The City of Bellevue has strong new leadership tonight, as the duties of the Mayor were passed to Dr. Don Davidson, a longtime Bellevue Councilman who advocates for fiscal responsibility, a healthy business climate, and protection of Bellevue’s neighborhoods.

Longtime Bellevue Councilman Conrad Lee was also swept in as Deputy Mayor.

Both Councilmen were part of a Bellevue City Council majority that recently refused to raise taxes on Bellevue citizens in the currently depressed economic climate, and who are supportive of a Sound Transit light rail alignment through Bellevue that is intended to serve the region’s commuters, while doing a better job of protecting Bellevue’s businesses, historic resources, parks, wildlife & endangered species, natural resources and neighborhoods.

Last Saturday I went over 520 to Seattle at around 9:30AM & returned going Eastbound around noon. The eagle pair were there at both times hunting- one was perching on the north metal sculpture, the other, on the lamppost nearest the sculpture.

Why, I wonder, does environmental law only protect where an endangered species nests, and not where the species hunts? Doesn’t the availability of their food source impact  a species as much as where to nest?

All this is because I’m wondering how WSDOT & SDOT & Sound Transit & the cities of Seattle & Bellevue will mitigate impacts to the wildlife living in the Arboretum when redevelopment of the 520 bridge happens….thoughts?

Update: I’ve seen other info re: the eagle pair hunting from the 520 bridge:

1. “Eagle Eyes on the 520 Bridge”- http://blogs.king5.com/archives/2009/03/eagleeyes-on-th.html

2. WSDOT SR 520 DEIS- http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/NR/rdonlyres/5969A3E2-01E1-4000-8F80-F18D006CEE7/0/SR520DEIS_AppendixWPart2.pdf

3. Northwest Cable News by Deborah Feldman- http://www.nwcn.com/archive/61211932.html

Yesterday we posted (click here) about the Obama administration’s proposal to have new federal rules governing safety on all subways and light rail alignments due to spotty oversight & enforcement by 27 regional bodies.

Today Sound Transit’s train derails near the ST maintenance facility on an elevated alignment.

HMMM. Perhaps new safety rules & oversight will prove to be a good idea.

In a November 15, 2009 article reprinted by the Seattle Times (by Joe Stephens of the The Washington Post), new safety rules for subway and light rail lines are discussed:

” The Obama administration will propose that the federal government take over safety regulation of the nation’s subway and light-rail systems, responding to what it says is haphazard and ineffective oversight by state agencies“.

USDOT :

“Under the proposal, the U.S. Department of Transportation would do for transit what it does for airlines and Amtrak: Set and enforce federal regulations to ensure that millions of passengers get to their destinations safely. Administration officials said the plan will be presented in coming weeks to Congress; changing the law is subject to its approval.”

Previously Insufficient Funds for Safety Regulation, Oversight, & Enforcement:

“Commuter-rail systems are subject to a long list of federal regulations and are regularly inspected by federal safety monitors.

Safety oversight of light-rail and subway systems, however, is delegated to 27 regional bodies controlled by states. Quality varies widely, as does funding and enforcement power.

With a few exceptions, the agencies tend to be threadbare, averaging less than one staff person per agency, according to federal statistics.

One can only hope that new federal rules will:

1. Lessen the occurrence of light rail at-grade accidents with pedestrians & cars,

2. Lessen the occurrence of light rail train vs. car accidents via improved design standards , and

3. Lessen the occurrence of criminal behavior at light rail stations and on the trains (video cameras aren’t keeping people safe).

Apparently Ben Schiendelman at Seattle Transit Blog just can’t stick to the facts while making an argument about the merits (or lack thereof) of light rail; the Rainier Valley Post suggests that he resorts to personal attacks.

On the Rainier Valley Post, there was discussion in the comments re: the merits of the Sound Transit light rail line through the Rainier Valley- this was posted in the comments (click here):

“editor 11.14.09 at 10:55 am

Two of Ben Schiendelman’s comments have been deleted for violating the established RVP rules of conduct that prohibit attacking other users:

Opinions that are derogatory, attack other users, offer unsubstantiated facts or are offensive in nature can and will be removed as defined by the Terms of Service. The Rainier Valley Post is not responsible for the content posted in this comment section, and reserves the right to remove any offensive remark or thread.

 

 In the future, please present your arguments sans derogatory comments targeted at other users. Thanks.”

