Seattle area Sound transit: Prop 1
fanforlife
Posts: 138
I am posting this looking for some opinions/information on the Sound Transit Proposition on the current ballot. I live in Renton and commute to UW via the bus as often as I possibly can. Sometimes, however, it just doesn't seem to work. From Renton to UW it's a 2-bus trip and I have found the 3-bus trips to be unreliable in the likelihood that both transfers will go smoothly, so then I drive. Inevitably, when this happens, I either sit on the I-405 "parking lot" or stay on campus until past 7:00 pm. The I-405/SR-167 interchange is a big bottlenecked mess, and they are extending the lightrail, not to Renton, but any additional light rail, imo, is good. All of this leads me to vote "yes." Additionally, the voter's pamphlet statemnet for and against lead me to voting "yes"
On the other hand, the Sierra Club has called me leaving a message to vote no. Trying to be an environmentalist to the best of my ability, their message had an impact on me. It was a while ago, but I believe they sited increased emissions as the reason to vote no.
I also got a phone message from "a neighbor" encouraging me to vote no because of the tax increase. Now, I believe as tax-payers we need to pay for the services we get, and increased taxes is all part of this. The part of this message that struck me is that she said some huge amount of money was going towards reducing highway sound (noise) issues in a wealthy suburb - Microsoft related.
Any other Seattle area fans have any ideas?
Thanks!
On the other hand, the Sierra Club has called me leaving a message to vote no. Trying to be an environmentalist to the best of my ability, their message had an impact on me. It was a while ago, but I believe they sited increased emissions as the reason to vote no.
I also got a phone message from "a neighbor" encouraging me to vote no because of the tax increase. Now, I believe as tax-payers we need to pay for the services we get, and increased taxes is all part of this. The part of this message that struck me is that she said some huge amount of money was going towards reducing highway sound (noise) issues in a wealthy suburb - Microsoft related.
Any other Seattle area fans have any ideas?
Thanks!
A mind full of questions, and a teacher in my soul
And so it goes...
And so it goes...
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Comments
Sound Lake Union Transit
angels share laughter
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i'm a fan of people from seattle but i think the train is a bad idea. you're going to have volcanic and earthquake activity in the next 3 to 5 years and you need an evacuation plan much more than a train which will be disabled by this activity.
that's a good point too...on the other hand, has that been the reason there is no train-type service (except for the tourist monorail) here now? Wasn't a rail system vetoed a while back?
And so it goes...
i'm not sure but i think you're right. you live in a beautiful but dangerous area and i worry about your evacuation plan. i'm not preaching the end of the world here; just common sense considering the dangers you live with.
my animals are hungry so i'll see you tomorrow.
cause the Seattle area needs MORE cars on the road! what makes you think that the roads would be a more viable solution after a major earthquake? I'm not saying that an eathquake couldn't ever someday happen but that doesn't make any sense.
angels share laughter
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http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2003905815_ronsims27.html
The Sierra Club being against Prop 1 helps me make my decision as well.
I'm voting no.
I really wanted to vote 'yes', because it seems like we always shoot down mass transit options (even if they're voted in twice - Hello, Monorail). But, it doesn't seem like this proposal pencils out.
With that vote....
If I have a chance to buy an actual house within the next few years, I'm going to make sure there is a good bicycle route to work.
Edit: Here's a link to Cascade Cycling Club's reasons to vote NO - http://www.cascade.org/Advocacy/RTID.cfm
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"We've laid the groundwork. It's like planting the seeds. And next year, it's spring." - Nader
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Prepare for tending to your garden, America.
uhh...i think seattle is jealous of any city's mass transit.
no one's jealous of portland.
You must be kidding me, right? We have a worldwide reputation for urban planning that FAR exceeds Seattle's reputation as a functional city. We've become the northwest coffee mecca, ask anyone in that industry. Portland at one point has had the most LEAD certified green buildings of any city in the nation. We have a lower crime rate, charter schools with nationwide acclaim and an independent music scene thats much stronger than the current Seattle scene (http://www.slate.com/id/2173729). On top of that our city doesn't smell like piss and contain douchebags such as yourself.
Earthquakes, volcanoes, whatever.
