Glen Tests Light Rail Train

Glen, the Lake Boren Carp, was given a chance to try out the new Sound Transit vehicle recently. Since we don't have any track yet he took it for a swim.

If you can buy a fish driving a train why not believe it runs in water?

Al

A Tour of Link Light Rail

DRAGONFLY SCULPTURE

Yesterday I took the tour of the Link Light Rail construction progress. It was informative and interesting. We ate at an ethnic restaurant where the acoustics made twenty people sound like 20,000.

The new Sound Transit Link Light Rail line from Sea-Tac International Airport to downtown Seattle is a year away from completion. In a snub to the Renton Parks Department the line goes through Tukwila.

There are several segments on the line that have unique features. At the airport it required the relocation of part of the roadway that goes to the freeway. When you drive it’s hard to see how it’s changed because you need to keep all eyes on traffic. From a big bus it’s pretty clear what’s different.

The airport station will be way above the edge of International Boulevard. That’s what they call Highway 99 in that area. Passengers get to amble through the parking garage to get to the ticket counters. For example important business people can get on the train in the Seattle Transit Tunnel without going out in the rain. Then after a smooth ride to the airport, head over to the ticket counter via level 4 in the parking garage. Coming into the airport along with all the other pedestrians will disguise the fact that they came by train rather than the usual limo. Gotta keep up appearances.

On the other side of the station will be a pedestrian overpass so a person can get across the multi lane street safely. For example, one could park in the “Park and Fly” cheaper than in downtown Seattle and take the train to the office. If their company subsidizes transit fares (many do) and provides coupons for airport parking it might be a way to save a few bucks.

When the train leaves the airport it’ll pass a huge development which will be the consolidated Rental Car Facility. Right now the rentals are in the airport garage which means a lot of parking space is unavailable for us. So to add more capacity the Port of Seattle is building an off-site car rental facility. Lots of other big airports have one. I can’t recall what was in that area before but right now it’s full of earth moving machines.

After that the train crosses SR 518 which is actually an extension of I-405. There’s a massive station there which is going to be a transit center. The plan is for thousands of busses to use the surface level to exchange passengers with the light rail in the sky above. It’s essentially a corral of escalators.

From there passengers get an elevated train ride mostly near the freeway to Martin Luther King Jr. Way. At that point the line comes down to the street surface. Here’s where everyone is crossing their fingers. MLK traverses a culturally diverse area where some 14 languages are spoken plus half dozen dialects of English. Not an issue by itself.

The issue is there hasn’t been street level rail traffic in a hundred years around there. That means Sound Transit has to figure out ways to keep folks from walking out in front of the train. You can’t put up signs in every possible language because they would block out the sun. They say they can’t build barriers and fences because the fire department wants to be able to drive over the rails. Elevated costs a lot more. So they do it with art.

Each station has a “work of art” to distract people and make them stop and say “what the heck is THAT?” in their own language, of course. Once they realize it’s harmless they’re supposed to look both ways and safely cross the tracks. If that doesn’t work there are crossing fences to force people to turn toward where the train might be coming. These are called “Z” crossings. That probably doesn’t make much sense unless you see it. You start to cross at “A” street corner, and by the time you get to the tracks… OK, I don’t really know.

Once the train gets to Rainier Avenue there’s a station where everyone can get off and have a Philly Cheese Steak. After that is the Beacon Hill Tunnel.

Sound Transit has built a twin bore tunnel that passes under Beacon Hill and delivers the train near the old Rainier Brewery under I-5. Unfortunately the brewery is no longer there and a coffee company has it now. So stay on the train.

The Operations and Maintenance Facility is located just down the street from the tunnel portal. At that point it turns north again and heads to the sports arenas. That’s where the beer is.
A little wiggle and it enters the transit tunnel downtown. This is a tour all by itself. I think I might do it one day. Busses are free in the core business area. All you have to do is resolve not to give money to panhandlers. You’ll have lots of chances.

At the north end of the tunnel the current line ends. Sound Transit has grand plans but they need more money. They are the ultimate panhandlers.