 

Apparently this post is what precipitated his response:

“Fred Quarnstrom 11.13.09 at 4:39 pm

 

    How well is Sound Transit working?

 

    We were told in 1996, 13 years ago that we could have a train from the Airport, actually about a mile from the airport, to the University. It would cost 3.9 billion and take 10 years to complete including a two tunnels one under Beacon Hill the other under Capitol Hill and on to the University.

 

    It would not stop at South Center. Probably 100 times more people go to South Center everyday than go to the Airport. Not going to the Airport was a stroke of genus. We can build a multimillion dollar station in Tukwila. A station that no one will use after the extension goes to the airport. Could it be that the powers downtown do not want people to fly into SeaTac take the train to South Center to shop and stay in hotels at South Center.

 

    Today Sound Transit says it will cost 15 billion and take until 2020 to complete this first stage to the University. Would you like to take odds that it will cost 20 billion and take until 2025? It will not stop on Capital Hill with access to the hospitals and all the medical facilities found there. How silly of us to think people go there.

 

    We are now talking about spending another 25 billion to go to the Eastside and Northgate. This is before cost overruns, read that 50 to 70 billion, maybe more with over runs and inflation. Some have estimated that it costs about $100,000 per person who rides the train. Why not just give them the money, if they promise to stay at home. In the end, it is far less costly and will give better service to put in a better bus system. A bus system simply works better here.

 

    With the exception of the University, we do not have a concentrated end point where the riders will get off or on the train. South Center, maybe; but the train does not go there. Boeing, maybe; but the train does not go there either. The Sports Stadiums, yes; but only a couple of times a week, at the best.

 

    Our waterways make tunneling necessary to join various parts of town, Ballard, West Seattle, Magnolia; and these tunnels are very costly. The only place where a lot of people go a couple of times a day is the University. We do not have a concentration of employment and we go to our workplaces from all over, North , South, the Eastside and even across the sound. Our population and business simply does not lend itself to a train. Buses can provide the service we need at a fraction of the cost. In fact, it has been estimated that 70% of the people on the train have left a bus to do so because their bus route was canceled. Have you stopped and counted the number of people on the trains as they disrupt our traffic on MLK Way? Even during rush hour it is rare to see a dozen people on the train.

 

    Why are the trains not busier? I can make a number of suggestions. There are no park and ride lots near the stations except for the one at Tukwila. The city council will not allow park and ride lots near our stations. However, I did see one city council member park in the Citadel parking and walk across the street to the transit. I would have to walk almost 2 miles up and down two hills to take the transit downtown. It does not go anywhere I want to go . I might take it to the airport but I would have to carry my luggage 2 miles up and down two hills to get there.

 

    There are no restroom facilities. I did ride the train downtown once. I am old and needed to use the facilities when I got there. There are no facilities. I had to go up to street level and either buy something at McDonalds to use their “rooms;” no purchase no relief. I explained that I might just relieve myself right there an then. I was about to loose control. Fortunately Macys had the room and I managed to get there before nature took it course.

 

    Now, if you want to see a real boondoggle go ride the SLUT, South Lake Union Transit. How many billion did that cost us? Somehow it was just slid past us. In the ten or so times I have seen a SLUT go by, I probably have not counted 10 people total. Most trains went by empty. But Vulcan needed it and they and their contractors donated big time when it come time to campaign.

 

    Who should we blame? Our politicians tell us it was the right thing to do. It would be full of passengers. It is green, not green because of its lack of using nonrenewable resources; it is green because of all the greenbacks that have been flushed producing this dinosaur that will never drag itself out of the tar pit. It has not and will not decrease traffic. Its bones will be found by future generations. They will tilt their heads and wonder what lead to this extinction. Its lack of cognitive powers, it small, self-centered, semi functional brain will be the verdict. The only prediction we do not have is how long will it take to be abandoned because we simply cannot afford to spend so much to move so few to where they are not needed and do not want to go.

 

    Activists told us people would flock to the trains. Do we hold them responsible? Of course we do not. If I, as businessman, make bad decisions I go bankrupt, loose my home, my pension and my livelihood. If you are a politician or an activist, they probably name a Sound Transit stop or tunnel after you. You will go on to another job or to champion another cause or retire to a good pension for your “service.” They should be prosecuted for “stupidity.” I guess we expect stupidity from our elected officials.”

 

Have you noticed that on sunny days, there are at least 2 Bald Eagles that hunt in the Arboretum and perch on the sculptures along side the freeway?

