Samples of Letters We've Sent

Election is clear indicator of waning support for Sound Transit light rail

November 19, 2002

Dear Senator Murray:

The outcome of the November 5th election should be a clear indicator of the public’s long waning support of Sound Transit’s grossly ineffective light rail project. The passage of I-776 by all clear logic should not be construed solely as the taxpayers’ wish to obtain $30.00 license tabs, but as a loud and clear message to Sound Transit that a majority of the public is strongly dissatisfied with this “train to nowhere”. This is apparent due to the fact that the Monorail initiative also passed (for the 3rd time), which would raise license tab fees by 1.4%.

Sound Transit now cries that existing services will have to be cut. This is why the people that voted against I-776 did so. Ron Sims has threatened to do away with services that enjoy vast public support (i.e. Sounder commuter trains and buses). Yet he and his stubborn cronies still continue to forge ahead with a half-baked “lite” rail system that will do nothing to alleviate congestion, and will very likely worsen it in the places where it will run on the surface. Recently (on Oct. 31), twenty six elected officials in the area have contacted you regarding this issue and have asked that the money be diverted to projects that are actually effective and much less disruptive (i.e.: closing the downtown tunnel to buses) than the money sucking black hole known as light rail.

I am writing to urge you to consider this and please take note that the voters here are well aware that something has to be done about the tremendous congestion problem in the area. But the wrong thing shouldn’t be done out of desperation. Sound Transit officials never even considered the monorail technology, shrugging it off as “a Disney Land ride” even though the voters have thrice said that they want it. It is my belief that mass transportation should be effective, functional and, if it helps to pull people out of their cars, fun is good. The existing monorail pays for itself – and if the E.T.C. continues their excellent work – the new one will be just as successful.

Sincerely,

Cathy Dampier
Seattle