Sound Transit - Rest for the Weary?
Today’s Tacoma City Council Study Session saw Sound Transit in the room to provide an update on the D to M Street project. This is the Sounder extension to Lakewood that will bring a new set of tracks through downtown Tacoma and through the Nalley Valley as it makes its way south.
Several weeks ago R.R. Anderson brought to our attention Sound Transit’s recent filing of a lawsuit against the Tacoma Rescue Mission.
At issue is a 4’-wide strip of Rescue Mission land needed to facilitate improvements to the existing rails. These improvements will be part of the D Street to M Street line integral to the planned Lakewood-Tacoma Dome passenger rail. These tracks pass directly behind the Rescue Mission, coming within 25 feet of the structure, as seen here.
In today’s Study Session, Sound Transit explained that they “We are continuing to be in active discussion and negotiation with the Tacoma Rescue Mission.” The two open issues were said to be 1) a difference of opinion in the value of the property; and 2) noise mitigation of the facility.
David Curry, executive director of the Mission, has expressed concerns that Sound Transit is not willing to provide adequate noise mitigation in exchange for the strip of land. Noise mitigation negotiations are not uncommon in rail right of way acquisitions, but for a facility providing beds to 140 homeless every night, a heavily-used track in such close proximity presents a threat to the Mission’s primary objectives.
Sound Transit has insisted that a mitigation plan has been presented to the City and the Mission, but Curry is not convinced the plan addresses the noise levels condusive to sleep. Curry is concerned that if Sound Transit’s plan is accepted and later proven ineffective, the Mission’s lack of a legal fund precludes it from seeking redress.
Sound Transit said today that since the noise concern is related to ongoing operations on the tracks, they will be back to ensure that the mitigation is working. If not, they will continue to do what needs to be done to meet the specified criteria.
We will keep an eye on this story as it continues.
25 comments
F Florence July 20, 2010
Doesn’t the Sounder Train only operate during the day? Wouldn’t that make the “threat to the Mission’s primary objectives” (offering a quiet place to sleep) rather mute?
J Jesse July 20, 2010
Weren’t the Prairie Line rail lines and trains running there when the mission was built pre-2003? If so, the mission hasn’t a leg to stand on.
Besides, isn’t the new rail line designed to get people to work and back? So we should not build something for the people who work so the people who don’t work have a more restful afternoons (the Sounder doesn’t run at night)sleep? Huh…
C captiveyak July 21, 2010
Once the tracks are improved, there is reasonable expectation they’ll be utilized for cargo traffic as well.
I did not mean to indicate that this is an either/or situation by any means. The mission is not trying to obstruct construction any more than PT wants to keep the homeless from resting. The primary concern is that a run of the mill noise mitigation plan may not suit the mission’s needs (window modifications, generally). Whether this is true or not is beyond my expertise. Whether they can withhold the 4’ strip until satisfied with the noise plan, from what i understand, is the thrust of the suit. The primary right of way is already secured. This is just a 4’ appurtenant strip to the main ROW, and the issue is likely to be decided quickly.This kind of negotiation is not uncommon, and could be considered a kind of “value exchange.” in my personal view, I would be very hesitant to criticize the mission’s concerns until there is proactive assurance that the mission can continue to function in its current location.
T tacoma1 July 21, 2010
Actually, the freight trains will continue to use the tracks alongside the water. They won’t be going past the Rescue Mission.
Amtrak will though, and they happen to go through in the wee hours of the night.
However, the Mission folks new all of this when they built their building a few feet from where the railroad tracks would be situated. They put themselves in this predicament. They are the root cause for any sleepless nights their residents will have.
The Rescue Mission is simply trying to extract their own pound of flesh from Sound Transit, and make my taxes go up in the process. They will no longer get any donations from me. The left leaning transit supporters are also the same compassionate people that donate to their cause. These people are biting the very hands that feed them.
T tacoma1 July 21, 2010
Oops.
I meant the Mission folks knew, not new.
C Casey Jones July 21, 2010
Freight will move on that line if there are closures of the Ruston way tunnel or slides along the water which close the main line. Tacoma Rail also retains traffic rights so, in theory, could use those rights to service South Tacoma clients (X-Cell Feed, Atlas, Tacoma Steel etc). The main freight traffic will however continue (for the most part) on the waterline.
L lostinlosangeles July 21, 2010
“Seems like another way for the TRM to squeeze a few bucks out of the City/ST to me.”
“The Rescue Mission is simply trying to extract their own pound of flesh from Sound Transit, and make my taxes go up in the process.”
Its all becoming clear. Parasites are amok in the city of Tacoma.
C Catalyst July 21, 2010
From what it sounds like, both parties are working together to make sure all concerns are addressed and taken care of. I don’t think it’s an issue of the Rescue Mission trying to squeeze out a few bucks for “their own use.” Which, if you ask me, they are providing a great service that we should all help to contribute towards. I can understand both sides, but neither one seems milicious to me. Sound Transit is trying to be more efficiant, and TRM wants to make sure there wont be horrible noise. It’s a legit concern and NO ONE should claim they’re out for their own. Their service is one to the public, should any one be unfortunate enough to be homeless. And if our taxes have to be raised so more people can be provided for, personally, I have no objections.
