Seattle certainly has transportation woes. Since it is located on an isthmus, there are limitations as to what transportation solutions can be built in the city. The population is rapidly growing, and new residential buildings are popping up everywhere. The increase in population means an increase in automobiles because, as I can say from first hand experience, you're very limited in terms of doing things if you are dependent on buses and rental cars (a shortage of these is also happening). And monthly parking is a nightmare because there is a shortage of spots.
Right now there is a sort of battle between the car commuters and bus commuters with regard to how the Alaskan way viaduct (which runs along the western edge of the city) is reconfigured for traffic. Designated bus lanes would be great for these commuters, but it would also take away two car lanes. And don't forget about the cyclists! They want their lanes, too.
Seattle's current mass transit options are:
Buses - they still get stuck in the horrendous car traffic, they run infrequently, and they tend to have riders who blast music, litter and shoot up heroin (I've witnessed all of these things). Additionally, they are cramped and smell not so nice. Buses are also not dependable because they can come every 20 minutes, 30 minutes or 50 minutes depending on traffic and other issues. When you have infrequent service, the lateness is especially problematic for those who need to be at work by a certain time and don't want to have to leave an hour early to make up for unpredictable bus service.
Streetcar - aka the SLUT (south lake union trolley) that runs a short way from lake union down to 5th ave. Clean and pleasant in the inside, but its tracks are right on the same shared road as cars and buses. The city is actually extending its route to Capitol Hill so that's good. I think.
Light rail - runs from the airport to west lake center in downtown Seattle. Clean, fast, has its own track separate from cars and buses. But there is only one. Imagine only having the 7 train in Nyc. More of this would be great. But, Seattle being Seattle... It would take 25 years and a trillion dollars to build another line.
Monorail - the monorail is an elevated train that runs from the space needle/Seattle center down to west lake in downtown. It would be like a 20-minute walk... That's how short of a distance. However, the fact that it is elevated means this train is out of the way of the buses, cars and cyclists. Therefore I think the best mass transit option for Seattle is to build more monorail around the city. #moremonorail
