Continuing the Discussion on Seattle's Monorail

July 21, 2005

An article by Brian Hodder, Municipal League intern.

The Seattle Monorail Project’s 14-mile Green Line is one of the most heated issues facing Seattle citizens today. Created in November 2002 by a slim majority of Seattle voters, the Seattle Monorail Project was established to build, own, operate, and maintain a city monorail system that would provide the citizens of Seattle with a quick and convenient transportation option.

While Seattle Monorail Project supporters say the monorail is a rapid transit solution to the transportation problems facing the Seattle region, so far the Seattle Monorail Project’s work to accomplish what the Seattle voters mandated has raised some eyebrows. People have pointed to the project’s insular decision-making process as cause for concern. Critics argue that the project’s poor performance in disclosing financial information and its inability to seek out independent advice are signs of a public agency that is not connected with the public.

In an effort to foster open discussion about the Monorail Project’s decision making process so far, The Municipal League of King County has been working to make sure that the Seattle Monorail Project remains a transparent and accountable public agency that is responsive to the public. Over the past few months, Municipal League committee members have been communicating with the Monorail Project, Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, the City Council, and area newspapers to explain the importance of giving the public an opportunity to adequately review monorail-related information in advance of hearings and decisions made by the council and agency.

Municipal League Board member and Ballot Issues Committee Chair Robert Klein says the League is “trying to promote good governance.” In an effort to ensure that the Monorail Project works in coordination with the City Council and public, Klein and Board Member Bruce Carter have written letters to the SMP and city government asking that this happen. “We continue to promote our ‘City Council First’ plan. It basically calls for the city to weigh in on the project’s financial feasibility before the Monorail Authority signs any construction contract,” Klein said.

Observers of the Monorail Project say that the agency’s rush to sign a construction contract in absence of city review and approval is unreasonable. In the League’s June 15 letter to the SMP, it was clearly stated that the “SMP and its contractors cannot use the City’s rights-of-way for construction until after the City Council acts.” As Klein says, “it doesn’t make sense for the Authority to sign a contract without a site.”

Klein does note, however, that the Monorail Project might be turning around and beginning to listen. “They seem to be making efforts to open the process, to listen to critics and obtain independent advice. From the very beginning, we have called on the SMP to allow adequate participation of the public and adequate participation of independent experts before proceeding.” Just this week, the SMP unveiled a proposed Monorail Action Plan that involves work sessions where SMP Board Members will “hear from independent experts, consultants, staff, Cascadia Monorail Company representatives, critics, and the general public on key issues facing the Project.”

As the Monorail Project moves forward and the Municipal League continues its work to keep the monorail running on the same track as the people of Seattle, Municipal League members can help. In addition to writing letters, all members and the public are invited to attend a forum being held by The Municipal League on August 11. The forum will be held at Town Hall on 8th and Seneca at 7:30 p.m. All are invited to come and listen to various individuals connected with the monorail. Check the Municipal League website for more information as the forum gets closer. Also, you can check the website if you wish to see copies of the Municipal League’s letters that have been written and sent to officials. The input of Seattle citizens is important as the City Council deals with the monorail issue. As Klein concluded, “the city is the last and best judge of the financial feasibility of the project.”