Seattle's port races have been some of the most hotly contested, and best funded, in the November 6th election. Observers of the Port of Seattle say first-term commissioner Alec Fisken brought a new level of openness to port business. While in office, Fisken has criticized the port for holding too many closed meetings, and for what he says are wasteful projects. Now he's facing a well-funded opponent, Bill Bryant, who says he'll be a consensus builder rather than a critic. KUOW's Amy Radil has this report.

Say no, then reorganize public transportation system Seattle Post Intelligencer - 39 minutes ago By SCOTT PRESTON It would be to the betterment of the Puget Sound region if voters voted against Proposition 1 on Tuesday. Then, they should ask their ...

On the eve of Seattle hosting hundreds of mayors who have taken up the challenge of stopping global warming, the Sierra Club is launching a television ad about how RTID/Proposition 1 will worsen climate change. ...

In a post on The News Tribune blog, Andrew Austin remarks that:

“The Downtown BIA blog reports that some business owners think Sound Transit should start charging for the Tacoma LINK citing that it is a source of late night crime that negatively effects downtown businesses.”

“It is easy for business folks to hop on and off without working about change and it opens it up for everyone to use (including families and college students). Also it is such a short route it seems that having a 1.50$ fee (what Pierce Transit charges for local routes) would not be very viable. I have never felt unsafe on the link, but what are your thoughts? Do you see it as a source of crime? Do you ever feel unsafe riding at night? Do you think it helps business by bringing people downtown or hurt it due to increased crime?”

People are asking the question, here, in Portland, and elsewhere- is there a link between increased crime and light rail?

Does it facilitate crime to offer a “free-ride” zone by allowing free passage with no financial impact to those who might want to get around quickly for less-than-honest reasons?

In a Seattle Times article by Mike Lindblom titled: “Just One Piece in the 520 Puzzle“, the tax structure is shown that would be required to fund the replacement of the bridge, which, according to the Times, is not fully funded by the RTID/ST2 tax proposal.

” Ballot issue would only partially fund a new span. lots more money-and agreement on a new design- still would be needed.”

The times’ graphic shows that in addition to funds contirbuted by Prop 1, 1.2 Billion in tolls would be required, plus a state “pool” for future road budgets, “to be shared between 520 and Alaskan Way Viaduct projects”.

In addition, $560 Million in state gas taxes would be required:

“money already earmarked from 2003 and 2005 gas taxes”

“$200 million in Federal Transit Administration funds- some of the region’s annual federal money could be steered to 520 in the future, instead of to other local transit services”

$200 million- Financial savings- “federal and state financing programs may reduce interest payments”

$140 Million- sales-tax discount- “rebate of sales taxes paid on construction costs”

$110 Million- federal bridge funds- “future allotment from Washington state’s share of annual bridge money

Folks, shouldn’t we be replacing the 520 bridge and the Alaskan Way Viaduct first, before we ask folks to pony up for an expensive light rail system?

See a statement by Rosemarie Ives regarding the recent mailing by Sound Transit re: the funding of 520:

“Vulnerable bridges would be replaced in the RTID [roads] plan, including the SR 520 bridge, the SR 9 bridge over the Snohomish River, and Seattle’s South Park Bridge,” says a recent mailing funded by Sound Transit.

Redmond Mayor Rosemarie Ives said, “That language is not accurate,” because it leads people to believe passage of the proposition would fully fund a floating bridge. A mailing from the “yes” campaign is more restrained, saying the measure “provides funds toward replacing the SR-520 bridge, with HOV lanes and a bike lane.”

“Senate Transportation Committee Chairwoman Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island, said if Proposition 1 fails, there will be pressure to consider something really distasteful: a toll on the old 520 bridge.”

Folks, there will likely be a toll on 520 whether or not the RTID/ST2 tax package passes.

“Also, some transit fans might reopen debate about running light rail across a new 520 bridge, instead of on I-90, where Proposition 1 calls for a Sound Transit light-rail line. “

That’s a whole other can of worms. Critics of Sound Transit’s ST2 alignment have brought up the question of why the population and job centers of north Seattle and Redmond (Microsoft) have not been linked more directly by directing the light rail line over 520, especially since the bridge needs replacing anyway.

Additionally, there is real concern about the I-90 corridor alignment traversing across a known major earthquake fault and coming to a known liquefaction zone in the event of a major earthquake.

According to a Sound Transit study, the I-90 corrdior is safe, but the structural tolerance would be all the way up to 98%, which means there would be a 2% margin for error.

Would a 2% margin for error be enough in a hundred-year windstorm?

What about a long-expected major earthquake scenario?

Would you rather see light rail on 520? why or why not?

There’s no finer experience than taking your family on a crisp, sunny, ... we endure the gray skies and light rain of Puget Sound’s winter. Now we have an opportunity to continue ... -transit line that scores of Snohomish County commuters could utilize for years to come, helping limit

King County Councilman Reagan Dunn--who was deeply involved with the RTID portion of Prop 1--took particular umbrage to the accusation that 520 is not fully funded. He insists all the funding sources have been secured, except for the ...

Categories: General, Sound Transit, Tacoma, Alternative Ways to get around, Rail, Tacoma LINK • Trackback (0)

Finally, a Cheap Way to Reduce Traffic Seattle Weekly, WA - 5 hours ago Proposition 1, for instance, would spend $7 billion on highway construction, plus another $11 billion or so on expanding Sound Transit. ...

Pollution fines are now paying for clean-up work on the Duwamish River. Sound Transit has paid penalties for letting construction waste run into the waterway. And that money is quickly being reinvested in habitat restoration. KUOW's Liz Jones reports.