Advertising

The Seattle Times Company

NWjobs | NWautos | NWhomes | NWsource | Free Classifieds | seattletimes.com

The Seattle Times

Editorials / Opinion


Our network sites seattletimes.com | Advanced

Originally published Friday, February 13, 2009 at 2:57 PM

Comments (15)     E-mail article     Print view

Editorial

Bellevue looks to light rail to shape its growth

Bellevue is bringing rhetoric to life with a plan to attract employment and residential growth around a light-rail line in an underdeveloped part of the city.

LIGHT-RAIL advocates extol the transformative potential of connections between population centers and transit-oriented development around rail stations. Bellevue city leaders are working to bring rhetoric to life.

Sound Transit's planned East Link, between downtown Seattle and downtown Redmond, is divided into segments with alternatives now undergoing preliminary review. The Bel-Red corridor, an underdeveloped, long-dormant 900-acre swath of land identified as Segment D, has fired imaginations.

Bellevue's preferred path would eventually link downtown Bellevue and Redmond's high-tech enclave of Overlake by 2021. In between would be four light-rail stations surrounded by high-rise buildings, housing, parks and commercial development.

Times' reporter Katherine Long found an impressive confluence of enthusiasm among investors, political leaders, city planners and environmental groups.

"It's really an opportunity to put into practice all of the smart-growth strategies that have been talked about for some time," Bellevue Mayor Grant Degginger said.

A Cascade Land Conservancy program director, Jeff Pavey, agreed, "This is a smart, well thought-out way to grow."

A vision of attracting employment and residential growth around a transportation network has propelled regional mass-transit plans. Skeptics, including this editorial page, have wondered if light rail trumps the flexibility of buses, but community leaders are resolving that debate close to home.

Sound Transit's board will be identifying preferred alternatives this spring, which will advance to 30-percent engineering and more review. A strong, affirmative endorsement from Bellevue City Council will carry weight.

The opportunity, creativity and enthusiasm stirred by light rail is evident in Bellevue's plans.

Copyright © 2009 The Seattle Times Company

More Editorials & Opinion headlines...

E-mail article Print view      Share:    Digg     Newsvine

Comments
Sirkulat, Actually, transit speed is very much a consideration for many people who have an option for how they get around. There are thousands...  Posted on February 14, 2009 at 3:21 PM by iaans. Jump to comment
All the light rail extensions should be in separate rights-of-way. Placement of the first line at street level along MLK Boulevard in Rainier...  Posted on February 14, 2009 at 12:15 PM by iaans. Jump to comment
Sirkulat, Your comments are made from Portland ,and it shows. Should we then dismantle loot rail where it is elevated,like from the Airport to...  Posted on February 14, 2009 at 1:39 PM by Publicbulldog. Jump to comment


Get home delivery today!

More Editorials & Opinion

Leonard Pitts Jr. / Syndicated columnist: A tragic clash of cultures

Charles Krauthammer / Syndicated columnist: Tuesday's election shoots down the myth of a political realignment

Leonard Pitts Jr. / Syndicated columnist: Prosecutor's fishing trip blocks justice for man behind bars

Advertising

Video

Mourners gather at KeyArena for slain officer's memorial
Mourners gathered at KeyArena for the memorial service of Seattle police Officer Timothy Brenton on November 6, 2009.

Procession for slain SPD officer
Election Night: Approve R-71
Election Night: Reject R-71
Election Night: Joe Mallahan
Election Night: Mike McGinn
Election Night: Susan Hutchison
Election Night: Dow Constatine
Candlelight vigil for Officer Brenton
Flying Elephant on Aurora

Marketplace

nwautos

2009's most fuel-efficient sedansnew
Choosing a new sedan? Weigh the impact of your choice on your wallet and on the planet.
Post a comment

Open Houses

Find this weekend's open house listings.
Or search by location:

 
Most read
Most commented
Most e-mailed
 
 
Advertising