We’re paying for Sound Transit light rail; get it to Everett sooner

letters

I was just watching KING-TV news and they did a story on a proposed light rail line to West Seattle and Ballard to be completed in 2032 and 2039. Meanwhile the light rail line to Everett has been moved out to 2041. I will be 93 then and if I live long enough, I will be paying excessive light rail fees on my vehicles until then.

That is 19 years from now. And if I was anyone in the Everett area and north of 60 years old or older, and having to pay for something that long, let alone how long we have already been paying for something we have to drive at least 20 miles to use, I would be upset. Especially if you have a newer car, the fees are in the hundreds of dollars.

I contacted our local legislators over a year ago to get relief for older drivers who pay these fees and likely not live long enough to use the Everett line, but I got no response. Who in their 70s, 80s or 90s are going to be able to use or want to use light rail at that age. And what does Sound Transit say? They say: “You voted for it. You agreed to the terms.” Not at the fees they are charging for vehicles did I vote for it. And now the Everett line is being delayed further. The original stations should have a priority finish date before and other additional lines are considered.

Alan Oslin

Everett