Dear DSA Members,

With the November 4 election less than two weeks away and absentee ballots arriving in the mail, we wanted to share our positions on two important issues that will have major effects on Downtown Seattle traffic and accessibility both now and in the future. After careful review, our Board of Trustees voted to endorse Proposition 1 (Sound Transit Phase II) and oppose Initiative 985.

The Downtown Seattle Association has long championed the push for efficient, effective transportation solutions that improve access to and movement around Downtown. We believe the best solutions are those that address the issues holistically, weighing the region’s short-term concerns with future needs. While Proposition 1 looks to long-term solutions for increasing the region’s transit capacity in preparation for an estimated seven to 12 years of Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement construction, I-985 offers detrimental, short-sighted traffic congestion relief solutions that we feel will worsen the problem.

We invite you to examine our rationale for these positions by reading the information below and encourage you to share this information with other Downtown advocates as you see fit.

As always, we are interested to hear your thoughts and feedback on these and other issues affecting our city. Please send us your comments by visiting www.downtownseattle.com and clicking on the “Let’s Talk Downtown” icon at the top of the page.

Sincerely,


Kate Joncas
President, Downtown Seattle Association

Patrick Gordon
Chair, Downtown Seattle Association Board of Trustees

Vote Yes on Proposition 1 (read DSA news release)
Proposition 1 will allow for the expansion of light rail, commuter rail and express bus service in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties. Specifically, the plan includes:

  • 36 miles of light rail north to Lynnwood (via Northgate), east to Overlake and south to Redondo and Star Lake.
  • 100,000 hours of new bus service
  • 65% increase to Sounder commuter rail passenger capacity
  • Improved transit station access and parking
  • 17% increase in express bus service
  • Independent audits
  • Daily Sound Transit ridership system-wide with the plan is estimated at 348,000 by 2030, with a total carrying capacity of 1,000,000 daily riders. Without the plan, ridership estimates total 195,000.
It is important to note that all eight of the current viaduct replacement options under consideration assume extended light rail service from Downtown to Northgate.


Vote No on I-985 (read DSA news release)
The Tim Eyman-sponsored initiative proposes the opening of Puget Sound-area HOV lanes to all traffic except during peak rush-hour drive times and diverting sales tax revenue from the state’s general fund for transportation purposes.

At a DSA meeting this past week, DSA board member and transportation expert Jared Smith reported that I-985 fails to acknowledge that the HOV system plays an integral role in moving buses, carpools and vanpools in a reliable manner at all hours of the day, not just during the traditional “peak” periods. He noted that the proposed I-985 changes will lead to increased congestion on roadways that are already problematic, including SR-520 and I-405.

Other adverse impacts of I-985 include:

  • Buses and vanpools would be forced to travel in the same lanes as general traffic, slowing traffic for all commuters and adversely impacting the reliability of transit service at a time when more commuters are looking for alternatives to driving alone and paying high gas prices.
  • The state’s budget situation would worsen by diverting $300 million from the state’s general fund over the next biennium.
  • Revenue that is currently dedicated to core state services such as education, public safety and healthcare.
  • Despite claims from the initiative’s sponsor, I-985 doesn’t follow the recommendations of the 2007 state transportation audit – rather, it addresses only one of the 22 recommendations.
  • An increased risk of car crashes due to congestion in HOV lanes and weaving of traffic at on and off ramps.
  • Reductions in the ability of emergency and incident response vehicles to travel quickly in crowded HOV lanes.
  • Direct contradictions with federal requirements for the management of direct-access ramps, potentially forcing closure of some facilities at off-peak hours. Inflexible rules for traffic signal synchronization that fail to allow local jurisdictions to manage traffic signals based on local needs. Reduction in funding sources for red light cameras, which could undermine safety at high-collision intersections and school zones.
  • Significant public outlays for capital equipment and management changes that yield no tangible benefits for road performance
To champion a healthy, vibrant urban core
600 Stewart Street,
Suite 200
Seattle, WA 98101
TEL 206-623-0340
FAX 206-625-9940
www.downtownseattle.com