ST2 “Mapping the Future”
Sound Transit updated their “ST2” plans the other day with more details (and a couple of specific options for the November 2007 ballot package).
There’s also a survey to tell them what you think: http://www.soundtransit.org/st2/pop_survey.aspx?surveyid=12.
Now, I’m a huge fan of anything that improves transit and transit mobility in the seattle area. So I’m a huge fan of just about anything Sound Transit wants to do. With that disclaimer out of the way, I have to say I’m a little disappointed that my #1 ST2 item (Eastside light rail to Overlake) makes its first maybe appearance in the “Rail Emphasis (Medium High)” option and its first for sure appearance in the “Rail Emphasis (High)” option.
So, my translation on that is that it’s quite likely we won’t get eastside light rail to Overlake in ST2. I’ll also admit that I have a singular focus on east-side light rail and I don’t know diddly about the other projects they’re planning. So the other projects may really be that necessary. Maybe.
But last time I checked, the 550 (Seattle <-> Bellevue) was the highest ridership Sound Transit route, with nearly 350k riders in Q1 2006. And the 545 (Seattle <-> Redmond) was a not-too-distant second place with nearly 275k riders in that same period. And the 545 route has increased ridership by 49% year-over-year from 2005.
So, what does that mean to me? Well, it means there are a BUNCH of people trying to get from Seattle to Bellevue and from Seattle to Redmond. And, as a daily rider of the 545 bus, I can tell you that at least in the morning, 90% of the people on the bus get off at Overlake – not going on to Redmond.
East-side light rail won’t serve everyone. Probably 20% of the 545 bus loads up at Montlake. But, some of those folks — like me — would just as soon take east-side light rail instead of a transfer.
I hope we get it.