When the eagles aren’t there, the Blue Herons do the same, or stand in the water along side the beaver lodge. Turtles bask in the sun on the logs to the west of the stand of trees (when you’re coming from east to west). Loons and grebes and numerous other birds nest and hunt in the area.

Seattle PI reporter Deborah Harrell reported about stakeholders’ concerns re: the 520 redesign, and I’m wondering- how will the new design mitigate for the existing wildlife, some of which are protected species?

It’s like trying to get a fair hearing with the Queen of Hearts. Or the Caterpillar. Or the Cheshire Cat.

Last night Sound Transit  held a public meeting at Bellevue High School that oh-so-quickly looked at some of the new segment ideas for ST2 in Bellevue. Sound Transit was quick to emphasize that they “listened” to the public, and straightened the alignment in the B section to avoid condemning (they like “acquiring”)more of the The Bellevue Club’s parking lot, which would adversely affect their business and future expansion plans. Fine.

But they completely omitted any information regarding condemnations of the homes and business properties affected by a Main Street alignment. Sound Transit’s Sue Comis just blithely passed over the section on the map showing how the north end of Surrey Downs would be cut off (condemned) by passing over it quietly with her laser pointer…HMMM…Nothing happening here, folks, move along….

Hands started going up as the public realized that Sound Transit was not going to allow questions regarding property takings that the whole group could hear. Sound Transit tried to get the questions coming in small groups around the photograph tables, so that separate neighborhoods wouldn’t know how their preferences would be affecting or impacting their neighbors.

However, they did have a nice table with a couple of guys present near the front door, ready to answer questions, with the title: “Real Estate“.

Yes, what a nice, pretty term for the guys in the department that condemns your property- I wonder how those guys sleep at night.

Welcome to Wonderland.

ST2, as approved by the taxpayers, is supposed to extend an ST2 alignment to particular locations in a particular timeline with particular mitigation for negative impacts to properties (noise, vibration, visual blight, environmental, historical, parks, sliver takings, condemnations) accomodated for by law and policy.

$3.1 Billion is a lot to make up for- want to bet:

1. Sound Transit’s ST2  alignment doesn’t go as far as it might have or serve  as many people as ST’s original projections,

2. Sound Transit’s ST2 timeline  won’t be on time,

3. Sound Transit’s dramatically reduced budget  for ST2 will overwhelmingly cut out mitigation to communities it negatively impacts.

The question is: will Sound Transit start cutting staff to match the $3.1 Billion deficit in revenue projections, like most governmental bodies, businesses, and families have in this economy?

Here is Mike Lindblom’s comment on the Seattle Times site re: Sound Transit’s noise levels exceeding the federal standard in Tukwila- hopefully this will NOT happen with ST2.          Click here for the link.

 July 10, 2009 at 7:59 PM

 Regarding track lubrication: I got more info late today from Sound Transit about their lube order, which we first reported this morning. They say the lube is meant for spots where straight wheels meet curving rails –

 so it would not prevent noise on the straight tracks next to Mr. Shumate and his neighbors.
– Mike Lindblom, Seattle Times reporter

In a Seattle Times article (click here), reporter Erika Schultz says that there appears to be a large discrepancy between what Sound Transit told impacted neighbors near the Tukwila light rail line their noise readings would be, and what the readings allegedly are now:

“David and Laurie Shumate, who moved into their remodeled 1920s home two years ago, take issue with Sound Transit’s November noise readings. David Shumate bought his own sound meter and says he has measured levels above 80 decibels, 10 decibels louder Ëœ that is, 10 times louder Ëœ than Sound Transit’s measurements from 2008. A rock concert is measured at 100 decibels, and levels higher than 80 decibels over continuous periods can result in hearing loss, according to a Sound Transit report.”

The difference is allegedly 80 decibels and above currently, whereas the noise levels measured by Sound Transit in 2008 were around 72.6. If accurate, the difference is enough to damage normal hearing in humans:

The test found no impact on the neighborhood. Records show the loudest reading was 72.6 decibels, and officials predicted the noise levels would decrease once the tracks smoothed out from use.

But now, residents say, the noise is getting louder.

“It’s much, much, much, much louder than it used to be,” Haynes said. “They said it would be the sound of a whooshing as it goes by. It’s definitely more than the whoosh of the wind.”

See the KOMO news piece on the same issue (click here).