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Parkguy
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Username: Parkguy

Post Number: 40
Registered: 04-2007
Posted on Wednesday, June 06, 2007 - 5:59 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

In light of the conversations about whether a Detroit/Metro Airport/Ann Arbor rail line will work, Seattle is already expanding its not-yet-running light rail system to the north side of town to the Univ. of Washington campus, connecting campus, downtown, and the airport. And, yes, I know there are differences in development patterns and density there.

UW, Sound Transit agree on light rail extension
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

SEATTLE -- The University of Washington and Sound Transit have agreed on an extension of a light rail line to the Seattle campus.

After final approval by the Board of Regents and Sound Transit Board, the agreement clears the way for seeking a $750 million dollar federal grant needed to start building the $1.6 billion extension.

The university terminal would be close to Husky Stadium and the UW Medical Center.

The light rail line between downtown Seattle and Sea-Tac Airport is about 70 percent complete and is scheduled to open in 2009.
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Douglasm
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Username: Douglasm

Post Number: 851
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Wednesday, June 06, 2007 - 7:22 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

It wouldn't suprise me if in 10-15 years it extends north to Lakewood/Everett, south to Tacoma and east across Lake Washington (somehow) to Mercer Island and/or Bellevue.....
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Jerome81
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Username: Jerome81

Post Number: 1465
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Wednesday, June 06, 2007 - 7:28 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Seattle has be "talking" about this for probably a good decade or longer.

They're so sensitive to everything up there they can't ever get anything done. If it isn't NIMBY, it is the envronment. It is always something delaying this project.

I'll believe it when I see it.
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Livernoisyard
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Username: Livernoisyard

Post Number: 3284
Registered: 10-2004
Posted on Wednesday, June 06, 2007 - 7:38 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Here are a couple links from those somewhat critical about Seattle's transit plans and costs--the most costly LRT system per mile:
Public Interest Transportation Forum
Seattle Light Rail Links

Now, who really believes that Detroit would have a prayer with coming up with that level of public funding?
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Parkguy
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Username: Parkguy

Post Number: 42
Registered: 04-2007
Posted on Wednesday, June 06, 2007 - 9:42 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Jerome81:
I've seen the light rail construction progress south of downtown, like in Columbia City, etc. It is quite real. There is already some transit-oriented development going on at the station locations, too. I believe they have begun construction on a tunnel on the west side of the Capitol Hill neighborhood, heading up toward the University Bridge area. They did vote down a previously voter-approved monorail extension that would have connected the northwest part of the city with downtown after costs spiraled upward. I understand that the monorail proposal has been a back and forth battle for years.
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Parkguy
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Username: Parkguy

Post Number: 43
Registered: 04-2007
Posted on Wednesday, June 06, 2007 - 9:48 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Douglasm--
This describes a study they are doing for an extension of the light rail farther east, just as you suggested.

The East Link project is an element of the proposed Sound Transit 2 package of mass transit projects currently being considered by Sound Transit, consistent with the agency’s recently adopted Long-Range Plan update. East Link is a proposed extension of Link light rail. The corridor consists of approximately 19 miles between downtown Seattle, Bellevue and Redmond via I-90 and Mercer Island.
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Douglasm
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Username: Douglasm

Post Number: 852
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Thursday, June 07, 2007 - 5:50 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Parkguy....
.....I'm about 150 miles east, so most of my information I've gleened out of the Seattle P.I.

Livernoisyard makes a point, but it's probably a point that could be made about any people moving project from now until the end of time, be it mass transit or highway construction, given the increase in land, material and labor costs. There is no easy or surefire cure for mass transportation problems this nations cities suffer from. All I know is that if I go to Seattle during the morning commute, traffic jams begin 40 miles out of downtown.....
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Parkguy
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Username: Parkguy

Post Number: 47
Registered: 04-2007
Posted on Sunday, June 10, 2007 - 8:10 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Livernoisyard said:
"Now, who really believes that Detroit would have a prayer with coming up with that level of public funding?"

I talked to a state highway engineer a few years back, and at that time main state and county roads cost $1 million per lane per mile. Does anyone know what it runs now? Remember, every foot of road is totally subsidized-- no demands for self-sufficiency from fares or tolls, etc.
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Livernoisyard
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Username: Livernoisyard

Post Number: 3305
Registered: 10-2004
Posted on Sunday, June 10, 2007 - 10:32 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

A good means to study how light rail transit plans start and then derail afterwards is to follow them in articles in the Wikipedia, among others.

Sound Transit Link Light Rail

It's already an expensive white elephant in Seattle. Still totally unresolved--where will Detroit come up with such funding?
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Detroit_stylin
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Username: Detroit_stylin

Post Number: 4234
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Sunday, June 10, 2007 - 10:55 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

LY shut your negative azz up man damn....
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Dalangdon
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Username: Dalangdon

Post Number: 137
Registered: 03-2006
Posted on Tuesday, June 12, 2007 - 9:43 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

You can tell a person is naive when they consider Wikipedia a valid source for reference, particularly when you are researching a public works project that lots of cranks have issues with.

LY, anyone can contribute to wikipedia. I could go in there and change it to say that Sound Transit is being constructed by poodles and that it is turning a profit that is being returned to the taxpayers. It would stay that way until someone happened along and changed it.

The internet is a wonderful research tool, but you have to use your brain and not be lazy about it.

No wonder we have the administration we have with such gullible people running around.
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Livernoisyard
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Username: Livernoisyard

Post Number: 3310
Registered: 10-2004
Posted on Tuesday, June 12, 2007 - 10:26 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Duh! Saying the obvious--at length.

The Wiki, whose articles are peer reviewed and edited (and sometimes--purged), is a far better source of information than those from the liberal-biased press and socialist organizations hell bent on spending ever more taxpayer funds.

Just why is it that the left is so reluctant to embrace criticism of their pet projects and white elephant boondoggles? Instead, they go after messengers or criticize the Wikis. And some far lefties even believe that they are mainstreamers and speak for a significant percentage of the populace--or should.

Oh, and BTW--where and when will Detroit ever come up with the money?
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Dalangdon
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Username: Dalangdon

Post Number: 138
Registered: 03-2006
Posted on Tuesday, June 12, 2007 - 11:49 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

LY, take off your tinfoil hat and sit a spell.

1.) There is no "liberal media" - someone's been listening to too many old Nixon speeches.

2.) You come back and wax eloquent about Wiki the next time somebody defames your favorite reactionary politician.

3.) Sound Transit's expanded package is on the ballot for this fall. The only thing threatening it is that it has been inexplicably linked to a roads package that only some special interests support.

Here in Seattle, people realize that we are limited geographically (if it's not a body of water, it's a mountain) and that roads aren't the only answer. That's not being anti-car, or any other simple-minded reactionary sound byte: It's simply realizing that we need options for people to get around.

btw, Seattle funded some huge civic projects back in the early 70's, when the economy here was bleak: Boeing had laid off something like 2/3 of its workforce, and home values were plummeting. But people here believed in the region, and knew it had to be done. Unfortunately, the one thing they didn't fund was mass transit - hence the expense and complications of trying to build a light rail system in an already developed city.
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Nyct
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Username: Nyct

Post Number: 50
Registered: 01-2007
Posted on Tuesday, June 12, 2007 - 2:04 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

There is no "liberal media"???

disproved time and time again on www.newsbusters.org
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Dalangdon
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Username: Dalangdon

Post Number: 139
Registered: 03-2006
Posted on Tuesday, June 12, 2007 - 2:46 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Newsbusters? Give me a break.

Again, RESEARCH is researching things. Visiting slanted websites that provide you with talking points is not research.

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