Within a day of Governor Kitzhaber of Oregon saying he would not permit new highway bridge construction across the Columbia River unless Washington taxpayers agree to put up an extra $450 million toward a light rail route, Sound Transit's light rail system claimed another victim in Seattle. A Mariners fan died of his injuries Tuesday after being hit by a Sound Transit train near Safeco Field.
This latest light rail accident comes after "a man suffered life-threatening head injuries Saturday evening when he was struck by a Sound Transit light rail train in South Seattle" December 15th, according to a KOMO News report.
Most of the ongoing debate over light rail centers on its high cost, poor record of reducing traffic congestion and consistenty low ridership numbers. A significant concern, however, is light rail's impact on public safety.
These concerns were raised even before Sound Transit officials went ahead with light rail plans. The Seattle Times' Mike Lindblom noted the safety problem when he reported in 2008 on "Light rail stirs safety worries on MLK Way," and later when he reported on, "Sound Transit train and car collide in Seattle."
At the time, transportation expert John Niles raised similar concerns about light rails effect on public safety. He noted Sound Transit's own figures,
"...forecast a collision with a vehicle, bike, or pedestrian averaging every 12 days. Most are expected to be minor, but serious injuries and fatalities are not unheard of in other light rail cities, at a rate per passenger mile that exceeds urban car and bus driving/riding."
Governor Kitzhaber's political strategy appears to be to hold a major interstate highway project hostage until he secures money for light rail from people living in another state.
Normally the public debate focuses on the question, "Is light rail worth the cost?" As light rail fatalities and accident count continue to mount, a more relevant question might be, "Is light rail worth the risk?"