In key week for light rail, a meeting at White House

By Alex Fryer
Seattle Times Washington bureau

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WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Jennifer Dunn, an Eastside Republican and longtime critic of Sound Transit, traveled to the White House yesterday to speak with President Bush's top political adviser, Karl Rove.

Dunn, R-Bellevue, brought along Rep. Ernest Istook, R-Okla., an influential subcommittee chairman who is holding up a $500 million federal grant Sound Transit needs to begin construction of its light-rail system. Also attending the half-hour meeting was Rep. George Nethercutt, a Spokane Republican running for U.S. Senate.

The four talked about the need to consider congestion relief in funding future light-rail projects, said Dunn's spokeswoman Danielle Holland. Sound Transit's stalled grant never came up, she said.

But the meeting's timing struck some observers as curious, and Sound Transit supporters doubt the agency and its grant weren't discussed. "That's like saying you read Playboy but don't look at the pictures. It's just not believable," said a Democratic source.

Others suggested Rove may have been asked to reconsider the Bush administration's support of funding for Sound Transit.

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Dunn was on her way to Iraq and could not be reached directly, and Nethercutt declined to comment.

The White House meeting took place during a week when Congress may decide the fate of the $2.44 billion light-rail project.

Istook formally disapproved the $500 million grant last month. Sound Transit stands to lose favorable construction bids Friday unless he reverses his position.

Rep. Norm Dicks, D-Bremerton, a light-rail supporter, said Istook told him on the House floor Monday night that a final decision on the grant would be made within 48 hours. Istook did not tell Dicks how he would rule, and his spokesperson did not elaborate.

Sound Transit officials say the federal money is crucial to breaking ground on the Seattle-to-Tukwila route. Without it, they say, the project will die.

Although Sound Transit faced a tough time in Congress, the Bush administration has been one of its biggest supporters.

Bush included $75 million for light rail in his proposed 2004 budget, and the federal Department of Transportation rated Sound Transit "highly recommended."

Last May, Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta, a Bush appointee, said he had no reservations about the project.

Mineta's department agreed to award the $500 million grant to Sound Transit in July, but the deal had to pass through House and Senate transportation subcommittees.

Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., ensured the grant moved smoothly through the Senate, but it ran aground in Istook's House subcommittee.

Istook has a history of opposing light-rail projects, contending they don't pay for themselves and don't relieve congestion.

On Sept. 10, he formally refused to sign off on Sound Transit's funding proposal, and the grant has been in limbo ever since.

Among his concerns is the possible effect of Initiative 776, the Tim Eyman-sponsored measure that would cut about $703 million from Sound Transit's budget.

I-776, which would cap vehicle tabs at $30, was ruled unconstitutional by a King County Superior Court judge. It is on appeal at the state Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, Sound Transit says two construction bids worth $94 million will terminate Friday. The bids originally expired Oct. 10, but Sound Transit won a two-week extension.

If the contracts are voided, the agency must rebid the work, at a possible cost of tens of millions of dollars and monthslong delays, according to Sound Transit.

"It's an important week, and we hope we can move forward. We're in a holding pattern and keeping our fingers crossed," said Sound Transit Communications Director Ric Ilgenfritz.

Opponents, too, wish for a swift resolution to the Sound Transit saga.

Metropolitan King County Councilman Rob McKenna said light rail would provide minimal benefits for the price, and he joins Dunn in her concern that Eastside transit revenue could be tapped to pay for cost overruns.

"I would rather have congressional leaders make a decision this week," he said. "Let's hear it one way or the other."

Alex Fryer: 206-464-8124 or afryer@seattletimes.com

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