As Eli mentioned in the morning news, Republican gubernatorial wannabe and longtime light rail opponent Rob McKenna described himself yesterday as a "deep, deep skeptic of bringing light rail across I-90," suggesting that "the only way out ... is another public vote." But McKenna continued:

"You've got admit that Greg Nickels and company were very clever in putting that very first ballot measure out in '98 that said "Should we have light rail?" Remember that? And the voters said "Why yes, we should," not knowing that much about it.

And so we've been moving forward inexorably ever since. We've lost the key battles in terms of what should be done. I find it it kind of sadly ironic that they're putting in bus rapid transit right now, but of course it's underfunded because so much of the money's being soaked up by a couple of pet projects that are mostly going to carry former bus riders."

As it so happens, I had coffee with former Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels this morning, and he rolled his eyes at the mention of McKenna's comment:

"I am proud to be the person that he blames for light rail," said Nickels. "It's already carrying 25,000 people a day in an initial line. When Capitol Hill and University open up there are going to be thousands more. When it gets to Northgate and Bellevue and Federal Way it's going to carry 130,000-140,000 people a day.

"I'm really proud of that," Nickels reiterated. "That's a legacy that I'll take the blame for any day."