It’s well known how Sound Transit caters to Seattle, and to the demands of Seattle politicians. Time and time again, the transit agency has been exposed for its Seattle-centric tendencies.
But, perhaps no other plan pushed by Sound Transit has favored Seattle more than its current $54 billion (that’s BILLION, with a B) scheme, Sound Transit 3 (ST3).
In light of the ST3, we’re highlighting how Sound Transit caters to Seattle… and that ultra-liberal city’s politicians.
Sound Transit’s Seattle-centric agenda.
Sound Transit’s ST3 disregards much of the Eastside. Yet, it expects — and, indeed, relies on — suburban taxpayers to fork over millions for expensive light-rail boondoggles to various parts of Seattle, like Ballard and West Seattle.
Every year, Renton residents pay about $23 million in Sound Transit taxes. Yet, over the last two decades, they have seen little to no services for their hard-earned dollars. In fact, only two Sound Transit Express bus routes pass through the city. ST3 does next-to-nothing to change Renton’s circumstances.
And, Renton is not alone.
Sound Transit officials recently admitted that they will spend “only 18% of ST3 rail and bus money on service in East King County” but is happy to “funnel double that, 36% of new tax money, to serve people living in Seattle and the immediate area.”
If Sound Transit cared about taxpayers on the Eastside, it would work with various city councils to produce services that meet the demands of the growing population — like more Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), not light rail. Unfortunately, deaf to Eastside concerns, ST3 only promotes the transit agency’s light rail obsession.
ST3 places light rail — and how light rail serves Seattle — as its primary objective. For the Eastside that’s understandably frustrating, especially considering the fact that adding BRT on I-405 could be done for far less money, serve far more people, far quicker, than pouring billions more into light rail which will serve relatively few Eastsiders.
But, it’s not just ST3’s light rail-obsessed plan that favors Seattle. Recently, Sound Transit “officially made the case that the whole region should pay for the second downtown Seattle tunnel.” The scheme follows a philosophy often trumpeted by officials that defines “sub-area equity” as “an integrated, regional system.” In other words, local money doesn’t necessarily benefit local areas… it benefits Seattle.
Apparently, the Sound Transit board knows what is best for all taxpayers because it reserves the “flexibility to determine what constitutes a benefit in the first place.” And, a project “doesn’t have to be physically in one area” to provide a benefit to that area.
Of course, the area that “benefits” from throwing sub-area equity away is Seattle.
Sound Transit caters to the demands of Seattle politicians
As Shift recently reported, Seattle City Council member Debora Juarez really, really wanted ST3 to include a low-value 130th Street station in her North Seattle district. Apparently, the first $50 billion version of Sound Transit 3 (ST3) had light rail heading north from Northgate, past 130th, and stopping at 145th Street before continuing north.
That didn’t sit well with Juarez. So, she threw a fit and threatened to publically oppose ST3 if her favorite station was not added to the revised $54 billion plan. And, as they so often do, Sound Transit officials just decided to grab more taxpayer dollars to surrender to her demand.
ST3 now includes a station at 130th for the price of $80 million. Here’s the kicker: the station was left out of the original plan because of low number of riders who would benefit.
But, hey, it’s still in Seattle… and a Seattle politician made the demand. That line of reasoning is enough for Sound Transit — at least enough to justify spending an additional $80 million of taxpayer dollars.
It’s interesting to contrast Sound Transit’s reaction to Juarez as opposed to its reaction to Eastside politicians — particularly in Renton — who just wanted BRT service for their taxpaying residents.
One Sound Transit board member admitted that there was “no formula” for decisions made on ST3. We’d venture to argue that there is, in fact, a formula and it involves putting Seattle first and catering to Seattle politicians.
The evidence that ST has been exclusively Seattle-centric has been painfully obvious from it’s very beginnings. The fact that so many of the Sound Transit’s board members that are outside of Seattle have ignored it for so long is also painfully obvious and shameful on their part. The have forfeited all credibility that they might once have had that they are looking out for the interests of their constituents. The greatest travesty in this entire boondoggle is that the politicians appointed to the ST board have no accountability. The entire thing reeks of the unique form of greediness that is pervasive among liberal, secular-progressive, democrat politicians. ST should be reorganized from the ground up with board members elected by region with equal input and decision making powers. The whole ST thing stinks like an outhouse that’s gone beyond it’s capacity to contain its contents.
Apparently written by somebody who wants no more transit anywhere.
Apparently written by someone who thinks opposing spending an additional $54 Billion to maybe fund 0.8% of the population’s transportation choices means “no more transit anywhere” GO AWAY UNSOUND TRANSIT!
No one has said that there should be no public transit anywhere, however, the revenue being expended to benefit so few and being so inflexible to changing demographics is insane except to those who really love the 19th century technology that is the ST board’s sexual fantasy… choo-choos in and out of tunnels.
HA HA HA HA HA
Well, at least you have a sense of humor if you think that’s funny, but there’s more truth than fiction in my comment.
It would be cheaper for everyone if Joe just moved to the choo-choo’s current service area – win-win!
The most major traffic congestion maker in the area is the convention center. It plainly shows the philosophy of directing traffic TO Seattle making the assumption that very few really just want to go THROUGH Seattle to other destinations.
Anybody that votes for this is out of their minds
I wish I could vote for this. I got a crush on Sound Transit.
It figures, you don’t even live in the service area so your sales and property taxes won’t be affected or have to pay the increased vehicle registration fees. SHEESH!
I wouldn’t mind the tax increase for QUALITY transit! Light rail is COOL!
So it’s the “cool” factor that make you so enthralled with it… as long as you don’t have to pay for it.
Oh I pay for it. Sales tax & transit fare. Not to mention embedded tax in price of goods.
Make the real connection, you have no cred here. Where do you pay most of your sales taxes and how much and to which transit agency do you pay those transit fares? And, do you care to explain what the “embedded tax in price of goods” actually consists of and how that supposed revenue source is transferred to ST?
Since “you have no cred here”, I’m done talking to you. Bye.
Just as I thought, you can’t justify your position… it’s just that choo-choos are sooooo coooool!
I know you do!
🙂
Sound Transit is also catering to Snohomish County politicians – sending light rail to Everett via Paine Field.
Sound Transit was mobbed by several hundred fans at an Everett hearing who brought white T-shirts and flowers in support of light rail to Everett! See for yourselves: https://www.flickr.com/photos/avgeekjoe/albums/72157667602566855
GO SOUND TRANSIT!
It was, in all likelihood, staged. The small number of people in attendance hardly reflects the will of the entire county. If you’re so enthralled by the choo-choo transit system that’s good at taking people to Seattle and back, but nowhere else than you can buy my house and live where it will cost you whether you use it or not.
Staged by who? I came organically to the event and brought presents for the staff.
How much were you paid and who bought the presents for the staff? And it really was a rather small gathering from the evidence shown by the photos.
ZERO and ME.
Photo link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/avgeekjoe/albums/72157667602566855
HA! Why?
Because I just love clean, electric light rail and I believe in public transportation.
So, you think solar panels and windmills are gonna generate all that power plus all the other increasing demands for electrical power, HUH? And the Seattle clown-council wants the nuclear generating plant in the Tri-Cities area shut down and four dams on the lower Snake River removed.
I support geothermal power production and with reservations, nuclear power & hydropower.
Well, good for you. However, the bottom line is really the amount of revenue spent on ST rail projects for the benefit received by those paying the taxes. The main point is that the return on investment is best described as abysmal. Just because you like choo-choos isn’t adequate justification.
GO SOUND TRANSIT!