The Census 2000 population of the City of Seattle is 563,374. A ridership of 72,000 daily would represent 12.78% of the entire population of Seattle. One-eight of Seattle riding the monorail every day! Not too likely, don't you think? The 22,000 ridership is from newspaper estimates based on current bus ridership. Probably much closer to the mark.
BTW, 72,000 times 365 equals 26,280,000. This gives a result of $2.16 per rider amortized over 30 years. Of course, the weekend ridership would be much smaller, regardless of the numbers you use.
At a cost of 1.7 billion dollars and with an estimated daily ridership of 22,000, the monorail will cost about $77,000 per rider. More of course if the rider estimate is low. The population of two Seattle districts, Ballard and West Seattle will actually be able to use it for commuting. All other Seattle residents will be left out. Also, note that most of the estimated ridership already uses mass transit, i.e. the Metro Bus system.
This is a city where public libraries will close for at least two weeks next year to save money. I, for one, would pay the 1.4% ANNUAL excise tax on my car to keep libraries open. But to pay the same for a transit system I can't use because of where I live seems foolish. I guess the only way to avoid it is to leave. Some choice eh?
Slashdot Mirror
The Census 2000 population of the City of Seattle
is 563,374. A ridership of 72,000 daily would
represent 12.78% of the entire population of Seattle. One-eight of Seattle riding the monorail every day! Not too likely, don't you think? The 22,000 ridership is from newspaper estimates based on current bus ridership. Probably much closer to the mark.
BTW, 72,000 times 365 equals 26,280,000. This gives a result of $2.16 per rider amortized over 30 years. Of course, the weekend ridership would be much smaller, regardless of the numbers you use.
At a cost of 1.7 billion dollars and with an estimated daily ridership of 22,000, the monorail will cost about $77,000 per rider. More of course if the rider estimate is low. The population of
two Seattle districts, Ballard and West Seattle will actually be able to use it for commuting. All other Seattle residents will be left out. Also, note that most of the estimated ridership already uses mass transit, i.e. the Metro Bus system.
This is a city where public libraries will close
for at least two weeks next year to save money.
I, for one, would pay the 1.4% ANNUAL excise tax
on my car to keep libraries open. But to pay the same for a transit system I can't use because of
where I live seems foolish. I guess the only way to avoid it is to leave. Some choice eh?