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seattle has 3 big worries. earthquakes; volcanos; and tsunamis. all 3 are very real as mt st helens taught us. my point was that seattle needs an evacuation plan. i think the roads will be worthless in a crisis especially since tankers won't be delivering gas to the stations. we know the ice caps are melting and we can look back through history and see how the earth reacts when there's not ice cover. i think seattle's government should face reality and stop covering up the inevitable. yes; it will hurt seattle's economy and thus the reason for not talking about the truth; but it will save millions from death as i described in the gas prices going up thread. it's time to put the money where it will save lives. and that's my point.
I don't think that tsunamis are a major concern for the Seattle Metro area. We have a lot of very steep hills that will come in very handy in that event. The lower elevations will have some issues, but they are largely industrial (sparsely populated) areas. See the map - http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/pubs/PDF/wals2794/wals2794.pdf
I do not see volcanoes as a huge threat to a majority of the population. Volcanoes give a lot of warnings before they blow and ours historically do not erupt that often.
Earthquakes will be our biggest problem. That's where I would like to see the viaduct gone and our bridges strengthened.
Area officials have tried to urge citizens to prepare for such disasters, but I think last winter's storm proved we are not ready for any true catastrophe.
I don't see how Prop 1 would help in any of these situations, aside from having stronger bridges. If they hadn't lumped roads and light rail together, I might vote differently, but I don't trust how they have this prop set up.
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"We've laid the groundwork. It's like planting the seeds. And next year, it's spring." - Nader
***********************
Prepare for tending to your garden, America.
Now I know why you're "fragile" blake...
You smelled piss while you were in Seattle? Have you mistaken the smell of SALTWATER for urine? Hmm...
I'm a douchebag, huh? I guess when your city is filled with the most literate people in the nation (Seattle)...we're prone to attacks from those less fortunate in that department (cough cough, Portland, cough cough).
If you really want to compare cities, there was a recent poll in Travel + Leisure magazine that might interest you. Visitors and residents weighed in on cities across the country.
Seattle rates higher than Portland on:
All after dark activities (clubbing, cocktail hour, live music and the singles scene), skyline/views, all cultural activities (architecture/notable buildings, classical music, culture, historical sites/monuments, museums/galleries, theater, underground arts scene), food/dining (highly acclaimed restaurants, coffee, ethnic food, farmers' markets), people (attractive, diverse, intelligent, stylish, worldly), and shopping (home design, jewelry, luxury boutiques, shoes).
I would never live in Portland. So? I doubt you care.
Portland is much less cosmopolitan than Seattle.
Seattle's a small city. Portland is a big town.
Seattle is more ethnically diverse than Portland.
Seattle is more naturally beautiful than Portland. (Can't beat: Mt. Rainier, Puget Sound, Cascade/Olympic mountain ranges, Lakes Washington and Union, etc.)
Seattle does not have great public transportation/mass transit, but I'm not a PT girl, so I don't really care.
Portland and Seattle are on par with each other on issues such as environmental awareness and cleanliness...so I'm not sure you can argue one over the other. Just a note: Recently, Seattle became one of the first major U.S. cities to cut greenhouse-gas emissions enough to meet the targets of the international Kyoto treaty aimed at combating global warming. (Ahead of Portland, which has been working on the issue since 1993. Unlike Seattle, Portland gets power from two investor-owned utilities that generate greenhouse gases.)
On coffee...
Portland has many independent cafes, and while it may be the NW coffee mecca of hipsters right now, Seattle is and will always be the one who started it all (getting mainstream America to pay a premium for gourmet coffee) and is known the world over for it.
Go Blazers? And...that's pretty much it.
And Portland is a shit hole.
how did this thread turn into a "My City is better than your City....No, My City is better than your City" bunch of crap?
reading this is like being in Kindergarten again "My Daddy can beat up Your Daddy!"
angels share laughter
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It's the "Moving Train"
Don't all threads end up like this?
If you had a supertrain...
Steve: ...you give people a reason to get out
of their cars. Coffee, great music...
Steve: ...they will park and ride.
I know they will.
Linda: But I still love my car, though.
Steve: Well...
Steve: Oh.
If I opened it now would you not understand?