City Hall
McGinn: 520 Planning Still Doesn't Do Enough for Light Rail
Last week, Mayor Mike McGinn responded to recommendations by a working group on 520 about high-capacity transit planning and funding across the bridge. The state Department of Transportation just sent a report outlining the recommendations to the governor's office yesterday.
As we reported in Fizz earlier this month, the group's report noted that that, with transit agencies' revenues declining, "new sustainable revenue sources are needed to support the high capacity transit capital and service improvements in the corridor." The report also recommended studying the "demand for and feasibility of light rail and other high capacity transit technologies along the SR 520 corridor." However, it also cautioned that rail on I-90 could remove some of the demand for transit across 520.
In his letter, McGinn said he was concerned that the 520 recommendations won't ensure that the bridge is ready for light rail from the beginning (something state officials dispute), and that they don't identify sufficient funding for transit. He suggested using some of the revenues from 520 tolls for transit, and not just for the road itself. State law currently prohibits tolls on 520 from being used for anything but roadway construction and maintenance.
"While progress has been made in the design to accommodate light rail, it has been established that the design must be studied further if we are to avoid a more costly and difficult conversion to light rail later on," McGinn wrote. Additionally, "this report is not as helpful in identifying and addressing priorities, next steps, or a clearer picture of the best way to move forward and at least begin to bridge the gap in funding."
As we reported in Fizz earlier this month, the group's report noted that that, with transit agencies' revenues declining, "new sustainable revenue sources are needed to support the high capacity transit capital and service improvements in the corridor." The report also recommended studying the "demand for and feasibility of light rail and other high capacity transit technologies along the SR 520 corridor." However, it also cautioned that rail on I-90 could remove some of the demand for transit across 520.
In his letter, McGinn said he was concerned that the 520 recommendations won't ensure that the bridge is ready for light rail from the beginning (something state officials dispute), and that they don't identify sufficient funding for transit. He suggested using some of the revenues from 520 tolls for transit, and not just for the road itself. State law currently prohibits tolls on 520 from being used for anything but roadway construction and maintenance.
"While progress has been made in the design to accommodate light rail, it has been established that the design must be studied further if we are to avoid a more costly and difficult conversion to light rail later on," McGinn wrote. Additionally, "this report is not as helpful in identifying and addressing priorities, next steps, or a clearer picture of the best way to move forward and at least begin to bridge the gap in funding."
