CHS talks light rail construction on KUOW

By jseattle ( report abuse )

Steve Scher on the mic

I was part of a panel on this morning's Weekday program talking about light rail construction on Capitol Hill. Check out the link for the audio archive and info about the other participants. Unlike other radio outlets, ahem, KUOW is speedy with its Web stuff. Which is perfect for somebody like me who obsesses about his performance in things like this for hours and days afterward.

But it's not really about me. Check out the show for a good talk about what is happening with the construction and the issues forming around it.

Some miscellaneous bullet points from my morning:

Discussions around "transit oriented development" (business and community development) will begin in December.
Nobody but Sound Transit can keep the dates straight of what happens when.
The Weekday studio seats 6 (including Steve Scher) comfortably.
Scher's greatest skill: not tuning out midway through rambling answers.
There aren't a lot of good answers related to pedestrian safety and the Olive and Denny truck routes.
I meant to be more positive about the transit impact, make fewer pleas to "get involved" and should have kept better track of time. Oh well. I'll do better next time.

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tags: light rail, sound transit, construction, development, kuow, self obsession + add tags

location: University DistrictSeattle, Washington

posted on Wed, Nov 19, 2008 12:53 PM

last updated on Wed, Nov 19, 2008 01:28 PM

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Capitol Hill Light Rail Station byEric Pierce1 month ago

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I used the tube every day when I lived in London as a teen, so I am all for this light rail. But, I was shocked to learn that it is going to take (at least) eight years to complete the 3 mile extension to the UW. The first underground train in the world (NMR) was laid in London, opening in 1863. It was 4 miles long took 3 years to construct. The builders of the first underground had significant advantages over today's railway builder, however. Among the modern impediments they did not have to overcome: 150 years of underground train building experience, computers, internal combustion engines, sonar, electronic tools, electric lights, or electric anything!
I am willing to fire up a whale oil lamp, grab a shovel, and drive a team of Clydesdales, if it will get this shit going.

	RE: Capitol Hill Light Rail Station byBenG1 month ago	( report abuse )
	I agree Eric, I grew up in Boston and the T there is a great system. The system was first put underground in 1897 and didn't take as long to build. The one thing we have today that they didn't (and matters) is OSHA. I bet that's slowing the process down alot (with mostly good intentions). Either way, I'm looking forward for service to start too.

	RE: Capitol Hill Light Rail Station byyancy1 month ago	( report abuse )
	We also have things like internets underground now, so there's probably more at stake when you drill under a city in 2008 than there was in the 19th Century. . . .