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 Dori Monson


Sounder train
For every $11 a rider spends on tickets, the taxpayers spend $89 to subsidize their ride. (File Photo)

Most unreliable mass transit ever?

BY Dori Monson  on February 18, 2013 @ 12:06 am (Updated: 7:00 am - 2/18/13 )

- Dori writes...

Sound Transit has proven to be one of the most wasteful, biggest-ripoff public agencies in our nation's history.

With Sunday night's news that the Sounder train between Everett and Seattle will once again be shut down through at least Tuesday, I also have to ask: Is this the most unreliable mass transit system ever?

In 2012, the Sounder train had a staggering 122 cancellations. They're picking up right where they left off in 2013.

This is an agency that was built on lies. They are billions of dollars over budget. The light rail line is miles short of what they promised voters. Ron Sims lied to me and my listeners about their funding when they got gullible voters to cough up more money for Phase II.

When selling the Sounder train, their ridership projections were about double what they are actually delivering - another ridiculous pack of lies to squeeze more money from already strapped citizens.

And the cost? According to Crosscut:

Last year the Sounders' recovery ratio - that is, the percentage of expenses defrayed by fares... only 11 percent for the Everett route, according to a September COP report.

In other words, for every $11 a rider spends on tickets, the taxpayers spend $89 to subsidize their ride!

Meanwhile, last week, the mayors from 40 cities in our state called on the state to increase the gas tax another eight-cents/gallon and to raise the car tabs fee. Because, you know, we're not giving them enough money and they've already cut to the bone.

How about if we pull the plug on the Sounder train and use that money for real needs?

Dori Monson, KIRO Radio Talk Show Host
Dori Monson is host of The Dori Monson Show on KIRO Radio (weekdays Noon-3) and the pre-game and post-game host for the Seattle Seahawks Radio Network. There are three words that Dori thinks best describe him - competitive, competitive and competitive.
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Comments (30)


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  • real_life wrote...
    Nothing new here...
    February 18, 2013 12:13 am
    What was it... 10- 12 years ago? The mass transit rail was supposed to run the length of I-5 between Lynnwood and Tacoma with expansions? This was put to a vote and passed. I haven't seen a single rail laid. I want my tax dollars back!
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  • NoiseMan wrote...
    Dori, do a little more homework before his next useless rant
    February 18, 2013 4:59 am
    Why did the rail line get shut down? Would be nice for you to report. Is it because it may be no fault of Sound Transit? I really don't know, and your piece gives me no further clue. I do have a concern about where all the transportation money is spent and I surely don't want to have to pony up more for what appear to be wasted projects. Let me ask you this Dori, Do you sit on I-5 every evening for 90 minutes for what once used to take 45 minutes? Something has to be done to provide alternatives to just sitting in traffic going seemingly nowhere. At least Sound transit is out there putting options in motion. Cound they do things better?, Of course. Is everything going to meet our expectations? Definetly not. But at least these people are trying to solve a problem that if not addressed soon, will choke the life out of this region. I think the light rail will be a valuable asset as I see the trains go by my office all day long and for the most part, I see more occupied seats than empty. I think you rant on Sound Transit when you have nothing else to write about. You never offer any options or solutions. You always pick out something and then just rant on it. Then thump on your chest touting yourself as the "great crusader of the people" delivering them from the tyranny of their own device. I also wish my transportation dollars were better spent, but I do appreciate that there is a public agency attempting to solve a real problem. Dori, maybe if you actually got involved and tried to be a part of the solution, rather than just hiding behind trees tossing spears, something good may come of it. Sound Transit has been a favorite target of yours for many years now. Get off your butt and do something for a change. Maybe form an oversight committee. With your position in radio, they would have to pay attention to you. Just do something to back up all those words of criticism you continually orate. Frankly I'm getting a little tired of listening to you go on and on about this seemingly broken agency without any viable efforts on your part. If you want to walk your talk, it takes time and effort. Otherwise, just do a little research before you go an the attack.
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  • maplefish wrote...
    Noise Man
    February 18, 2013 7:46 am
    Obviously you work for Sound Transit. In case you don't understand, Dori is a Government watchdog.he is nearly pointing out the FACT that Sound Transit has been a miserable failure and colossal waste of tax payer dollars. And isn't it he job of those who work for this pathetic agency to come up with successful, cost-effective options & solutions?....$89 per rider is not cost effective.
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  • NoiseMan wrote...
    For The Record:
    February 18, 2013 8:23 am
    I do not work for Sound Transit. I just keep paying high transit taxes and sit in traffic like the rest of us.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Cash wrote...
    Interesting that Noiseman
    February 18, 2013 8:35 am
    Is okay being lied to and having his money stolen... I would like to point out that I have heard Dori give solutions to this before by purchasing more buses and expand the roadways. You can move move people quickly and for a lot less money than the Sound Transit system. It is also interesting that you are okay with them wasting not 1 billion but 10's of billions of dollars for nothing... Wake up and look at the bigger picture here and stop giving them credit for doing a good thing because they try...
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  • NoiseMan wrote...
    Cash, Why are you putting words in my mouth.
    February 18, 2013 9:01 am
    I clearly stated I didn't want to pony up more money for wasted projects. Does that sound like I was ok with Sound Transit wasting billons of dollars? Why are you attacking me personally? I don't do that to you. Sound Transit is all we have to address gridlock here in the Puget Sound area and I want something to be built to effectively addresses that. Rail eventually works in every other city where it's operating. It was a slow expensive start in every other city, but it eventually catches on. Why are so many people bent on insisting it will not work here? If you think busses are the way to go, then fine. I respect that. I happen to feel that the best long term answer is to get people where they need to go by taking them off the roads. It works well in most other cities, why not here? The initial point of my comment was that Dori presented a very poorly written item and as a reader, I wish he would "put up or shut up." Dori has been attacking Sound Transit with no result for too long.
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  • Darndy wrote...
    Mudslides
    February 18, 2013 7:58 am
    seem to be the reason why there are so many interruptions between Seattle and Everett. Not really the fault of Sound Transit, but I suppose you could make a valid argument that there was poor planning involved. I agree with you though, sounds like Dori is fundamentally opposed to any kind of public transit that involves a rail. While I am upset at the length of time light rail and streetcars are taking to develop, I think ultimately they will be good for the city. Look what it did for Portland. Critics don't seem to understand what a lightrail/streetcar system does for a local economy. Neighborhoods improve and develop. Businesses move in along a rail line. Drive down MLK and tell me that that entire stretch hasn't sincerely improved since the light rail went in. Most of the housing has improved, new apartments and condos with mixed use businesses are popping up everywhere. People want to live near the light rail, and thus, new businesses move as well.
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  • logical open mind wrote...
    Noiseman-one word Bus!
    February 18, 2013 10:17 am
    We could use buses far, far more effectivly and far,far less money. You have been duped by the train liars.
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  • Chuck Gould wrote...
    Logical: The only way buses work is with a dedicated right of way...
    February 18, 2013 1:18 pm
    given the choice between being stuck in gridlock on a bus, or stuck in gridlock in a private car, most people will opt for the car.

