Move ahead with the present Link plan I believe the Board should move ahead and start building Link light rail as rapidly as possible, closely adhering to the "Locally Preferred Alternative" adopted in late 1999. I have personally put a great deal of effort into community planning connected with this project, and I will be greatly disappointed if Link is further delayed in a misguided attempt to find a "cheaper" alternative. The present plan was developed through a lengthy, methodical, and very public process, and it remains close in scope to that authorized by the 1996 vote although the cost and timeline have both rather drastically increased. The route of University Link (hopefully, Northgate Link!) was carefully chosen to serve regional destinations second only to downtown Seattle, and this segment is intended to form the core of ultimately a much larger system. Any major modification of this route will only diminish the value of Central Link to the entire Central Puget Sound region.
Key Points for Moving Central Link Forward
- Scenario 4 (Capitol Hill to Henderson) should be the MOS-1 (initial operating segment) -- it has over twice the ridership compared to the likely alternative, Convention Place to Henderson.
- Regional, County, and City growth mangagement plans require Link to serve dense urban centers such as Capitol Hill, First Hill and the University District to support mandated growth in these areas.
- Sound Transit should study the feasibility of a tunnel crossing at the Montlake cut.
- The Eastlake alignment has been looked at many times in the past, and has always been rejected in favor of Capitol Hill. It has huge problems -- lack of ridership, community opposition, etc. It makes no sense to look at it "just one more time".
- Sound Transit should aggressively pursue the highest possible level of federal support for the Link project. Secure the $500 million from TEA-21 as quickly as possible, and then be first in line for more federal money at the beginning of the next funding cycle (FY2004).
- Sound Transit should also aggressively pursue a State contribution to Link -- at a minimum, State sales tax should be rebated.
- South-oriented MOS-1 won't serve a very large population nor generate a very large ridership -- it would have to terminate at Henderson, since the route through Tukwila is still undecided.
- North terminus at CPS would make it difficult to resume building to the north later on, particularly if the preferred Capitol Hill tunnel alignment were chosen.
The bottom line is that any fixed guideway system will be expensive. Sound Transit is correct in locating University Link through areas that attract ridership from all parts of the region. As long as the Board is satisfied that the financial plan is viable, they should continue to move forward with the current proposal, and I will continue to support that decision.
"Let's stop talking and start digging!"
John Deeter <bj556@scn.org>
5017 15th NE, Apt. 103, Seattle, WA 98105June 20th, 2001