Engineer harshly criticizes monorail plan

By Mike Lindblom
Seattle Times staff reporter

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"Are we building the right thing? That's the important question and it hasn't been answered very well," he said in an hourlong news conference. He compared the monorail to the Alaskan Way Viaduct, considered innovative when it was built a half-century ago but seen by some as an eyesore today.

Magnusson said the panel of experts will examine the monorail's nine-volume "Request for Proposals" — the instruction book that explains what sorts of beams, trains and stations are required. He said he would announce the findings in about two weeks, just before the City Council votes on monorail-construction permits.

"The City Council needs to have this additional voice," he said.

Nearly all his criticisms have been aired before by others, in particular that the $1.6 billion in monorail taxes would be better spent to replace the fragile waterfront viaduct.

Magnusson, 50, is a structural engineer and chairman of Magnusson Klemencic Associates, which has worked on the new Seattle Public Library, Bank of America Columbia Center, Washington State Convention and Trade Center, Safeco Field, Seahawks Stadium, Experience Music Project and many buildings worldwide.

"He raised some very legitimate concerns, some of which I've been raising," said City Councilman Peter Steinbrueck after the briefing. "I respect that he's a man of integrity with professional experience, and he was speaking from a place that was sincere and heartfelt. But it was more as an armchair observer, or a concerned citizen."

His firm had sought work as a subcontractor to engineer Seattle stations for "Team Monorail," led by Canada's Bombardier. Last month he notified a contractor his firm would not participate.

A press release Wednesday said the firm quit because of at least four "serious design flaws" in the project.

However, the firm was not on the team and had not signed a contract, said Tom Stone of Transmax, the lead executive organizing the team. He pointed out that scores of experienced engineers and designers are still working with the two teams.

"If there are any 'flaws' in the work of the Seattle Monorail Project has done, we will correct them, as the designers of record and as the builders," he said.
 
Among Magnusson's points:

• Four miles of proposed single-beam track make any extensions difficult, especially in Ballard, where he said the line should someday be stretched north to Shoreline or beyond. But with single-beam, suburban riders would be slowed at a "choke point" as trains take turns going north or south on one track, he said.

Joel Horn, SMP executive director, said two-track capacity isn't needed to serve the riders far from downtown.

But Steinbrueck said he's unconvinced a single beam is adequate, and the council should examine the issue. A single beam does have the advantage of putting smaller concrete structures in the neighborhoods, he said.

• If the monorail is added to the West Seattle Bridge deck as planned, he said the bridge should be strengthened to withstand the worst possible earthquake in 2,500 years, which is today's standard. The bridge is now designed for a 500-year standard.

• The trains would produce black "monorail droppings" over sidewalks as the 40-year-old Seattle Center Monorail does now, he said. These flakes from carbon anodes that conduct electricity to the drive system.

Monorail plans would now locate trains over sidewalks in several places. But some City Council members are proposing to move the trains at least 14 feet from downtown buildings, and beyond the sidewalks elsewhere to avoid such problems.

• Magnusson said the agency's recent advertising blitz turned him further against the project. He displayed a frame from a television ad showing an unobstructed view of Elliott Bay, which would be impossible from the trains on Second Avenue.

"In 50 years in this community, I have never seen a public agency do this kind of propaganda. It's not honest," he said.

The agency curtailed its television, print and radio spots this month after spending $2.2 million and generating a negative public reaction. Its own board members slammed both the cost and contents yesterday, pledging to exert tougher scrutiny over publicity efforts this fall.

Tim Wulf, founder of the opposition group Monorail Recall, called Magnusson's briefing "a great shot in the arm for us."

A petition drive began last weekend for Initiative 83, which seeks to block the monorail construction plans.

Monorail Now spokesman Peter Sherwin questioned the timing of Magnusson's statements. "He's not a bridgebuilder, he's not a transit guy," he said. "If he were brought in as an expert witness in court, he'd be thrown out."

Mike Lindblom: 206-515-5631 or mlindblom@seattletimes.com.