OK, so we covered the segments, let’s review. Airport station – riders saving money on parking. Elevated Tukwila segment – views of the freeway. Street level MLK Way – pedestrians diving for cover. Beacon Hill Tunnel – toxic stabilization so don’t eat any dirt that falls into the train. O & M Facility to Stadiums – industrial hodgepodge. Seattle Transit Tunnel – busses are free but lots of folks want your money anyway.

There’ll be another transit measure on the ballot in November. They want to build north to the University and east to Bellevue. We might be able to stand it. Newcastle will have to wait a little longer before light rail comes to the shores of Lake Boren. But I got a not paper model of a train set I can take over there.

Al

Light Rail Coming to Eastside

Yes, it must be true, it was in the paper. You know how everything you read in the “News” is true? Well, the Bellevue Reporter ran a story about how Sound Transit will be installing a light rail “Link” to the Eastside via the I-90 bridge. So it must be time to camp out and watch the construction.

It’s a done deal: last month the Bellevue City Council approved amendments to the Comprehensive Plan recommended in a June report by a council appointed Best Practices Committee. Sound Transit is expected to release a draft environmental impact statement by the end of the year. Expectations of Sound Transit include themes such as collaboration, public communications and involvement, and sensitivity to Bellevue’s natural and built environments.

Still awake? After reading that I fell asleep for a week.

Worse yet, that paragraph is a synopsis of a half page story and I don’t drink coffee any more so it was really hard to wade thru.

Anyway, the big plan is to lay tracks on the I-90 Floating Bridge and then find a route across Mercer Island into South Bellevue. At that point the rail will branch off and head to Newcastle and Redmond. It’ll take almost 2% of the traffic off the freeway so we might as well start it right now.

By 2050 when the first trains finally begin to work their way over the lake Mercer Island will probably have sunk so we need to consider an alternative.

I like some of the proposals for the other floating bridge. Folks on the Seattle side of the lake are not interested in seeing a bridge at all. They want a tunnel. Since Bellevue folks want a bridge one proposal has a bridge going half way and then submerging into a 10 lane tunnel with a light rail upper deck. The Montlake interchange would be under water. No annoying bridge to look at.

Rising up on the Seattle side would be about five different outlets. One goes to the underground parking garage at the UW Stadium. In addition to the bridge toll you get to pay again at the parking garage gate.

Another would come up just outside the Arboretum for all those people who want Broadmoor and Madison.

Another would pop up on I-5 near Greenlake for the northbound folks and another on I-5 near Mercer Street for southbound folks.

The fifth exit will be in downtown Seattle. Light rail would have five different places. The material removed would bury Maple Valley.

Now let’s talk about budget. Naw, let’s not.

The surface interchange proposal for the Montlake area is even worse. It wipes out the Museum of History and Industry. It’s been on the move for a number of years so we don’t expect it to be there if the interchange is built.

The State Highway people have been visiting with departments that already have bridge-tunnel experience, such as Virginia and Denmark. The Danes built one across the Baltic to Sweden a few years ago. I think it was an episode of “Modern Marvels” on the cement channel.

The issue is they’re responsible to the public so they have to take every proposal seriously. That means they have also reviewed a soaring suspension bridge across the lake. Because they have to. It gets rejected every time.

What we need to know is whether this whole idea has been evaluated by enough committees. Each eastside community has its own committee. So do Sound Transit, Community Transit, Pierce Transit, Metro Transit, and Amtrak. They have meetings with the commuter rail committee from the State DOT.

These meetings are always separate because we don’t really need everyone hearing the same information. Then we have ad-hoc committees formed by citizen groups that think they have better solutions. Mainly these are people didn’t get the meeting notices for the other committees.

The news media only report on a few of these because they hardly ever get invited. And we certainly don’t want reporters out there looking for information. They should stay indoors reviewing their “press packets.” It would be a real shame if the “public” was actually informed about all these meetings. We only want results.

