Sound Transit Proposed Budget - Implications for Link Fares and Regional Rail
The 2011 budget proposed by Sound transit Chief Executive Joni Earl, if approved this winter, could have some direct affects on Tacoma residents. Current projects, such as the D to M Street Project, remain funded and will continue. But other elements of the regional high-capacity passenger rail plan known as “Sound Transit 2” are apparently no longer feasible.
Earl’s budget also calls for a fare hike on Tacoma’s downtown Link, raising the cost from $0.00 to $1.00. If approved, this fare would become effective in June. For more details on the proposed budget, see Lewis Kamb’s article in today’s Tacoma News Tribune here.
While it is disappointing to see budget cuts to key mass transit strategies, it cetainly appears that revenues will not support them at this time. Will these budget adjustments be enough to maintain a viable and healthy rail effort? Do the initiatives on the chopping block represent real setbacks for Tacoma? What do you think?
Filed under: General
10 comments
E Erik B. September 27, 2010
Raising the price of riding LINK will no doubt reduce ridership as LINK is already greatly underutilized.
D dolly varden September 27, 2010
I could support the $1 fare if ST gives the City of Tacoma a $0.50/fare credit toward the city’s matching fund for the extension of the Tacoma Link to Tacoma General and (hopefully) beyond.
This would begin to remedy some of the regional equity problems that have been exacerbated by delays in providing new Sounder trips and delays in extending the Central Link southward.
J jamie from thriceallamerican September 27, 2010
I’ve long been puzzled at the fact that there’s no charge for parking at Tacoma Dome Station–and I say this as someone who frequently parks there (but only occasionally uses Tacoma Link). Seems like a good revenue stream to take something that’s already built and has a somewhat-captive user base (namely Seattle commuters) and get some revenue out of it. I’m interested to hear what you hear back from ST on this, Chris…
I’m a bit more conflicted on the Link fare thing. I think mobility in downtown areas is important…look at how easy it is to get around in dtown Seattle when you can ride free and not have to worry about whether you have your bus pass or correct change. But then again, I want transit to be funded in general and use fees need to pay a part of that.
Regardless, as dolly varden says, let’s make damn sure that fees collected from Link and/or Tacoma Dome Station are factored into the funding equity calculations of ST so we can expand Link, add Sounder trips, etc.
D dolly varden September 27, 2010
I posted my comment @3 before seeing Chris’s comment — I agree that charging for parking at the garage might be better policy (I like how it actively encourages taking transit, biking, or walking to the T-Dome transit center) and generate more revenue than instituting a fare on the existing Tacoma Link.
T Tacoma1 September 27, 2010
Since PT employees operate T-Link, and ST maintains T-Link, I would who gets the $1 if the fare goes into affect?
Personally, assuming that T-link will eventually get extended, a fare for using it has to be inevitable. So it’s hard for to get too worked up ‘bout a buck a ride. Once it gets all the way to TG, it’ll probably be $2 bucks just like the bus.
N nbowling September 27, 2010
Raising fares and cutting future service is a recipe for PR disaster. Whether the hike is needed or not, it leaves a nasty taste in one’s mouth, to say the least.
T Tacoma1 September 27, 2010
What future service in Tacoma is being cut? I’m not aware of any.
M Mirror Dog September 28, 2010
Unless parking fees are established at every transit park-and-ride garage, ST had better not start charging at the Tacoma Dome station and nowhere else. What a strange suggestion from Tacomadites! It makes more sense to have everyone park for free and pay for their choice of transportation, instead of making everyone pay for parking and only some pay for certain transportation. IF ST starts charging for parking, you’ll see a massive increase in freeway commuting.
T tacoma1 September 28, 2010
Mirror Dog has a valid point.
The purpose of the T Dome Station (TDS) parking garage is to encourage transit use by making it convenient and feasible for people not to drive all the way to Seattle. Also to make it easy to not bring their cars all the way into DT Tacoma where parking space is limited.
Since ST service runs alot later and more frequent than local PT service does, taking transit door to door (although ideal) just isn’t feasible all of the time.
If a parking fee is being considered, it should be a consistent policy at all of ST’s parking garages, and should also provide a transfer onto the train or bus.
J jamie from thriceallamerican September 28, 2010
Ooh, parking fees w/ ORCA…interesting… I think consistency would definitely be good, though at the same time I think that given the cost of building a parking garage vs. building a surface lot is much higher and there’s a reasonable assumption that if I have to pay a buck or two to park for the whole day it isn’t really that big of a deal (since it’s comparable to a PT bus fare). After all, even with early bird parking, when I have to drive to work in DT Seattle I’m in for a good $10, not to mention gas, vehicle wear, and having to drive instead of read, etc. Paying for stuff that used to be free or cheaper sucks, but we gotta make sure we’re funding transit.