Sound Transit is getting ready to narrow down the range of studied alternatives for the Eastside Light Rail line serving Bellevue and Redmond. I was at the meeting, this report, only one I've seen, is not very good.
The author talks about one particular alternative on 106th citing advantages in serving Wilburton and Overlake Hospital - neither of which have a thing to do with that alternative. He also underplays the very well thought out alternative between the City of Bellevue under Mayor Degginger and the Bellevue Chamber claiming 'citizen groups' disagreed.
Though it may be the case in Seattle that citizen groups are necessary to get a sense of real opinion in a smaller city there institutions actually represent people - they actually do their job.
Most interesting are the joint heavy rail stops at 118th and at the Hospital. Joint operation in the proposed tunnel has been mentioned, but feasibility is difficult and would add to the $500 million unfunded cost.
The article also quoted Mayor Nickels regarding concerns about the unfunded costs - this topic was actually brought up by Julia Patterson of South King County and also head of the Puget Sound Regional Council's Transportation Committee which coordinates regional efforts as a federal requirement. FWIW, I have a lot more faith in Eastside leaders coming up with a responsible financial plan than **anything** coming out of Nickels and his crew of Nifong Lawyers.