Anyway, there are about a thousand people involved in trying to figure out how to get commuter rail on the eastside. None of the committees’ plans coordinate with each other. And just for fun there’s another transportation proposal coming up for public vote. It’s asking for funding to actually build something. They know it will take funding but they don’t know what the plan is yet. Whatever it is won’t agree with the committee plans, but it’ll be fun to watch. I just hope we get some really enormous retaining walls. They have some great ones on Coal Creek Parkway.

Al

Free Bus Ride

In my never ending quest to see new stuff and yet not contribute any constructive aid or comfort I discovered a fun way to visit the Puget Sound Link Light Rail Project. It’s a bus tour.

We (apparently anybody who signs up) passengers pick up the bus near the old King Street Station in Seattle. We need to bring cash for lunch. Or we don’t eat. Harsh. We have to RSVP. Some French saying I never understood.

The plan is to run people via bus along the construction route and show how things are going, completing, and fumbling. The last one should be fun. I don’t think the bus will be going through the toxic Beacon Hill Tunnel but it should be fun anyway. We’re allowed to ask questions.
My first question is “If I cross the International Date Line on my birthday do I still get presents?” Ha ha. That’s an old one.

So I’m going to send in my RSVP and hope for a seat. Umm, did I say that right? I meant a seat on the bus, not… well, you know. OK, forget it, I meant a place on the bus tour. I don’t need special privileges or an individual guide all my own; I’m willing to share the tour with various peasants from the Seattle Business Community. After all, they still have to make a living.

We apparently get to ride all the way to Sea-Tac Airport (owned by The Seattle Port Commission (Autoriity? Who knows?) and have lunch along the way. They promise to get us back by 3:00 PM. Should be able to get home by 7:00 if we take the bus. 4:00 if we drive.

This bus tour happens on September 19; so my report (if I get a seat) won’t be until after that. I’m sure other things will happen in between. Like the Ice Age in Seattle for Labor Day weekend.

Another example; I was at the site of the new Newcastle library, condo, swimming pool, bait shop, auto shop, and junk yard yesterday and the only thing there is a sign. However, somebody mows the grass regularly. Looks nice.

Anyway, if you happen to get on the Sound Transit web site and want a fun afternoon (maybe, who knows?) you might like to RSVP and join in. I’m sure if they get more than one bus load they’ll add more busses. Really. They don’t mention anything at all about “limited space” or “first come…” Sounds like a party to me. If you bring money for lunch, that is.

Highlights include visits to stations, pedestrian interference, and possible presidential election campaigns. Maybe Christine will be there. Or Sarah Palin; this could get interesting. Maybe I’ll ware my fancy jeans; and S.L.U.T. T-shirt.

This will give me some insight into plans to get a light rail line to Newcastle before the next Olympics; or 7. Coal Creek Parkway might be complete before that, but I doubt it.

Oh, it’s called the “Port of Seattle” in case you were wondering. They own Sea-Tac, where the third runway is being built. So far, only $100 million over budget, and counting. Not bad for a government project.

Al

I-405 Project Update for Labor Day

One of my favorite holidays is Labor Day. I usually don’t labor on Labor Day but unlike the other 364 I don’t feel guilty about it.

Interstate 405 is being remade into a great wonderland of HOV lanes and mile long ramps. From the intersection at Southcenter (Westfield) all the way to Bellevue’s SR 520 interchange I-405 will be a model for all freeways in America. Especially if you have one of my custom made $49.95 “Good-to-Go” fake transponders.

Down near Southcenter – which had a grand opening as the new “Westfield at Southcenter” where you can shop at 250 stores in any direction… or something. Maybe I’m missing the point. Looks like another session on Google.

Anyway, down at Southcenter the state highway folks, WSDOT, added some new lanes that kind of wow out to the right and then moved all traffic over to them. They closed the old lanes. Lot of work but no idea what the final configuration will look like. It’s confusing. Underneath the freeway where the two major railroads run the construction workers were looking very confused. They were kind of standing around looking at the forest of new and old supports.

