A slim majority of 500 adults surveyed in a KING-5 poll released today support delaying construction of a new 520 bridge so that the state can study the possibility of putting light rail on the bridge. As we reported yesterday , the state's current "preferred" six-lane 520 plan would virtually preclude the possibility of putting rail on the bridge later, according to a consultant's report. That same consultant, Tim Payne of Nelson/Nygaard, estimated that planning to put rail on the bridge would take about five years; however, it would only delay the bridge's opening between six months and a year.



Tim Payne of Nelson/Nygaard and Mayor Mike McGinn

The poll found that 51 percent of respondents supported delaying construction (the exact period of delay wasn't specified in the poll), 33 percent supported moving forward, and 15 percent were undecided. Support for studying rail was higher among younger poll respondents, with 55 percent of those between 18 and 34 saying the state should delay construction.