September 18, 2008
People Like the Cut of Prop. 1's Public Transit Jib
In a SurveyUSA poll conducted for KING-TV, 49 percent of likely voters in the Sound Transit district say they are voting yes on Proposition 1--and if the undecideds are asked to decide, the number voting for Prop. 1 grows to a landslide-y 65 percent. People really want those extra 100,000 express bus hours, the expansion of Sounder Commuter Rail, and 36 miles of new light rail.
Despite NotoProp1's contention that it's dejà vu all over again, this roads-free, public-transit version of Prop. 1 is significantly more popular than the more expensive roads/transit hybrid offered to voters last year (which we voted against, arguing that a better plan would come along). A study says the plan "could cut car and truck travel as much as 30 percent, reduce carbon dioxide pollution by nearly 100,000 tons a year and save consumers $41 million annually in reduced fuel costs." Also, public transit makes attractive people want to sleep with you.
Light rail photo thanks to andrewmartin, a member of our all-seeing Seattlest Flickr pool.
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I think your "NoToProp1.org" link is outdated. They seem to be arguing against the 2007 prop 1.
For balance, here's the Pro Prop 1 website.
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"Also, public transit makes attractive people want to sleep with you."
This is true.
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Matt -
As I read the 'no' site, their argument is that the 2007 and 2008 props are the same. They're not the same, but that's what they're claiming.
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I know [bilco]. It was meant with a little sarcasm. They seem to have updated a small piece of their content, and left the rest the same. They still use silly giant numbers listed in 2053 dollars using bad assumptions (billions and billions and billions), unmodified radio and TV ads, they still list the Sierra Club as opposing it...
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I'm so tired of this mass transit debate. Anyone want to sign my "Go back to horses and ponies" petition?
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Troy, the viaduct alone handles 100,000 trips per day. Can you imagine the mess that 100,000 horse-and-pony trips would make? Or the smell! And who's going to currycomb them all?!
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The children.
MvB, always think of the children.
Plus, could you imagine the awesome echo southbound? Sweeeeet!
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I like the idea, but can't they build the thing faster? 12 years from approval to service just to build a 12 mile line to Redmond? What is this, Boston or New York?
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You know, I was in Istanbul a few years ago, and they were just starting to plan an under-the-Bosphorus tunnel for transit. It was supposed to be open 3 years from planning start.
That highway bridge in Minn. just got rebuilt in really rapid time.
We sit and stew and talk and blog.
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I heard it will only operate until 1am. (now I am only about 50% as excited about it as I was) Extend it one more hour and they will double ridership!
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Err actually...couldnt they just extend the operating time for light rail until like 2 or 230am on weekends? Genius I say.
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Great idea, Jesse! It's silly to cut it off before last call... that's the whole damn point, to my every-night's-a-show view. Maybe Orange and Yellow and Green Cab have some sort of money tied up in this campaign.
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I'm voting NO. I'm not voting for more light rail until:
the current LR project is up and running and proven its worth,
the Interstate HOV system around Lake WA is completed (there is no HOV lane on southbound I-5 between Northgate and downtown),
the bus system is expanded to reach its full potential,
park and ride lots that fill up are expanded.