If you remember Longacres Race Track – they raced horses there – you may recall a couple of big cement bowls on pedestals at the old entrance. Well one is still there under the freeway. It really looks out of place. I think the confused construction workers had been asked to remove it without breaking the bowl. I don’t know. I don’t want to know what’s in that bowl. It might make a nice pond in somebody’s yard.

A little further north (which is actually east; which make sense if Southcenter is actually Westfield) is another hilarious bottleneck. It’s the SR167 interchange. Everyone stops because the car in front stopped and so on. Nobody knows why. It’s just the way it works.

Then a little further east/north is the creek control project. This happened a couple of years ago when a downpour washed the culvert out from under I-405 and into the parking lot of the Sam’s Club. Washdot installed a great big rubber hose and a bunch of pumps to divert the creek while they rebuild the culvert. First they had to shore up the freeway so it wouldn’t fall into the creekbed. But now that’s done and the culvert is being built. Should be done by 2020.

At SR 169, the Maple Valley Highway where all the garbage goes we find another humorous situation. The biggest problem is SR167, SR169, and the washed out creek are all in Renton. Anything in Renton is a problem. Next I-405 has just three lanes each way through there. Not enough. See, most people want to just drive through Renton and get out. So what the Washdot folks should have figured out a long time ago is how to connect SR167 and SR169 together in Renton. Because it turns out many drivers don’t need to use I-405 except as a connection road. They could have done that during the S curve project a few years ago, but they didn’t. I don’t think they will do that on this current project either. They’ll just add more lanes to I-405 and everyone delivering garbage to Maple Valley will just have to deal with it.

The I-405 bottlenecks in Renton are also a big concern to people who happen to live in Renton. It prevents them from leaving. And a large number of savvy drivers realize they can cut through Renton rather than sit in the freeway backup. So Renton itself is also a traffic mess. This results in homemade yard signs on which people express their annoyance at all the drivers passing by. Hopefully yard signs is about as far as it gets. But wait until the freeway construction really gets going and see. Cross your fingers.

At the Maple Valley Highway I-405 turns north and most of the way is either under construction now or soon will be. They’re adding lanes. They like to think more lanes answers everything. They will also be adding more HOV ramps so those “Good-to-Go” folks won’t have to change lanes so much. That’s fine with me. My $49.95 fake transponders will sell like fake gold mine stock.

The Wilburton Tunnel in Bellevue has been demolished. It’s no more. Gone. Hauled down the Maple Valley Highway on hundreds of dump trucks. Probably to a place that claims to recycle concrete. See, they break it up and remove the rebar and then send it back to make more concrete. They’ll need it to make more lanes.

The Wilburton Tunnel is how the old eastside trains got over I-405. It was completely full of freeway and now that the freeway is being widened they needed to either make the tunnel wider or remove it. Since BNSF sold the rail line Washdot removed the tunnel. Unfortunately when King County gets around to removing the old historic trestle everyone will think it’s a Washdot project. So they’ll vote “NO” on highway funds and the SR 520 Bridge replacement will have to wait 5 more years (unless it sinks).

In downtown Bellevue the major part of the new work will be to install HOV ramps between SR 520 and I-405. Right now the HOV folks have to use the same ramps as regular folks, dump trucks, busses, donkey carts, and Lexus drivers on their way to Microsoft. The ramps are crowded. The new HOV ramps will allow “Good-to-Go” folks to bypass all those lowbrows and just wing over the top. Because that’s the only option. The new ramps have to use airspace since all the ground is taken. They’ll use some of that recycled cement from the Wilburton Tunnel.

Speaking of the 520 Bridge, they are trying to decide how much toll to charge. They want people to begin paying for the replacement right now and they think a toll is a good way to do that. More sales for my fake transponders! I wonder if I’ll get caught.

Anyway, they’re holding hearings around the state to try and arrive at a fair toll amount. If they charge too much everyone will be annoyed – more yard signs. If they charge too little they won’t get enough money. It has to be just right. I think taking several thousand opinions and then picking an average is pretty sane. I think $2.23 “exact change only” ought to work just fine. One thing sure is it will be fun to watch.

Al