 |
Petitions filed for putting monorail issue to a vote
Friday, August 18, 2000
KERY MURAKAMI
Monorail supporters yesterday submitted petitions bearing 22,000 signatures in the hopes of getting the monorail initiative before Seattle's voters.
And to make their point, they handed the petitions to City Clerk Judith Pippen on two plush red pillows and two silver platters.
Meanwhile, the chairwoman of the Seattle City Council's budget committee, Jan Drago, said that if the initiative, I-53, qualifies for the ballot, "it's likely" the council will put a competing measure on November's ballot.
The debate over building a monorail came to a head earlier this month when the council voted against keeping the body set up by the 1997 monorail initiative going.
The decision infuriated already-frustrated monorail supporters.
Now, they are even more angry because they believe the city is ignoring the will of the voters.
The new initiative would order the city to spend $6 million to allow the Elevated Transportation Co., created by voter initiative I-41, to continue trying to come up with a plan to build a monorail system.
After two years, the city would have to put whatever plan the ETC comes up with before Seattle's voters for approval.
The city would also have to set aside up to $200 million in borrowing capacity to build the system.
Initiative supporters need 18,000 valid signatures to put I-53 on the ballot. However, sponsor Peter Sherwin said many of the signatures may be invalidated by King County elections officials because they were not signed by registered Seattle voters.
He said the campaign will continue gathering signatures to get as much breathing room as possible.
However, the city is in the midst of examining what technologies -- whether it be bus-only lanes, trolleys, light rail, or monorails -- would work best to improve traffic between the city's neighborhoods.
I-53 supporters doubt the city -- which has been skeptical of a monorail -- will really consider building one. Council members say it's premature to decide to build a monorail until city study if its the best solution for Seattle.
Drago said she hasn't begun talking with other council members about her idea. But she predicted it's likely the council would put a competing measure on the ballot that would give voters a choice between studying only the monorail, or a variety of options.
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER
P-I reporter Kery Murakami can be reached at 206-448-8029 or kerymurakami@seattle-pi.com
· Seattle-area housing market continues to slow
· Housing slide opens city living to first-time buyers
· Proposed closure of Rainier Beach shocks, saddens community
· Mental health system ailing
· Viaduct options no threat to I-5 travel, study says
· It's the end of free parking in Fremont
· Strip club can be built near ballpark
· Nickels charmed by idea of third term
· Readers Care: Help for special children
· Man charged in child abuse case
· Deputy charged with assault involving suspect
· Conservative pundit stirs up Olympia holiday controversy
more
101 Elliott Ave. W.
Seattle, WA 98119
(206) 448-8000
Home Delivery: (206) 464-2121 or (800) 542-0820
seattlepi.com serves about 1.7 million unique visitors
and 30 million page views each month.
Send comments to newmedia@seattlepi.com
Send investigative tips to iteam@seattlepi.com
©1996-2008 Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Terms of Use/Privacy Policy
