Post Prop 1: Let the small ideas bloom

One immediate reaction to the defeat of Proposition 1, the roads and transit package the voters thumped yesterday, is to fall back to The Portland Way. Build lots of small fixes, as opportunities arise, rather than scaring the voters with a mega-package. It may be a little Rube Goldberg-like, but it

Post Prop 1: Let the small ideas bloom

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David Brewster

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David Brewster • Apr 27, 2025

Feb 6, 2018

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          <article>
            <header>
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                <h1>Post Prop 1: Let the small ideas bloom</h1>
                <h2><p>One immediate reaction to the defeat of Proposition 1, the roads and transit package the voters thumped yesterday, is to fall back to The Portland Way. Build lots of small fixes, as opportunities arise, rather than scaring the voters with a mega-package. It may be a little Rube Goldberg-like, but it</p></h2>
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               <p>By <a href="/author/david-brewster-crosscut-com/">David Brewster</a></p> 
              <p><time datetime="2025-02-04T05:00:00-08:00">Feb 6, 2018</time></p>
            </header>
            <p>One immediate reaction to the defeat of Proposition 1, the roads and transit package the voters thumped yesterday, is to fall back to The Portland Way. Build lots of small fixes, as opportunities arise, rather than scaring the voters with a mega-package. It may be a little Rube Goldberg-like, but it gradually gets the job done.</p><p>Like what? Well, here are a set of ideas sent along by a reader, Greg Coe. See what you think, and send along your own pet (small) projects.</p><p>One immediate reaction to the defeat of Proposition 1, the roads and transit package the voters thumped yesterday, is to fall back to The Portland Way. Build lots of small fixes, as opportunities arise, rather than scaring the voters with a mega-package. It may be a little Rube Goldberg-like, but it gradually gets the job done.  Like what? Well, here are a set of ideas sent along by a reader, Greg Coe. See what you think, and send along your own pet (small) projects.</p><ul><li>Extend the existing Monorail to the Stadium district, letting a private company build the one-mile extension and keep the fares.</li><li>Extend the Lake Union Streetcar to the University District. No tunnels needed, since the University Bridge was built wide to carry (once upon a time) streetcars.</li><li>Extend the Waterfront trolley to the pier 90-91 complex and cruise ship terminal. Extend the south end to travel through the International District and loop around the stadiums.</li><li>Don't remove the rails on the new Eastside trail, but put an interurban street car running from Renton to Snohomish.</li></ul>
          </article>

One immediate reaction to the defeat of Proposition 1, the roads and transit package the voters thumped yesterday, is to fall back to The Portland Way. Build lots of small fixes, as opportunities arise, rather than scaring the voters with a mega-package. It may be a little Rube Goldberg-like, but it gradually gets the job done.

Like what? Well, here are a set of ideas sent along by a reader, Greg Coe. See what you think, and send along your own pet (small) projects.

One immediate reaction to the defeat of Proposition 1, the roads and transit package the voters thumped yesterday, is to fall back to The Portland Way. Build lots of small fixes, as opportunities arise, rather than scaring the voters with a mega-package. It may be a little Rube Goldberg-like, but it gradually gets the job done. Like what? Well, here are a set of ideas sent along by a reader, Greg Coe. See what you think, and send along your own pet (small) projects.

Extend the existing Monorail to the Stadium district, letting a private company build the one-mile extension and keep the fares.
Extend the Lake Union Streetcar to the University District. No tunnels needed, since the University Bridge was built wide to carry (once upon a time) streetcars.
Extend the Waterfront trolley to the pier 90-91 complex and cruise ship terminal. Extend the south end to travel through the International District and loop around the stadiums.
Don't remove the rails on the new Eastside trail, but put an interurban street car running from Renton to Snohomish.

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David Brewster

By David Brewster

David Brewster founded Crosscut. He is now the director of Folio: The Seattle Athenaeum.

David Brewster founded Crosscut. He is now the director of Folio: The Seattle Athenaeum.