ISSUE #1

FARE EVASION

Currently, Sound Transit only collects, by it’s own estimate, 6/10 fares. This is despite having programs to subsidize low-income riders like ORCA LIFT.

• 40% not paying undercuts a basic sense of fairness

• It welcomes other unwanted behavior on the trains and platforms

• And given the fact recent proposals have floated the idea of 75 year bonds to pay for what we were promised in ST3, it’s ludicrous to not ensure everyone is paying their share.

MY SOLUTION

FARE GATES AT ALL STATIONS

Install fare gates at all Link Stations. Everyone should pay to ride, and everyone should treat our investments like the public goods that they are.

When the Bay Area did this on the BART, they saw:

• Fares collections went up 15%

• Crime reduced by 40%+

• Overall ridership increased due to better conditions

ISSUE #2

upzoning that doesn’t meet the moment

Our current approach is too timid for what we need. We currently:

• Don’t treat the area around our generational investments in light rail with zoning that supports generational growth

• Require developers to meet targets that don’t work economically, creating less incentive to build near our stations

• Put pressure on neighborhoods to meet our housing needs because of our timid approach to zoning near light rail.

My solution

TOWERS NEAR LIGHT RAIL

Upzone several blocks around light rail to allow 15-20 story towers. This creates a win-win-win:

• Support major increases in housing in our region, in the areas most ripe for living with no/limited cars.

• Make the economics work such that developers want to build, including much needed space for daycares, grocery stores, and other key resources.

• Reduces the impact to nearby neighborhoods beyond zoning changes already in place.