A Cheaper Way to Federal Way?
From The News Tribune:
http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/05/27/1682223/a-cheaper-way-to-link-light-rail.html
After the notice from Sound Transit that funding may not be available to extend Link Light Rail to Federal Way, proposals have been made to extend light rail down Interstate 5 instead of Highway 99, or to replace the service with bus service.
Both of these proposals are ify at best. I have ridden the current express bus service, RapidRide Line A, from the proposed endpoint to the airport. Due to the large amount of lights on the route, it takes as long to go that distance (~30 minutes) as the entire current light rail route from the airport to Downtown Seattle.
An I-5 routing doesn’t make as much sense as the housing and commercial areas are all along Highway 99. Given the heavy ridership of the RapidRide line it makes the most sense to go with the original plan.
Besides finding a way to pay for it, the only other option then is to perhaps put the rail at ground level, even with as many problems as that will create.
Ben