A recent column by Bellevue Reporter editor Craig Groshart supported the Bellevue City Council’s new East Link route through the Mercer Slough Park because if would allow riders to “admire and appreciate the park more than they do now.” That logic would suggest you support running paved roads through all our wilderness areas to allow millions more people to enjoy their pristine beauty.
As one of those supposedly rare people, who has canoed there, the idea of a light rail system with noisy trains interrupting that quiet solitude every 4-5 minutes is truly unthinkable.
This recent kafuffle over routing reflects the council’s belated recognition that no one wants to live anywhere near light rail.
Seattle light rail has failed to attract any significant development since its conception. Sound Transit has resorted to forcing closure of popular Metro bus routes and allowing nearby parking lots in attempts to boost ridership that is currently half of projections.
The council’s recognition of public aversion to living near light rail apparently doesn’t change their belief that East Link will enhance development of the Bel-Red area and downtown Bellevue.
Sound Transit has projected 40,000-45,000 East Link riders by 2030 along routes with minimal if any parking. Currently about 2500-3000 riders take ST 550 into and out of Seattle each day. Where are all the additional riders going to come from?
Your column identified problems with the alternative routes and asked, “what’s reasonable?” You neglected to mention the most viable alternative of all, the council use their permitting process to block East Link.
Bellevue residents in the 41st and 48th legislative districts voted against funding East Link in 2008. They apparently recognized East Link would never attract more than a fraction of projected riders and that installing light rail on the bridge center section will only increase congestion for the vast majority of cross-lake commuters.
Readers need to contact the council and object to any East Link proposal.
Bill Hirt, Bellevue
