In short, icy, icky, disgusting. While leaving aside (for the moment) why WSDOT, County, and City were not MORE PREPARED with de-icer and sanding, given we all knew snow/ice etc was coming (as anyone turning on the TV last night could guess), lets focus on the actual methods by which we made this awful commute (or not, as I did) this morning: all by road - whether bus or car.
Now I know that many of you out there in our fair County think light rail is some sort of demonic socialist crime-ridden machine, and are fighting to the bitter end, and then some, to prevent Tri-Met's "insidious agenda" from breaking ground north of the river. Those of you who read my Facebook and Columbian comment meanderings will know that I am in FAVOR of light rail - indeed, I'm in favor of any and all transit improvements that get people where they need to go quickly and efficiently, as well as remove cars from the roads (thus freeing traffic). This is NOT a post about light rail, the Columbia River Crossing proposal, or anything of that ilk (including Madore's floater for two additional bridges both east and west of existing ones - boondoggle problems in and of themselves).
Instead, this post is about the possibility of a COMMUTER RAIL in Clark County - a rush-hour only (or at least once per hour throughout the day, as I'd like) commuter train, on existing passenger-rail ready tracks, that would whisk passengers from points throughout the County into Vancouver and down on into Union Station in Portland. Such a train would cost much less than light rail, could be easily operated under C-Tran's purview (already gearing up to build 4th Plain Blvd Bus Rapid Transit) and/or Chelatchie Prairie school grads, would make less of an impact on homes and businesses (by not needing new construction all over the place), could be implemented MUCH SOONER than the current 2023/24 start date for a Yellow Line light rail to Vancouver, and would supplement or remove C-Tran's current large fleet of express buses to and from Tri-Met.
Indeed, we've had passenger rail in Vancouver and the County before (remember, the streetcar came across the river from Portland when the Interstate Bridge opened in 1917, and Chelatchie Prairie railroad was a passenger-carrying spur well into the 20th century). Many of our smaller towns and junctions have station buildings still, and Vancouver station just begs for more use than its current five-to-seven Amtraks a day. Plus, a fiscally responsible County wanting to provide transportation solutions (not the current County government) could put commuter rail into place for much less up-front, and much less to run, than any amount we're going to spend on light rail - including diverting revenues rather than imposing new taxes.
I'm not suggesting anything fancy or convoluted. Simply say, three or four runs each morning and afternoon, going from Union Station in Portland first to Vancouver station, then branching off - some going north to say, Ridgefield/Woodland (with stops at 39th St, 78th St, near to the Seward/Bliss Rd junction for Salmon Creek, in upper Felida, 179th St, and Ridgefield/Woodland); some going east to Camas/Washougal (stopping at Wintler/Marine Park, Ellsworth Rd, 164th, downtown Camas, and Washougal); some going northeast to Battleground (stopping at 39th, then Hwy 99/Hazel Dell, 119th, 179th/Eaton Blvd, Battle Ground downtown). There's passenger-able tracks already in place for all three proposed lines.
What y'all think?
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