Comments on: Trains Are Magic

By: Joe G

Joe G — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 21:03:21 +0000

I agree with Brian, there is huge opportunity for growth all around the light rail stations and I would argue that it starts with the ID station and goes all the way to Tukwila.

Did any one else notice the most amazing P-Patch in the city. Living in Seattle for two and a half years, downtown, and carless i was doing a bit of sight seeing on link this weekend. Seeing that swatch of farm land brought a little proud tear to my eye.

By: Brian

Brian — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 13:54:14 +0000

I see the lack of dense development around the stations much more as an opportunity than as a problem. Some day the economy will turn around, and when it does, that land will be (in the words of a former Illinois governor) “F***ing GOLDEN!”

Shouldn’t we be more concerned about suburban sprawl and the loss of farmland and forestland? The areas around these stations are perfect examples of how there is plenty of room for the Seattle metro area to grow, even without expanding its footprint.

By: Ellery

Ellery — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 20:04:35 +0000

@7, At present, the Tukwila station serves no other purpose than park and ride. However, the City of Seatac (includes everything on the other side of International Blvd, so half the station area) has done station area planning for their half, and envisions more mixed-use multi-family development, with ped access to the station. The City of Tukwila, on the other hand, hasnt done much on their side. And siting the station at the intersection of two highways isn’t going to lend itself to vibrant TOD. There is a long history there, and it’s not where the station should have been…but it’s what we’ve got. Hopefully long term there can be some rethinking of the uses, but it’s hard to imagine much change in the foreseeable future. And hopefully we can avoid similarly unfortunate station sitings with ST 2.

By: grouchycyclist

grouchycyclist — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 19:17:20 +0000

Many who road yesterday from the Westlake end to Tukwila could not help but exclaim when we got off in Tukwila, “Where the heck are we?”

Remind me again the purpose of the Tukwila station other than as a park and ride? It doesn’t appear to be within walking distance of anything useful.

The train is awesome, about 30 years late, but awesome none-the-less. Now we just need to get the rest of the populace ‘on-board’ with the whole idea that city is really a city, not a large burg (See Danny Westneat this morning).

By: dang

dang — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 15:55:03 +0000

Tsk, tsk... Jack your mind's narrower than streetcar tracks. Not sure where you are pulling your numbers, much less on who's behalf you are speaking. I sought out a couple of articles for you, just to warn you of how widespread mental problems have become. A year old perhaps, but this speaks to the reality of oil dependence. And a couple of new takes on "old" technology here and here. You've been warned--we're everywhere.

By: Sound Transit Officially Opens…. Northwest Progressive Institute Advocate: Travel Light……. | Total Info

Sun, 19 Jul 2009 14:01:07 +0000

[...] have something curmudgeonly to add. Because as has been noted ad nauseum on thisRead more at http://hugeasscity.com/2009/07/18/trains-are-magic/ Tags: and, Business, Light, Rail, Seattle « Pat Buchanan and Rachel Maddow [...]

By: Sound Transit Officially Opens…. Northwest Progressive Institute Advocate: Travel Light……. | Total Info

Sun, 19 Jul 2009 08:01:37 +0000

By: Ellery

Ellery — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 05:27:48 +0000

Agreed, Franklin High School does look amazing from Link. What a wonderful building and treasure for the city.

By: Joshua Daniel Franklin

Joshua Daniel Franklin — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 04:40:40 +0000

Now Jack, I know it’s frustrating that we’re using yesterday’s technology while they’re living in the future in with maglev in Shanghai and TGV in France, but you should at least be polite to us poor backward Americans. I think the US is only about 5% of the world’s population, though, not 16 percent. You should check your facts.

Franklin High School looked amazing today.

By: Jack May

Jack May — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 00:28:04 +0000

Only the bottom 16 percent of society like living in the past and glorifying trains.

The others that are the top 84 percent of society prefer living in the present and looking forward to a better society in the future.

The top 86 percent have a lot better jobs, make more money and are happier than the lossers that want to live in the past.

If you love trains you probably have a rail fetish which is often considered to be a mental problem.