Our local pals, Sound Transit, are committed to setting down the “East Link” segment of the light rail project on the I-90 Bridge reversible high occupancy lanes (HOV). In the morning busses and car pools now use it west bound and in the evening it’s the other way. Also those alleged residents of Mercer Island can use it even if it’s only one person. Maybe I should get a Mercer Island address. I wouldn’t actually live on that land fill, but the address would get me out of tickets, maybe.
Here’s the thing: The HOV lanes are just the right size for a rail line from Seattle to Bellevue (and on to Redmond…). In the Sound Transit scheme they don’t share the road with cars like the South Lake Union Streetcar (SLUT). This is because the planned train frequency and speed don’t make for polite sharing. Thus when the tracks go in we won’t be able to drive the HOV lanes anymore. Worse, during construction they’ll probably close a couple of regular lanes due to “safety” issues.
But this is probably a good thing in the long run. By the time we get wise and understand the true situation relative to gas, pollution, congestion, and other economic realities we won’t be driving as much. Having a commuter train every seven minutes might be better than hiking across the bridge.
Oh, and don’t plan to push that grocery cart all the way home. Bellevue will charge you $117. And if they find a Safeway cart on the street they’ll charge Safeway $100. So here’s what we’ll see pretty soon – rental carts. You go to the store and slip a $20 into a machine and rent a shopping cart. Once you’re done and turn it back in you get your $20 back. If Safeway finds its making more than the amount it spends on fines each month they may lower that fee. Or they may start low at 50 cents and raise it until they find a balance. Either way the city makes potentially $217 each time you get caught.
Grocery carts aren’t allowed on HOV lanes so I guess that was off subject.
A group of Eastsiders has decided to file a suit to stop Sound Transit from using the I-90 HOV lanes. It’s a big issue to some folks. Earlier this summer we got a preview when the HOV lanes were closed to replace the expansion joints. That put all the busses and car pools into the General Purpose lanes. What a nightmare. It took almost 5 extra minutes to get to work. The biggest issue was confusion.
In July they closed the General Purpose lanes so they could replace those expansion joints. Now that actually had an impact. But boy are those new joints spiffy.
The law suit over use of the HOV lanes is based on the idea that the highway was paid for with gas tax money and we have a law that says you can’t use gas tax money for anything but roads. This might exclude railroads. Also crossroads, inroads, Hampton Roads, and Pike Place Market. Obviously.
The main point of the lawsuit may have nothing to do with gas tax in that the people who are filing it have always opposed transit. So there you go. But another group might file a counter suit claiming delay of the East Link might economically depress Redmond. And what about a group that thinks the SR 520 Bridge is a much better alternative for transit since it’s about to be replaced anyway. It would make sense to build a complete bridge that does both rather than retool an existing bridge.
Here’s a design proposal. Double deck. The top deck would be a four lane General Purpose highway. The lower deck would have two light rail lanes and two HOV lanes equaling the width of the upper deck. Maybe make both decks six lanes. Maybe the lower deck would be under water so the light rail passengers could admire the fishes. Then four or five other groups would sue for various reasons.
Transportation improvements depend on who has the best lawyers. Since most of the people who make laws are lawyers we can see how things got like this. Next time you vote keep this in mind. And Tim Eyman would probably find a way to file an initiative and make more money.
Another controversial issue is that people reading internet stuff are too easily influenced. My report is obviously off in some kind of wilderness. Right at the top it states accuracy is optional. My point is we should view all forwarded emails in the same light. We’ve seen the ones about health care, birth certificates, enemies lists, and so on. None of them are true. They’re jokes. Here’s an important clue: if it says you should forward it - ITS A JOKE! So have a good laugh and forget it. Or, if you don’t like the subject matter just delete it. But whatever you do don’t embarrass yourself in public by quoting an internet email joke as if you actually believe it.
Advice from Lake Boren is free – you’re welcome.
Al
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