I couldn’t help but laugh reading your article (“Sound Transit projects ahead could need another $11.5 billion,” The Herald, Jan. 17) in which we are now being told about cost overruns to bring light rail to Everett.
I can remember, years ago, when I publicly chastised the Sound Transit Board, then chaired by Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers, for bending to the will of Boeing over the objections of the public and accepting the Boeing detour. This detour would take light rail away from I-5 by making a sharp turn from I-5 in south Everett and head to the Boeing plant. We were all told at that time that Boeing was an important economic driver and the light rail had to go to the Boeing plant first, then, head back to I-5 and travel up to the Everett Station. This Boeing detour not only increased the commuting time for travelers from the Everett Station by at least a half hour but it added an additional $1 billion dollars to the cost of the project.
Fast forward to today, when Boeing is laying off tens of thousands of workers and closing down production. Is this Boeing detour really warranted anymore? In light of the $11.5 billion in projected cost overruns, why not cut costs and save commuting time by simply having the light rail go straight up I-5 directly to the Everett Station. The citizens who are paying the increased car tab tax to fund this project for the benefit of Boeing should have their voices finally be heard.
Anthony Vicari
Everett
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