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Old 12-09-2008, 10:21 AM
 
999 posts, read 2,010,531 times
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Hi,

Does Seattle have a subway system? If not, what is the reason why the state and local governments have not invested in such a rail system given the large population in the Seattle region?
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Old 12-09-2008, 12:03 PM
 
Location: Seattle, WA
187 posts, read 576,638 times
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Seattle does not have a subway system. It does however, have a fairly decent bus system. Light rail from the airport to downtown will be finished early 2009 (just around the corner) and the people voted to extend the streetcar line to various neighborhoods. The city council just decided yesterday to extend it to First Hill/Capitol Hill, extending the existing line to the U Disctrict, and a Fremont via Westlake line (to the zoo, I believe.)

I am not an engineer by any means, but I'm not sure a subway system could work in this region due to geologic reasons. (??)
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Old 12-09-2008, 05:31 PM
 
Location: Austin, TX!!!!
3,757 posts, read 9,056,803 times
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Seattle is built on glacial till and we are in a seismically active area. I think I remember that combination makes a subway impractical (but don't hold me to that, I took Geology of the PNW over 20 years ago!) Most of the growth has taken place in the last two decades and I don't think in the early eighties the powers that be had any idea the level of growth that was in store for this city. For us to have an operating subway system TODAY they would have had to have started it back then.
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Old 12-09-2008, 09:22 PM
 
Location: Deer Park, WA
722 posts, read 1,511,017 times
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local govt is doing a 100 year impact study first its in its third year. 97 more to go.
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Old 12-10-2008, 08:57 AM
 
999 posts, read 2,010,531 times
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Hmmmm. I know the San Francisco-Oakland Bay area has the BART system and there are underground stations all over. In fact, I think SF is far more prone to earthquakes than Seattle.

I think just about every other major city along the Pacific coast has some kind of rapid rail transit system.

I know there was a tunnel construction project under consideration to replace sections of the Alaskan Viaduct. So I think tunneling in Seattle is geologically possible.

As the population in the Seattle metro region continues to expand, government officials at the local and state level have to come up with a radical solution to move people around. Perhaps, King County/Seattle can get some seed funding for a rapid rail system thanks to the President Obama federal infrastructure spending plan. The state government should kick in money so the rail system can be expanded to the east side as well.

It just astounds me that a large city such as Seattle has no vision with its transportation system. Buses and more cars on the roads are not the answer.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jennibc View Post
Seattle is built on glacial till and we are in a seismically active area. I think I remember that combination makes a subway impractical (but don't hold me to that, I took Geology of the PNW over 20 years ago!) Most of the growth has taken place in the last two decades and I don't think in the early eighties the powers that be had any idea the level of growth that was in store for this city. For us to have an operating subway system TODAY they would have had to have started it back then.
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Old 12-10-2008, 09:21 AM
 
Location: Austin, TX!!!!
3,757 posts, read 9,056,803 times
Reputation: 1762
Quote:
Originally Posted by coldbliss View Post
Hmmmm. I know the San Francisco-Oakland Bay area has the BART system and there are underground stations all over. In fact, I think SF is far more prone to earthquakes than Seattle.
It is the COMBINATION of the seismic activity and glacial till. As far as I know San Francisco is not built upon glacial till. Again, I *think* I remember this from a UW geology class years ago but I could be mistaken. Additionally San Francisco has been densely populated for many many decades. Seattle just the last two.
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Old 12-10-2008, 10:14 AM
 
Location: SE Arizona - FINALLY! :D
20,460 posts, read 26,319,675 times
Reputation: 7627
A small part of the Light Rail system is underground. Most is above ground - mainly because of cost considerations rather than because of any technical/geological considerations. The trains and track are undergoing testing now on part of the system and it's currently scheduled to begin service next year.

Sound Transit: Link Light Rail Projects

Ken
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Old 12-10-2008, 10:52 AM
 
Location: Austin, TX!!!!
3,757 posts, read 9,056,803 times
Reputation: 1762
Quote:
Originally Posted by LordBalfor View Post
A small part of the Light Rail system is underground. Most is above ground - mainly because of cost considerations rather than because of any technical/geological considerations. The trains and track are undergoing testing now on part of the system and it's currently scheduled to begin service next year.

Sound Transit: Link Light Rail Projects

Ken
But don't technical/geological considerations factor into the cost?
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Old 12-10-2008, 11:29 AM
 
Location: Seattle, WA
203 posts, read 720,372 times
Reputation: 90
I just heard on the radio today that it's been approved to extend to UW and they've got bids to drill out a tunnel under I5. Apparently the bids have come in well under what they were projected to. Good news considering our state's current financial woes.
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Old 12-10-2008, 01:08 PM
 
Location: SE Arizona - FINALLY! :D
20,460 posts, read 26,319,675 times
Reputation: 7627
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jennibc View Post
But don't technical/geological considerations factor into the cost?
I'm sure they do, but the fact is a tunnel is pretty much always going to cost more than a ground-level system - even without any geological issues. The geological issues CAN be overcome - after all, PART of the system IS underground - just not very much of it. Where possible, it has been built above ground to save money.

Ken
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