In the Aug. 12 Mercer Island Reporter, County Executive Dow Constantine articulated his commitment, on behalf of Sound Transit, to hearing and understanding Mercer Island concerns related to East Link light rail and mobility. I thank him and Bellevue Mayor Claudia Balducci for working with us to pause and listen before further study or negotiation.
Light rail will be a great asset for Mercer Islanders, provided the planning process now underway addresses the impacts of this system on our community. Foremost, while light rail will improve commute times for rail users, that benefit will occur only if we provide Islanders with parking or other means to easily access the trains.
Even after light rail is completed, most people will continue to use their cars to get on and off the Island. We know the loss of the center roadway will make it more difficult for these motorists – what we have referred to as a “loss of mobility.”
In the absence of proper planning, we could also see a loss of mobility in the form of back-ups on Island Crest Way and in the Town Center as drivers adjust to the closure of the 77th Avenue center roadway ramp.
The City Council has taken steps to ensure all Islanders have access to the new HOV lanes being added to the I-90 outside roadways between Seattle and Mercer Island but we remain concerned that WSDOT has yet to suggest a plan to enforce the HOV/SOV rules and discourage non-Island cut-through traffic.
As to the bus intercept issue referred to by the County Executive, I fully understand the value of having buses feed into our regional rail system as well as the need to avoid bus routes duplicating light rail routes. This has to be done, however, in a manner that does not solve one problem by creating another. The Council has also said that any further discussion of bus intercept must include consideration of off-Island options. So this is a time to voice both your ideas and your concerns. I’ve heard suggestion that we should press WSDOT for SOV access to the HOV lane from 405 to the International District, that we should consider license plate reading cameras to curtail cut-through traffic, that we should apply differential pricing to the Park and Ride.
Note that while Sound Transit is central to this discussion, Metro and WSDOT are essential participants and I’m pleased that they too are committed to this process. So whether your ideas pertain to Sound Transit, Metro, or WSDOT, please speak up.
Hearing public concerns and ideas is an important first step. The subsequent effort to craft solutions is essential. Through the efforts of Executive Constantine and Mayor Balducci, we have Sound Transit’s commitment to undertake that work collaboratively with us. Together and by listening to Islanders, we now have the opportunity to craft a plan that enhances mobility and minimizes impacts so light rail is a success for all of us.
Bruce Bassett
Mercer Island Mayor
