Frequently Asked Questions
- Why Monorail?
Three key reasons: cost, speed, and route flexibility.
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- Why do we need another commission?
We want to establish an independent commission that
will consider all the facts and work with the public to design
a system that will work for our region.
Our plans would allow a future consolidation of monorail and other transit authorities upon the approval of the public.
The 2002 election shows the right process can allow transportation projects to earn the trust of the public. The Seattle monorail proposal was approved by voters following an open public process that resulted a well defined project presented to voters with specific costs, benefits, and a timeline for completion.
We believe this same model would work perfectly for a regional monorail.
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- Do you compete with Sound Transit?
No. We have avoided duplication of the Sound Transit rail projects, and expect the regional monorail commission to work with all other transit agencies to provide a seamless travel experience that allows people a quick transfer between monorail, bus, light-rail, and ferries.
- Are you for freeway Monorail?
We leave all detailed design decisions up to the regional monorail
commission. They are tasked with picking the specific alignments that have the perfect balance between ridership, cost, and community acceptance.
- How did you come up with your example system?
We looked at the major travel patterns in our area and built three main routes that connect the major destinations in our region.
- How did you develop your cost estimate for your example system?
We took the estimated costs of the Seattle green line (in 2002 dollars) and applied them to the larger regional system. They include the cost of track, trains, stations, water crossings, power, right-of-way, utility relocation, and design work. They also include significant cost contingency amounts. more...
- How did you generate the travel times for the example system?
The travel times were generated using a computer simulation which includes a cruise speed of 50 mph, 20 second stops at stations, and standard acceleration and deceleration rates. If also compensates for reduced speeds for certain areas such as tight curves. In cases where a transfer is required between monorail lines, it includes a 2 minute time to switch to a different line. Travel on Sound Transit light rail is used for select trips where a monorail alternative is not available.
- How can we pay for it?
Through fares, taxes, advertising revenue and grants. The Seattle Green Line, at a cost of $1.2 billion (2002 $) is largely funded by a 1.4% Motor Vehicle Excise Tax on some 550,000 people.
If this MVET were extended County-wide, it could support a capital expenditure of about $5 billion ($2002). Most residents could make back their annual tax payment with what they would save on parking and gas on a trip into Downtown Seattle just once a month.
Fares on a King County monorail could be adjusted for trip length. With many riders taking trips of 15 to 30 miles, fare revenue may be greater than on the Seattle Green Line.
- How many stations are there?
Our example system has 1 station per 1.5 - 2.0 miles of monorail track.
- What about Pierce and Snohomish Counties?
There is a great deal of congestion in King County resulting from travelers using I-5 and I-405 who come from Everett, Edmonds, Tacoma, Lakewood and other cities in our region. We support efforts by citizens in Pierce and Snohomish Counties to organize in those counties to create similar citizen based monorail commissions. Clearly, it is cost effective for citizens of those counties to pay taxes for an additional ten or fifteen miles of monorail in their areas if such lines can link to King County and Seattle monorail lines.
The King County monorail commission will be directed to plan for routes that allow easy expansion into neighboring counties.
- Why didn't you run monorail to my city on your map?
The map we show on the website was created for discussion purposes to show how much value we can get from a modest capital investment. We want to establish a citizens commission that will have complete control over the routes and will pick a set that properly balances ridership, cost, and solutions to local chokepoints. All cities in King County will be considered and they'll be depending on feedback from interested citizens to drive the development of the plan.
Do you have additional questions?If so, email us at kcm-info@kingcountymonorail.org
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