Opening of Light Rail Offers Tremendous Opportunities

Futurewise Launches Blueprint for Creating Transit Oriented Communities

Futurewise was instrumental in getting Prop 1 on the ballot and fighting for its passage this past November. The victory shows that despite hard economic times, voters understand that mass transit is a solid investment, giving more people real transportation choices into the future, and keeping our region environmentally viable.

But the start of light rail service from downtown Seattle to Tukwila on July 18th (to continue to the Airport in December, and throughout the region in the next dozen years) marks more than just the first real high-capacity transit in Washington State; it also gives us an unparalleled opportunity to realize the countless documented social and environmental benefits of transit-oriented land use patterns along this transit corridor. And as high-capacity transit comes online for the many other cities in the central Puget Sound region, and eventually the state, the chance to shift our growth patterns to create vibrant, compact and walkable communities is tremendous.

Starting in 2011, most counties and cities in the state, including all those jurisdictions along the Sound Transit commuter and light rail alignment, will complete their next periodic updates to comprehensive plans. These updates must include provisions to promote more transit-oriented communi­ties—places in which people may live, work, shop and play without relying on a car—or we will miss a critical opportunity to effect the necessary changes to ensure that our cities are livable and sustainable for future generations.

But what specific environmental benefits will transit-oriented communi­ties really produce? Will these land use patterns meaningfully impact global warming pollution? How dense do these communities need to be? Will the density be livable for current and new residents in these communities?  Will these communities be affordable to Washington families? How can local jurisdictions finance the necessary improvements and amenities to make these communities safe and vibrant?

To respond to these questions, this fall Futurewise will launch the Blueprint for Transit-Oriented Communities, a comprehensive report that will link the most cutting edge research on the environmental and social benefits of transit-oriented land use pat­terns to the transit infrastructure and growth management planning opportunities that we have in Washington State. The report, co-authored by Seattle-based design firm GGLO and the non-profit Transportation Choices Coalition, will kick-off two years of outreach and commu­nity engagement leading up to the critical 2011 comprehensive plan updates.

Stay tuned for more details on Blueprint events this fall, or contact Sara Nikolic at
sara@future­wise.org if you want to learn more!