    So how do we get a dedicated right of way for almost no money? Simple. Make more lanes on the arterial "buses only". Not such a great idea, that just ensures that traffic already miserable in the rest of the lanes becomes entirely impossible.

    The key issue is not rubber tires vs fixed rails- it's dedicated right of way.

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  • messiah101 wrote...
    CG
    February 18, 2013 2:27 pm
    I recently returned from Bogota and they have buses that have dedicated lanes throughout the city.Stations with platforms (similar to light rail stations) are located every 1/2 to3/4 miles. It was pretty good rapid transit the drivers did not need to issue tickets and the buses did not stop every block or two.
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  • monroemad wrote...
    Hey dunderhead....
    February 18, 2013 12:23 pm
    The last time I calculated total cost of Sounder less fares collected, divided by number of riders, the taxpayer had to kick in $140 each. Wow what s steal $89 would be. Mass transit died because the masses do no like it. It should remain dead and give the poeple what they want. GOOD ROADS!
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  • cigarfan wrote...
    Dori's approach
    February 18, 2013 5:36 am
    involves starting with a right wing concept (criticizing public transportation) and then building a case with hyperbole instead of explaining root causes of any difficulties involved. Monson's reactionary solution is not to improve services -but to eliminate them.
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  • Cash wrote...
    cigar
    February 18, 2013 8:43 am
    Why is it with you that everything that is wrong is because of a nut job on the right? As long as I have been an adult this entire region has been run by the left so, and maybe I am wrong about this but, could it be that all of these problems are caused by the hard core folks on the left??? I don't know why you guys that are hard core left and the folks that are hard core right can't get it through you're think skulls... I have an idea, how about we all start thinking for ourselves and not follow a party line? Oh no it is easier to believe in what we are told to belive by a party leader... If you are good with throwing away money you can throw away yours but let us keep our hard earned money and spend it on something that works.
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  • cigarfan wrote...
    @Cash
    February 18, 2013 11:04 am
    "Why is it with you that everything that is wrong is because of a nut job on the right?" To answer your question I did say Monson used a right wing concept ...with a reactionary solution. Let's examine your concern by your Dori measurement, Where would you say Dori's political alliances rest ? I'm pretty sure he voted GOP and wants to kill the Sounder train. What demographic shares his ideology?
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  • ron prevost wrote...
    The fact still remains that for the cost of light rail - just so far -
    February 18, 2013 5:43 am
    Bus service in King and Pierce Counties could today be doubled in convenience and routes -

    AND FREE

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • William Lawn wrote...
    True Mr. ron, but as that other poster stated
    February 18, 2013 2:03 pm
    Rail is expensive as heck to start. You think the subway system in NYC came in on the cheap? Or DC?

    But Mr. Chuck is entirely correct. without a dedicated right of way, busses are worthless. It is the right of way that is the key, without it that bus is sitting in the same traffic as you are.

    The absolutely worst thing is that Seattle could have had a DC like system but voted it down in 1974 I believe.

