Bellevue Light Rail/East Link thread

[CityView Jim]

Originally Posted by alexjonlin

The plan that I saw mentioned in some ST documents for operations once ST2 is built out is to have one line going from Northgate to Federal Way, and another line going from Lynnwood to Overlake (via Downtown Seattle).

But sharing the same tracks yes. One train heading south continues south (call it the red line) while oner train heading south turns east at the International District (call it the yellow line). It's just so people will know if they have to get off and transfer or not (get off the red line at the International District and wait for a yellow line train to go to Redmond).

[Ruffhauser]

Originally Posted by CityView Jim

But sharing the same tracks yes. One train heading south continues south (call it the red line) while oner train heading south turns east at the International District (call it the yellow line). It's just so people will know if they have to get off and transfer or not (get off the red line at the International District and wait for a yellow line train to go to Redmond).

That bit about a "yellow line" going through Chinatown is going to cause some problems. This was in the news this week.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationwo...,1000719.story

[Stanman]

Originally Posted by Ruffhauser

That bit about a "yellow line" going through Chinatown is going to cause some problems. This was in the news this week.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationwo...,1000719.story

Oh good grief! And I suppose Communists are upset about the "red line".

[RMacherat]

Originally Posted by rathersmart

it's been done in europe and sofia for so many years with minor accidents, but nothing that warrants a complete halt of transit progress

I hate always to be making fun of this stuff, but I can't wait to hear the Bellevueites reaction to their getting a system "just like the Bulgarians!" Yippee.

[urbanlife78]

Originally Posted by Ruffhauser

That bit about a "yellow line" going through Chinatown is going to cause some problems. This was in the news this week.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationwo...,1000719.story

seriously, this is the stupidest thing I have ever heard...I didnt even think of the racial context of this...didnt even cross my mind until reading the article. Does that mean Portland needs to change its "yellow" line too? Ours runs through Chinatown too. Seriously, it is a color, sound people be upset if the "brown" line runs through a black neighborhood? or if the "pink" line runs through a gay neighborhood? We are talking about primary colors, people need to move on with this type of thinking.

[HAWC1506]

Originally Posted by urbanlife78

seriously, this is the stupidest thing I have ever heard...I didnt even think of the racial context of this...didnt even cross my mind until reading the article. Does that mean Portland needs to change its "yellow" line too? Ours runs through Chinatown too. Seriously, it is a color, sound people be upset if the "brown" line runs through a black neighborhood? or if the "pink" line runs through a gay neighborhood? We are talking about primary colors, people need to move on with this type of thinking.

We should designate the lines using HTML hex code then.

"The FFFF00 line train is now approaching the platform. Please stand behind the yellow textured strip."

[CityView Jim]

EVERYONE RELAX!!

I arbitrarily chose colors for demonstration purposes!! As it appears, the current mainline is blue (cyan, navy, royal, azure, sapphire pick one).

It also appears the East Link is more of a gold (umber, okre, auric, caramel etc).

[jessejb]

Originally Posted by RMacherat

I hate always to be making fun of this stuff, but I can't wait to hear the Bellevueites reaction to their getting a system "just like the Bulgarians!" Yippee.

That wouls require them to know what Bulgaria is.

[Nexis]

For great examples of Light Rail in Urban areas , look to New Jersey 3 Different networks servicing 2 of the Largest cities and one acting as a Connector Route. The Newark City Rail (Light Rail, Main line) is mainly grade separated and runs form Newark Penn to the Northwest corner, with future Extensions North and South. The Hudson - Bergen LRT network runs on abandoned tracks , and is only at grade in Downtown Jersey City , other wise its grade separated. The Riverline route is the US First Diesel light Rail and is grade separated except in the Camden Waterfront and Bordentown. The Problem when not grade separated is not the street traffic next to the Train its the Cross traffic running the lights as we just saw in Houston. Look at our different Light Rail networks on this site. http://world.nycsubway.org/index.html < the river line is in the philly section.

~Corey

[just4ivaylo]

Originally Posted by rathersmart

out of all people you should know that rail going through the city is no biggie...

it's been done in europe and sofia for so many years with minor accidents, but nothing that warrants a complete halt of transit progress

There have been tons of accidents in Sofia. The thing is, that's an old system. There's no money or will to change it at all. Seattle and the Eastside have a chance to do it right the first time, and use other cities as examples of what does and doesn't work.

[BellevueGuy]

Originally Posted by jessejb

That wouls require them to know what Bulgaria is.

Just wondering....does this kind of remark make any sense except making yourself look like a loser?

[HAWC1506]

Originally Posted by BellevueGuy

Just wondering....does this kind of remark make any sense except making yourself look like a loser?

