I didn’t live in Seattle when Sound Transit planned the route of the light rail, so stop me if this has already been debated to death. Also, I know it’s far too late to change anything. I’m just curious.
Can someone tell me why, exactly, Link takes it’s expensive and circuitus path? Considering it will take as long (or longer) as it currently does via bus to get from downtown to the airport, this would not seem like a great idea.
One would think a straight line would be the easiest, cheapest, and fastest route. This would take us through some industrial areas, which would seem to have inexpensive land. It would also drive by Boeing Field, which could be useful if it ever runs as a commercial airport. Plus it seems like there would have been little/no boring reqired.
Yes, the route drives through a few communities, but this seems like a reason to not put light rail there – you end up stopping at stoplights. Building communities around transit seems like a much better idea.
I imagine a strong difference between city-based transit, that tries to conform to neighborhoods, and regional transit, that should be built for speed. This is clearly regional transit, but seems to be designed as city transit.
This is an old thread but everything old is new again, right? bgtothen did a great job of explaining and in it’s twisted sort of way it all makes sense. And, while it takes longer now to get from downtown to the airport in a few more years traffic will certainly reverse that stat
The most important thing with respect to airport travel is; Link involves no transfers or possibility of getting on the wrong bus, trip times are consistent and trains provide a comfortable “upscale” mode of travel which will appeal to businessmen, convention goers and tourists.
Although I understand the reasons for the airport route and can see already how it is having a positive effect on shaping development along the route similar logic should not be applied to East Link. Don’t expect a lot of mixed income housing to sprout up around south Bellevue. Don’t expect the typical Bellevue Broker to walk to the train in the rain. And if you think securing ROW in the Rainier Valley was expensive…. hold on to your wallets. Of course Bellevue is already suffering tunnel envy which may make the current route proposals seem like chump change!