Mr. Dow Constantine, Sound Transit board chair, said: “This region has debated mass transit for more years than most people in this room have been alive.”

Question: “Are we not one generation too late”? The cost is projected at $50-$54 billion. A very large sum of money; it will require raising taxes estimated at $392/year for a typical household in addition to the $330/year for Sound Transit now being collected, making it more difficult to pay for other much needed projects. It is further projected the percentage of people using transit will increase from 3.1 percent to 4.3 percent. A small number. (PSRC Transportation 2040 Executive Summary.)

Question: “Is the whole project not too little, too late and too costly”? And what other alternatives are available? For instance: Kemper Freeman’s plan. New technologies, such as autonomous driving are in an advanced development. The proposed transit plan is, for this generation residing in Washington, a single most important decision. Sen. Reuven Carlyle, D-Seattle, calls for a sober reflection. A vigorous public debate is much required.

Joseph Bentvelzen

Edgewood