monorail : another stop closer to death
On the Seattle Monorail Blog, regular monorail-related content provider Joe reports that “The monorail will be on the ballot for a 5th time this November. The only question is who will be writing the measure, SMP or the City Council.” An e-mail from Mayor Nickels describes how and why the citizens of Seattle will be forced to consider the matter once again at the voting booth:
. . . I am canceling the agreement that grants permission for the monorail to use city streets. Exercising my authority to cancel the Transit Way Agreement is the most direct method for preventing this flawed plan from going forward.Second, I believe it is fundamentally important that the voters of Seattle have the final say in this project. The people of Seattle know I’m a mayor willing to make tough decisions. In this case, the people have a decision to make, too. The people created the monorail authority and I respect the people’s right to have the final say in its fate. It should not be decided in City Hall and it certainly should not be decided in Olympia. [smb]
So there you have it. Another bit of spice for this year’s local elections and and another chance to support grade-separated mass transit.
I guess that Nickles can be so bold about this since he has no credible challengers running against him. I wonder if the Stranger will endorse a write-in candidate now?
On the P-I virtual editorial board, monorail is being discussed, or rather could be.
http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/veb/archives/100033.asp (I hope this link works)
I am not supportive of the current plan, but believe it could go back to the drawing board. Along the Waterfront instead of 2nd Av has always been my favored route through downtown. As a plus, construction costs there could be shared with whatever happens to the viaduct. Better connection to the ferries, arenas. More room to ameliorate presence of beams, stanchions, stations with streetscape. View from inside more scenic - replacing lost 3 seconds of po lil driver heaven.