SPD:
On December 31st, at approximately 1:50 am, a 25-year old man was waiting in the bus shelter at Rainier Avenue South and South Myrtle Street. He was approached by three males who began assaulting the man by hitting him in the head and face. His wallet containing cash was then taken by the suspects. The [...]
SPD:
On November 27th at approximately 8:45 p.m. a husband and wife rode the light rail from downtown. When they got off at MLK Jr. Way South and South Henderson Street, a group of male suspects began following them. One of the suspects asked a disarming question, putting the victims at ease. Then the couple was [...]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).
Interesting.
I was reading a post on the Rainier Valley Blog on an alleged assault in the International District when a rider left a light rail train, and waited at a bus stop across the street.
I copied the post, then the browser crashed, and when I went back to get the web address so that you could see for yourself, those specific comments were gone…but the responses to it were still there… …And the writer for the post is a contributor to the pro-light rail Seattle Transit Blog… HMMMMMM.
http://www.rainiervalleypost.com/?p=12307
“NIMBY 10.01.09 at 8:58 am
Just a word of advice. I received a call from Harborview Hospital at 10:45 pm. My son just got off the Light Rail Station in the International District, crossed the street to catch the bus to the north end. While he was sitting at the bus stop he was approached by 7 males with iron pipes and beaten severely in a robbery attempt. He has a fractured nose, 9 stitches in his head along with leg, hand and back injuries. I picked him up this morning at 5:30 am. My point is that while the transit system is convenient, I would caution anyone transfering from one mode of public transportation to another to be extra careful. Law enforcement arrived as the perpetrators were leaving the scene. No attempt was made to go after them. I am grateful he did not lose his life. Although he was alone when this occurred, with that many thugs involved I don’t know traveling with a friend would have helped. Just a word of caution.”
If the post was a fraud, perhaps the editor should have stated the reason or the evidence re: why the post was deleted. Or, if it was a joke, perhaps they should grow up.
SEATTLEPI.COM:
A woman who was hit by a possible ricochet bullet Sept. 12 at a Rainier Avenue South bus stop was waiting for a connecting coach when she became a victim of an ongoing gang war between South Seattle and Central District gang members, according to police and court documents.
The woman was shot near the intersection [...]
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