I see it as an unfortunate (although exaggerated) truth of what America has become. We're falling behind and there's no doubt about it.

[meku]

Being raised in Europe, and emigrating to USA recently I must confess, there's a lot of truth to that statement. You see recently, especially in Eastern Europe, there was this notion, among majority of people, that America is the best country in the world. In everything. But to be honest, after living here for some years and learning the ins and outs of this country I must admit - US is way behind in so many things behind Europe and other parts of the world. Starting with the industrialized fake GM food, through crime and to infrastructure. It's kinda of sad but none of my friends who visited US and who worked in Europe for big American companies such as Microsoft, Accenture, Intel etc. would ever want move to US. Actually they all have declined lucrative offers to do so, after visiting and living here for some time. Nowadays, it's mostly really poor folks, without future, that still consider moving across the pond.

Twenty years ago people in Western Europe, not to mention Eastern Europe, would die for the opportunity to move to US. This generation, not so much. Kinda sad, that's all.

[RMacherat]

We're just an old travel-worn uncle who the family finally got into AA. He'll get better eventually; always does.

[Bonngo]

Originally Posted by meku

Being raised in Europe, and emigrating to USA recently I must confess, there's a lot of truth to that statement. You see recently, especially in Eastern Europe, there was this notion, among majority of people, that America is the best country in the world. In everything. But to be honest, after living here for some years and learning the ins and outs of this country I must admit - US is way behind in so many things behind Europe and other parts of the world. Starting with the industrialized fake GM food, through crime and to infrastructure. It's kinda of sad but none of my friends who visited US and who worked in Europe for big American companies such as Microsoft, Accenture, Intel etc. would ever want move to US. Actually they all have declined lucrative offers to do so, after visiting and living here for some time. Nowadays, it's mostly really poor folks, without future, that still consider moving across the pond.

Twenty years ago people in Western Europe, not to mention Eastern Europe, would die for the opportunity to move to US. This generation, not so much. Kinda sad, that's all.

I don't think anything has changed from 100 years ago though. I think people would have thought the same exact thing you just mentioned back than, that Europe was better when it comes to those kinds of things. The US has always been taking in the poor and downtrodden, over any other group of people. The last 50 years don't change the other 150 before that. Things will get better as far as transit goes, but not overnight. Building rail is not a priority of the federal government, and nor has something like that ever been. Even the interstate highway system was built for military purposes. This passenger rail revolution is an almost a total private and state venture. Which is okay, it's just going to take longer.

As for the light rail in Belleview I think it has to go through downtown, what other way is there for it to be effective? People are going to want to stop in the center of town, not on the fringes. I think it's totally worth it to spend the extra money for the tunnel, no doubt about it. It may seem like a burden today in taxes, but it has more future potential as ridership ramps up. The 500 million dollars today could lead to a more effective system in the future.

[just4ivaylo]

Originally Posted by BellevueGuy

Just wondering....does this kind of remark make any sense except making yourself look like a loser?

How does that make him seem like a loser? I'm Bulgarian, and people regularly ask me where I'm from. Multiple people in the Seattle area have asked me if it is located in Africa. I don't know whether to laugh my ass off or cry.

Most of this country's citizens do not care about what is going on in the rest of the world. They think America is on its own planet.

[RMacherat]

We're dense all right, but we'll be there when needed, as always.

[alexjonlin]

That whole Yellow Line thing is ridiculous. MARTA should refuse to change the branding and refuse to issue any apologies. The selection of the colors was almost certainly completely random, and was not racist at all, until the people protesting it made it racist.
A little while ago I with some people and someone mentioned British Columbia and a girl asked "Where is British Columbia anyways, somewhere in Seattle or something?" Pretty pitiful...

[urbanlife78]

Originally Posted by alexjonlin

That whole Yellow Line thing is ridiculous. MARTA should refuse to change the branding and refuse to issue any apologies. The selection of the colors was almost certainly completely random, and was not racist at all, until the people protesting it made it racist.
A little while ago I with some people and someone mentioned British Columbia and a girl asked "Where is British Columbia anyways, somewhere in Seattle or something?" Pretty pitiful...

When I moved to Spokane from Virginia, people there thought we were either moving to DC when we would say we were moving to Washington or they would say Spokane? doesnt it rain alot there? as if it was in the Seattle metro.

[rathersmart]

Originally Posted by just4ivaylo

How does that make him seem like a loser? I'm Bulgarian, and people regularly ask me where I'm from. Multiple people in the Seattle area have asked me if it is located in Africa. I don't know whether to laugh my ass off or cry.

Most of this country's citizens do not care about what is going on in the rest of the world. They think America is on its own planet.

my last one was: where in South America is Bulgaria?

I think the Bellevue line should be built in parallel with the seattle line. start building now and then connect later