Clydesdale on April 20, 2009 at 4:24 PM

@14 - you ever waited for a bus there at that time? With luggage?

Yeah, thought so.

Posted by Will in Seattle on April 20, 2009 at 4:25 PM

So is it confirmed that Metro is decommissioning route 194 on July 18, or are you guys just rumor-mongering like all good commenters? If the former, does anyone have a link to a press release to that effect?

Posted by shub-negrorath on April 20, 2009 at 4:25 PM

@18: No, it is not confirmed, but Metro has proposed ending the route in 2/10. For details:

http://www.seattlepi.com/transportation/…

@17: Yes, I have been there with luggage at that time. But for me luggage = a backpack.

Posted by stinkbug on April 20, 2009 at 4:29 PM

Nevermind y'all, I found it: http://www.seattlepi.com/transportation/…

The proposal hasn't been approved, but if it is, the 194 would be discontinued in Feb of 2010—after light rail service all the way to SeaTac has started (in theory).

Posted by shub-negrorath on April 20, 2009 at 4:32 PM

Did anyone know that the 194 is currently on reroute through SoDo until June and has been since March? And that it will be on extended reroute from 2010 through the end of construction on the South End of the viaduct?

Probably not.

Posted by Baconcat on April 20, 2009 at 4:33 PM

(Or rather, busway buses come february!)

Posted by Baconcat on April 20, 2009 at 4:33 PM

@23 Do you really think any of us has been out of seattle in months if not years? c'mon. we're just yappin and shattin. it's what we do.

Posted by mrbanana on April 20, 2009 at 4:37 PM

ooooooops

Posted by mrbanana on April 20, 2009 at 4:38 PM

What, you can't expense the fare?

Posted by jmc_in_nyc on April 20, 2009 at 4:41 PM

Yes, because of all those homeys down the Valley running the line to SEATAC to catch the red eye to NYC, I can see it now.

I guess it didn't occur to you this train runs no where near the people who will actually need it?

Posted by Stupid White Man on April 20, 2009 at 4:41 PM

It's some sort of guess-your-age machine.

Posted by gloomy gus on April 20, 2009 at 4:43 PM

I've written to Metro/ST asking to not cancel the current schedule of #194--I suggest you all do the same if you love it as much. It is a good, cheap faster than light rail (10 minutes faster, plus the bus stop is directly in front of the terminal vs. a 5 minute walk from Seatac LINK station) way to take to to the airport in general--coming back after 9p on that 174 is lousy though. I think there would probably still be enough money in the budget to retain it, perhaps lessening its frequency during peak times since the peak traffic would make lessen its efficacy, but to get rid of the 194 as a was to (minimally perhaps?) boost LINK's post 9pm numbers is just plane mean.

Posted by same smith on April 20, 2009 at 5:18 PM

call Crown Towncars, $25-30 flat and you get to look pimpin'

Posted by Can I take a picture of that so I can bitch about it? on April 20, 2009 at 5:31 PM

There's not much room on the new trains for luggage.

Posted by six shooter on April 20, 2009 at 6:02 PM

but everyone: the 194 isn't a train. so obviously it must be awful.

Posted by josh on April 20, 2009 at 7:38 PM

I do not see Dan schlepping all his bags on the train instead of the bus. If the 194 stops, all the same people he doesn't want to be around will be on the train next to him. I get the feeling he is a door to door kind of guy. Maybe he will eventually be ok with that.
Also, you would think that after living here for so long, he would have plenty of people to trade airport rides with.

Posted by seattle bike guy on April 20, 2009 at 7:55 PM

Come on people, you don't get it. While Dan may be a good advocate (sometimes misguided) for bike and transit folks, he makes too much money with the book deals, speaking engagements etc. to take public transit in Seattle to the airport. He's the owner of a nice house on CH, has a son and is constantly traveling. He can dispute this by releasing some tax info, but he is rich (fucking) compared to most of the commenters here.

Posted by don't you people get it? on April 20, 2009 at 8:03 PM

@17 - Why the hell are you timing your arrivals so that you get there at midnight? I mean, are you saving money on the airfare? Because if you're forced to take a cab, why not just pay to arrive before midnight?

Dan, quit showboating and trolling.

Posted by STJA on April 20, 2009 at 8:10 PM

If Dan can't be bothered with the 194, I have my doubts that he can be bothered with the light rail.

Posted by Matt from Denver on April 20, 2009 at 8:27 PM

Isn't always getting a ride to the airport the reason why gay activists are fighting for same-sex marriage?

Also to have someone let the dog out in the middle of the night.

Posted by Thanks honey. I'll make it up to you. on April 20, 2009 at 9:22 PM

Dan doesn't really give a shit about the $45 fare. Like all syndicated columnists, traveling speakers, and TV wonks, he certainly has an expense account.

Posted by Mahtli69 on April 20, 2009 at 10:53 PM

@6 - it might be longer than few months. Sound Transit's website, which used to say the airport extension would be open in September, now says it will add, "a 1.7-mile extension to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport by the end of that year (2009)." http://www.soundtransit.org/x1171.xml

Posted by (un)expected delay on April 20, 2009 at 11:14 PM

Christ, you people are bitchy.

Light rail to the airport is gonna be AWESOME.

Posted by violet_dagrinder on April 20, 2009 at 11:45 PM

It's too bad nobody loves you enough to give you a ride to / from the airport at midnight, Dan.

Posted by Greg on April 21, 2009 at 6:22 AM

God, I hate the 194. I have to take it to get home and am SICK of having to ride with all the drunks, obnoxious smells, and everybody's freaking huge pieces of luggage (holiday weekends are a BLAST!!!). I just want to get home in peace and quiet. I cannot WAIT until light rail starts up, even if I have to drive to the station. Of course, I will still have to ride with all the same people and their luggage…

@38 – originally the Seatac-Seattle route was to start up “Spring 2009”. And then the web site dropped the “Spring” and said just that it was starting up [sometime in] 2009. Thank God they’ve finally figured it out.

Posted by Allyn on April 21, 2009 at 9:03 AM

I've found that taking the 194 TO the airport works great, but a cab home from the airport is well worth the $40-odd bucks, because I don't want to transfer downtown, or ride the 174 ever, or deal with shuttle express driving me from hell to breakfast for 75% of the cost of a cab. Maybe light rail will be better, maybe I'll still be grabbing a cab at 1am on sunday morning because fuck a bunch of hour long loser cruiser rides.

Posted by boogerhead on April 21, 2009 at 10:40 AM

Jeezus Dan - why do you insist on bitching about something you choose consciously every time you go to the airport. Find a friend w/ a car, take a bus or STFU.

Posted by STFUaboutItAlready on April 21, 2009 at 11:30 AM

I don't get the people who keep claiming the 194 is cheaper than light rail will be. The fare is exactly the same. Do you guys just randomly make stuff up when you're not sure, or what?

I'm hoping the 194 continues running after light rail starts. The more transit options the better, as far as I'm concerned!

Posted by Geni on April 21, 2009 at 4:06 PM