L lostinlosangeles July 21, 2010
Our taxes? No, the taxes of those well above the poverty line. Because just indiscriminately raising taxes, regardless of the income bracket the house hold is in, undoubtedly along with interest rates rising will cause the population of said Rescue Mission to grow. So, points for rationalizing, but you should have no objections to the execs at Sound Transit giving up their bonuses to relocate the mission. Problem really solved.
T tacoma1 July 22, 2010
The TRM built their facility in 2001. Trains were still running nearby at that time. Granted that the tracks are being moved slightly, but still, the train tracks were really close. Certainly closer than I would want to live next to train tracks. But still, the TRM chose to build there, and had no concerns with guests sleeping at night at the time. Now, all of a sudden, when they think that they can get something from ST (which really means from all of us Pierce County tax payers) they want to hold out their hand for a coerced donation. South Tacoma and Lakewood have been waiting to use their Stations. Commuters have been waiting to have access to more frequent trains. Amtrak is waiting to move their Station over next to FHS, and FHS desperately needs all the foot traffic that it can get. I really hope that the TRM decides to stop trying to delay this project.
T tressie July 26, 2010
Oh how smug can we be when we are ever so sure that we, The People Who Work, will never have to sleep at the shelter and never have to have our sleep disturbed by trains doing the business of commerce. Ever hear the expression “Wrong side of the tracks”? Well, I prefer to live by…There but for the grace of god go I.
ST should act nicer towards the people who can do them absolutely no harm…the homeless.
T tacoma1 July 26, 2010
TRM put themselves next to the tracks on purpose. Surprise, trains make noise, who could’ve known that ahead of time.
R RR Anderson July 26, 2010
perhaps they had faith, tacoma1, perhaps they had faith.
.
.
.
.
there is really no god.
C captiveyak July 26, 2010
If quieter walls and windows are the “pound of flesh” that TRM gets from this negotiation, they should fire their VP in Charge of Greed, because he/she clearly doesn’t understand the point of it.
I understand the frustration with the slow development of mass transit here. But if all TRM is arguing for is a commitment to a satisfactory mitigation plan, they only benefit by not having to relocate. This is hardly a case of nefarious obstructionism.
I’m sure the price of the lot was a major factor in its selection for the TRM site. The land had to be pretty cheap.
I’m just saying… no need to put all the bricks on one side of the see-saw.
R RR Anderson July 26, 2010
indeed. with all the train noise the property value can only go down… freeing up valuable resources to convert..er serve the homeless.
Lemons into Lemonaid!
T Tacoma1 July 26, 2010
I’m not an expert here, but if TRM is physically in the way (i.e. obstructing forward motion) and refusing to sell until their demands are met……. whaddya call it?
If we were playing basketball, TRM would be called with a foul since they stepped in front of a player with forward motion to the basket (in this case the basket is So Tac Sounder Station). TRM would be the player sprawled on the court asking the ref to call a charge even though he knowingly stepped in front.
L lostinlosangeles July 26, 2010
Well technically WE the people who work do so only because THEY the people, who, (by the grace of god no doubt), found a way to own land have given US no choice but to live on the wrong side of the tracks. So go pick a bone with THEM, tressie, the perps of the feudal system.
I say send all the TRM homeless down to me in LA. We’ll go take a piss on Hollywood Blvd, and sleep in Lindsey’s back yard while she’s in jail.
R RR Anderson July 26, 2010
@lostinlosangeles
have you considered a career in locally televised city council public commenting?
R RR Anderson July 26, 2010
WISH we had a public access channel. then we’d really be a bohemian city… Let’s get the Community and Economic Development Department on that.
L lostinlosangeles July 27, 2010
Poison Koolaid Man: my next tat if I ever am arsed enough to get more ink done.
R RR Anderson July 27, 2010
you saw it here first folks!
L lostinlosangeles July 27, 2010
Oh sht I just spotted the Tackyoma Dome smiling! HAHA are you laughing now beeotch??
P phil July 28, 2010
Click on my name to see some condos in San Jose built right against a freight line. They were going to put light rail (or BART connector) there until the railroad started using it again.
T TStevens July 29, 2010
Though Sound Transit has said “that since the noise concern is related to ongoing operations on the tracks, they will be back to ensure that the mitigation is working. If not, they will continue to do what needs to be done to meet the specified criteria.” However, based on fact that they are already a decade or more behind schedule — and it took the DOT 4 (four) years to fix sound barriers on Highway 16 (http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/07/21/1271167/oops-no-2-for-dot.html) — if it is not done right the first time, how loooonnngg will it take before Sound Transit gets it fixed?
T Tacoma1 July 29, 2010
WSDOT and Hwy 16 sound barriers have nothing to do with ST. ST has nothng to do with WSDOT. ST being behind schedule is one of the reasons for this suit and all of the obstructionist’s like TRM along the entire route employing delaying tacticts.
If you don’t want to listen to trains going by, don’t move next to the RR tracks. It’s not rocket science. Besides its Amtrak’s trains that’ll be going by at night anyways, not ST’s.
Send your collection plate over to Amtrak if you want another donation. Stop asking ST to use Pierce County transit tax dollars for non transit purposes. As a transit user, I’m sick and tired of seeing people try to delay the train I use to get to work every day.