Samples of Letters We've Sent

Sound Transit wants more for light rail

Published in the Seattle P-I, May 4, 2003 at http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/120292_ltrs4.html

The regional transportation package that is being prepared for voting in the next election cycle is in serious jeopardy. The majority members of the regional board are trying to put together a package of road improvements, viaduct replacement and bridge-expansion projects. But their efforts may be in vain.

Some Sound Transit board members have threatened to vote against any plan that does not give more tax money to Sound Transit to help pay for the additional billions of dollars to get light rail to Northgate.

Since 1997 we have been paying additional sales tax, motor vehicle tax and transfer taxes to Sound Transit. Now ST wants to hijack the regional plan to get additional taxes to go to Sound Transit for light rail. ST officials threaten to kill the regional plan if they don't have money for light rail in the proposal. They have tried to get Olympia to allocate state taxes for light rail, with some success, but now Olympia is in deficit. Their efforts to get Congress to free up frozen funds have been unsuccessful. Their record of underestimation of costs and promises that have not been kept, has caused distrust in many representatives.

Congressional staff members have labeled light rail "the mystery train" because they don't know how much it will cost and they don't know where it's going. It is time to end this fiasco.

Art McDonell
Seattle