    Stay out near Reagan, be on the Mall in 10-15 minutes via the yellow line, a little longer via the blue, but a still heck of a lot faster than any bus (or car) could make it.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • mnpat wrote...
    The agency is broke and should be defunded....
    February 18, 2013 6:48 am
    And as Ron pointed out, buses could be used which are much more predictable, easier to adjust routes, and could be free for the amount of money Sound Transit has spent. It hasn't been about being effcient, it has been all about somone's desire to have a frickin train to play with.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • cw1997 wrote...
    So Very
    February 18, 2013 6:56 am
    True, this fetish for trains....billions of dollars and very low ridership....can you spell S#L#U#T
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Sean wrote...
    Noiseman,
    February 18, 2013 8:54 am
    Not sure if you're aware of this, but we have ELECTED LEADERS who are supposed to be doing the job that you want Dori to do. They all's slo know about the boondoggle that Sound Transit is... And they do NOTHING. And we keep RE-ELECTING them. Personally I wish we had leaders who would DO THEIR G-D JOB.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • NoiseMan wrote...
    No disagreement here
    February 18, 2013 9:21 am
    .
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rikki Doxx wrote...
    AMTRAK
    February 18, 2013 9:48 am
    I'm a bit confused here. Does the Sounder use the same tracks that AMTRAK and the freight lines use? If Sounder is cancelled 122 times so far why hasn't it affected those other two rail users; what I'm asking is if it disrupted them I'm sure they would be doing something about it if it came down to just mudslides. A 122 cancellations?
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  • messiah101 wrote...
    Rikki
    February 18, 2013 10:09 am
    Mudslides close the tracks every year and all freight and passenger traffic is disrupted when it happens.If 4 trains run in each direction 5 days a week then about 16 days is all it would take even a threat of more rain after several storms can cancel service because of the landslide threat.Nothing Sounder management can do as the railroads maintain the tracks.The Sounder as well as Amtrak only rent the use
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  • Rangerhawk wrote...
    Almost makes you want to change the name of the Seattle MLS Team
    February 18, 2013 2:19 pm
    To the "Stealers"
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • cdbtx wrote...
    There's a very simple solution to it all
    February 18, 2013 3:05 pm
    Pass laws which hold Politicians criminally and civilly liable for what they say and do.

    If a politician misrepresents.. ok in plain English, lies.. then off to jail. Acts of God are excluded. In business that's what happens.

    There's nothing wrong with expressing your desire to accomplish a goal, but to make a vow, a promise to those that pay you, especially if you know that you can't control the outcome is morally, ethically, and criminally wrong.

    The reason though that will never happen are that the majority of the voters, i.e. posters here accept lying, greed, graft, and corruption as a way of doing business - especially if it serves their personal ideology.

    There's not a single poster here that's had the courage to go beyond a simple blog post to demand accountability.

    It's a sad statement, and we'll hear a dozen arguments why you can't hold politicians accountable...

    Seriously - If you came in to buy a car, gave me $30K because I promised you a new a Mercedes and I gave you a used Kia.. should I be held accountable... sorry guys, but I already spent your money on a new car for the wife... and heck... I really was going to get you that Mercedes... because my buddy Joe said that he could get one for me... but the deal fell through... not my fault... but if you give me another $30K.. I'll get you a new Porsche... runs on water too.... and will save you millions.... and stop Global warming...

    So, $120K later you finally get your car.. but it only runs 20% of the time and your parents and spouse and kids are forced to pay for the repairs... we're all happy and smiling right?

    Sorry guys.. things might even be a bit different if you had some skin in the game.. but you don't... no sane person on earth would support, praise, or endorse these guys if that money was coming out of their pocket... ok... a REALLY, REALLY, REALLY Stupid person would.. your call... insane of stupid?

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  • abcs wrote...
    Incomplete
    February 18, 2013 5:42 pm
    That's the grade I give the rant. It's been proven to be a terrible route, but it was cheaper than installing new track (can be disputed in the long run that it's probably not cheaper). On the other hand, the train line goes where bus alternatives exist, i.e. there are buses from stations in Everett, Mukilteo, and Edmonds to downtown Seattle, so the train provides nothing new, other than what they used to call a more-reliable trip. I guess they're not using that argument any more. Dori could ask why aren't there additional stops, e.g. Shoreline and Ballard, why can't there be? Can't the train operate just April through September for its full length and between Edmonds and Seattle year-round? Could it be extended further north, e.g. to Smokey Point, to gain more riders? What's being done to improve parking and transit connections to the stations? Likely, there's no viable alternative routing. Due to a law, the passenger (but not freight) trains have to be shut down for 48 hours. Dori should be asking can this be changed, and is it safe to? Lastly, Sound Transit says they're going to stay the course and keep working to improve it. That's easy to say, as it's somebody else's money. Dori should find out how many bus hours replacing the Sounder-North would provide? Lastly, he should ask what, specifically, is Sound Transit doing to improve reliability, how much is that costing us, and when does the plug get pulled?
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