tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3299108886803608881.post5178497289798722840..comments2024-03-26T07:56:17.955-07:00Comments on The South Fraser Blog: Public Transit USANathan Pachalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647693133663879821noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3299108886803608881.post-73742129953874380332008-11-10T20:09:00.000-08:002008-11-10T20:09:00.000-08:00Seattle's LRT, is light rail in name only, rather ...Seattle's LRT, is light rail in name only, rather it can be called a light metro. Like SkyTrain, Seattle's 'rail' system has miles and miles of viaduct and more miles of expensive subway tunnels. The only area where one could call light rail is the few on-street sections, built predominately in non-white areas along the route!<BR/><BR/><BR/>sadly, Seattle's light-metro has fell afoul of the North American transit theory that 'rail' transit must be elevated or built in subways so as not to conflict with cars on streets!<BR/><BR/>Seattle's streetcar is a wee 1.5 mile system, that uses the Skoda 'convertible' light rail vehicle, which has found popularity in several US cities, such as Portland and Tacoma.<BR/><BR/>Don't hold your breathe as this vote could be overturned next year, just as the monorail vote was overturned after 3 tries. What will happen is Seattle's planners penchant for subways will drive the cost of 'rail' transit to such a point that the taxpayer will reject it out of hand.<BR/><BR/>What is of interest is the east-side rail line running from Belvue, North past Woodinville which has a lot in com mom with the present Southern RR of BC/interurban line. The disused rail;way right of way would be a natural for diesel LRT but the powers that be, refuse to plan for cheaper, real LRT solutions.<BR/><BR/>with Seattle, until the first rail is laid, much can happen to overturn the recent election results.Light Rail Guyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08422776386583809414noreply@blogger.com