New Seattle monorail proposal

[GatsbyGatz]

Originally Posted by Deezus

Well, sir, there's nothing on earth
Like a genuine, bona fide
Electrified, six-car monorail
What'd I say?

Just think about it.

Disneyland has a monorail.
Disneyland is the "happiest place on earth."
Seattle gets (another) monorail.
Seattle becomes more like Disneyland.
Seattle becomes more like the "happiest place on earth"; ergo, "happier."

Here is the above logic presented using a variable equasion:
D=M+?
D=H
S --> S+M
S+M=D-?
S+M=H-?

The math is unquestionable proof of the need for the monorail.
This case is closed.

[Deezus]

Originally Posted by GatsbyGatz

Just think about it.

Disneyland has a monorail.
Disneyland is the "happiest place on earth."
Seattle gets (another) monorail.
Seattle becomes more like Disneyland.
Seattle becomes more like the "happiest place on earth"; ergo, "happier."

Here is the above logic presented using a variable equasion:
D=M+?
D=H
S --> S+M
S+M=D-?
S+M=H-?

The math is unquestionable proof of the need for the monorail.
This case is closed.

Not a Simpsons fan, I see...

[GatsbyGatz]

Originally Posted by Deezus

Not a Simpsons fan, I see...

I'm not, but I know what episode you're talking about. I'm surprised no one has posted a link to the Youtube video with that clip...

[NewbiePoster]

Originally Posted by GoBlueInSeattle

This idea is beyond stupid. Its being proposed by a handful of kooks led by the chief kook who likes to go around sueing the City to stop the Highway 99 tunnel project amongst other things.

There is already planning begun to provide light rail to West Seattle - Ballard, by Sound Transit. Its part of ST3, which is the next Sound Transit funding measure that will be going before voters soon. Providing light rail to the western third of Seattle is all part of Sound Transit's long range plans.

The monorail is a fool's errand, using outdated technology and a complete waste of time. Its this kind of spastic temper tantrums by Seattle voters that is the main reason we don't have a comprehensive light rail system in Seattle already. We could have had a light rail system for Seattle over 40 years ago (Forward Thrust) - instead, Lesser Seattle decided to throw a temper tantrum and sent the $900 million in Federal money back to DC where it immediately got shipped to Atlanta where they got to use it to build MARTA.

Way to go Seattle! Keep see-sawing between ballot measures (Yes! No! Yes! No! Yes! No!) and the wake up wondering why you can't have anything nice.

Meanwhile, our short-sighted Mayor is going cheapskate and flushing the waterfront plan and all its tremendous long-term civic and economic benefits down the drain. Guaranteed that when that same plan gets resurrected 30 years from now at 10 times the cost, everyone will go "why didn't we built it before?!?!!?"

We coulda had a downtown public park (Seattle Commons). Decided to give Paul Allen the finger instead. Now we have Greater Amazonia and Seattleites complaining about how they can't afford the rent anymore.

One thing about monorails, though--they're independent of traffic. So they can move people faster.

[GatsbyGatz]

Originally Posted by NewbiePoster

One thing about monorails, though--they're independent of traffic. So they can move people faster.

Yeah, but light rail can also be separated from traffic. Light rail is also a lot more consistent in terms of performance, too.

I just can't fathom why monorail is even in discussion. WSDOT is already reviewing a grade-separated light rail like for Ballard/Greenlake and West Seattle.

[NewbiePoster]

Originally Posted by GatsbyGatz

Yeah, but light rail can also be separated from traffic. Light rail is also a lot more consistent in terms of performance, too.

I just can't fathom why monorail is even in discussion. WSDOT is already reviewing a grade-separated light rail like for Ballard/Greenlake and West Seattle.

Old dreams die hard, I guess.

I'm having a hard time picturing where a light rail line would run (or even a monorail) to West Seattle. What would the route be?

[GatsbyGatz]

Originally Posted by NewbiePoster

Old dreams die hard, I guess.

I'm having a hard time picturing where a light rail line would run (or even a monorail) to West Seattle. What would the route be?

It's currently in the initial review stage. Here's the scoop:

Light rail for West Seattle? See the progress report given to Sound Transit’s executive committee

[wutitiz]

There is one new factor now that could affect mono-mania, and that is the emergence of the ride-share services. AFAIK they were not in existence last time. They have had to develop some political influence. They would presumably see a monorail as competition and might be willing to pony up to oppose this.

One problem w/ ballot measures is that the pro-side is usually well funded by people who intend to tap into the tax revenue stream that is to be created. And the no side is usually has virtually zero funding.

[WriterDude]

Originally Posted by GatsbyGatz

Yeah, but light rail can also be separated from traffic. Light rail is also a lot more consistent in terms of performance, too.

I just can't fathom why monorail is even in discussion. WSDOT is already reviewing a grade-separated light rail like for Ballard/Greenlake and West Seattle.

I'm with you, this seems strange. I mean, you could use a giant slingshot to shoot people across the area, and that would help improve traffic too, but it's not necessarily sensible.

[Polymorphist]

Monorail is mostly popular in Asia and it can be very modern. Sydney has a monorail line but I didn't bother looking it up to see how old it is before I posted this From what I recall when I did read about it a few years ago is that it can be built fairly quickly.

I'm all for whatever connects the various areas. I live on the light rain line right now and can't tell you how convenient that sucker is. I can't wait until the U extension opens, I never go there because I don't want to deal with traffic and parking, but I will when the U line opens next year and I can do it all on foot. I just hope that whatever is chosen that all the lines connect together quite easily for easy transferring. They also need to run the trains later on weekends, that would be a big help.

We need a Southcenter extension. My opinion, but it's kind of dumb that the rail didn't run from the airport to Southcenter, then northward.