Let's say you ran sound transit and had a really high budget

[Ediacara]

What would you do about light rail?

I recently moved back to Seattle and after 6 years away I'm surprised and encouraged that some progress actually appears to be happening. I'm fairly disappointed in the extremely limited route for the first leg: downtown (or maybe the UW) to the airport. Seriously? That's it? Even the roads and transit measure is fairly disappointing in how limited it is.

So, what would you do to improve the system? I've got plenty of ideas I'll post shortly, but here's some maps I made using wikimapia and MS paint. The red line is the currently under construction line, the orange, seafoam, and blue lines are the north, south, and east links that are part of the roads and transit measure.

[Ediacara]

1. In fifteen years or less I'd like to see something like this implimented:

Unless all the neighborhoods in Seattle are served, and large portions of the eastern suburbs, I think light rail will not do a lot toward reducing traffic. I freely admit that I am not as familiar with the northern and southern parts of the area covered as I am with Seattle and the east side. Comments, of course, are welcome.



At the center of the system I'd like a large loop, denoted in black and white. All of the major lines in the system would originate from this loop. To the northwest the Cyan line would go through Belltown into Lower Queen Anne, then under Queen Anne proper, turn west and run on 15th Ave through Interbay and into Ballard continuing north into Shoreline and possibly farther. To the northeast, the Orange line (which is the North-Link) would move from Capitol Hill to the U District and follow the I-5 corridor into Snohomosh County. The Gold line would go from Golden Gardens Park through Ballard, Wallingford, Fremont, the U District and end at Magnuson Park.



The central part of the system is what I'd add the most to. The Blue Line would follow I-90 into Bellevue, turn north into Bellevue's downtown crossing the brown line, and then continue to Kirkland. The Brown line would originate on the loop and follow Madison toward Madison Park, then turn north and join SR 520 going east. Once on the Eastside, it would cross the Blue line in downtown Bellevue, then follow the Link-East route along Bel-Red into Overlake and eventually downtown Redmond. The Pink line would originate in Leschi Park, travel west, then turn northwest under Boren into Belltown. In Belltown it would split with one branch going up Eastlake to the U District and eventually toward Lake City. The other branch would follow Dexter into Fremont and parallel Aurora.



To the southeast is the Red line, essentially covering the original leg of Sound Transit's Link system, following MLK, then moving on to the airport and eventually Tacoma. Before the Red line crosses I-5, I'd have a branch move east into Renton and possibly farther. The the southwest I'd have two major West Seattle lines. The Green line originating from the loop, following the West Seattle Bridge, meeting the Purple line around Luna Park, then going underground and mostly following California Ave from Admiral Junction to Alaska Junction and then Morgan Junction where it turns toward the Ferry Dock, then back toward White Center crossing the Purple again and meeting the Red. The Purple line would run from Alki Point along the beaches to Luna Park, then follow Delridge Way to Burien, turns east to the airport and Southcenter and possibly farther.

[flamingyouth]

3. Some of these routes are identical to the pre-war system.

When I was really little you could still see the outline in the road at NW 85th and 15th NW where the cars would turn around (I grew up in North Beach). They've paved it over a few more times since then so you can't see it anymore. Way back when, 85th was the city limit, I believe.

A system like Max in Portland would be great. Until then it'll just be cars and buses stuck in traffic forever, it seems... :(

I didn't know you'd moved back. :hi:

[Ediacara]

5. I am not that familiar with Max in PDX

I'd like the system to be both for distant commuters and for in town transport, which I think the route map I made could support.

And ya, we moved back about a month ago. It's gone by in a flash, and we've both been pretty busy. I think I owe you guys some dinner, don't I?

[maxsolomon]

2. as rational as any plan, but...

this is seattle.

nothing will happen until there's a crisis, and then we'll cheap out.

there once was a network of trolleys that ran up & down the city's many hills. removed & sold to mexico after ww2, where the cars still reportedly run to this day.

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

4. Max !

Have you ever rode the BART in Northern California?
Have faith Max! Just as soon as the people say in no uncertain terms, spare no expense, a commuter train system is what King county must have, it will come!

[Ediacara]

6. Ugh, you're not kidding

I was really agitated by the monorail diversion. Not that I was anti-monorail necessarily but I thought the city and/or county and/or regional authority should have put a ballot measure saying:

Choose one:

Monorail < >

Light Rail < >

And then agreed to kill the losing system rather than wasting time and money trying to kill the monorail slowly.