In the Reporter’s last issue, King County Executive Dow Constantine exercised his right to editorialize in the Island’s newspaper, “A time out is needed to listen to Islanders’ concerns about Sound Transit” –Aug. 12, 2015. Islanders should recognize the article for what it was.
The Executive’s editorial was a political campaign piece designed to promote Bellevue’s Mayor Claudia Balducci running against King County Councilperson Jane Hague and Mercer Island’s Mayor Bruce Bassett running against challenger Tom Acker.
The Executive/Sound Transit Chair references a bus turnaround on the Island as a forgone conclusion. A turnaround that according to the last EIS will as much as triple bus traffic during peak hours along 80th Avenue S.E. Inevitably, direct and indirect congestion will compromise the Island’s charm and character.
Sound Transit (ST) calling a “time out” to further listen to Mercer Islanders about additional parking, bus route connections, bus traffic from an assumed bus transfer station and HOV access is allocated two months (Aug. 15–Oct. 15). It will likely take ST staff a month (Oct. 16–Nov. 15) to review, analyze and publish a report. Then, outside of the shadow of the elections, ST Leaders will make controversial decisions affecting the Island.
Sound Transit’s “time out” is simply a concerted tactic in self‐preservation by delaying critical decisions until after the election.
ST is bound to the 1976 Memorandum Agreement and the 2004 Memorandum Agreement Amendment where King County, Seattle, Sound Transit, Mercer Island, WSDOT and Bellevue will receive “concurrence of the parties to be a prerequisite to Commission action.”
In January 2012, Sound Transit briefed the City Council that East Link Extension would take seven years, 2016–2023 to complete.
Then in January 2014, ST dismissed my suspicion that moving the center lane closure from the 2016 election year to 2017 and shortening the project to six from seven years was sound and not motivated by politics.
Finishing the project in 2023 seems unlikely given last month’s approval of an additional $20 million on an original $28 million Final Design Contract over I-90.
The engineering challenges with the SR-520 pontoons and with “Big Bertha” substantiates a skeptical attitude in this very complicated project.
Before closing the center lane, the region needs proof that the many challenges crossing the bridge are fully resolved. Islanders really want to know why I‐90 can’t be operated as 12 lanes with both the center lanes and the added two HOV lanes until Sound Transit has proven that they can safely bring light rail across the I‐90 Bridge.
There are over 150 Council/Mayors up for election in King County. Citizens receive the benefit of a competitor in less than half of those contests. Islanders are fortunate to have challengers in all five of the positions up for election. Executive Constantine’s letter documents the interest Mercer Island elections are receiving from non‐Islanders.
The outcome of our elections will be viewed as a mandate not only on local issues surrounding the Town Center and density but on the Bus Transfer Station, Center Lane Access and the Park and Ride.
Mike Cero
Mercer Island Councilmember
