Sherwin and Stockmeyer's new monorail initiative would give the long-suffering Elevated Transportation Company (or ETC, created by voters in 1997) enough money--six million dollars--to do a complete feasibility study and draft a plan for a citywide monorail system, including routes and funding sources. The ETC would have 24 months to draft the proposal, and then the plan would automatically be submitted to the voters to approve or reject. No action would be required by the city council; Sherwin and Stockmeyer would essentially cut our untrustworthy city council out of the monorail loop.
"Nothing more could be spent on the monorail [beyond the $6 million]," says Stockmeyer, "without the approval of the voters. The ultimate decisions [design, financing, and routes] will be made by a vote of the people, once the proposal is formalized."
Stockmeyer has lived in Seattle since 1992, and went doorbelling for the light rail plan in 1996. Sherwin has lived on North Capitol Hill all his life, and has been active in Seattle politics for two decades.
"The biggest enemy to getting the monorail built," says Stockmeyer, "is stupidity. In '96, I was out ringing doorbells for the light rail proposal, but I can see now that it won't work. Anyone can. Light rail brings all the expense of building a commuter rail system, but none of the advantages. It's in traffic, at street grade, and can't go at high speeds, or have eight-car trains."
Tom Carr, who heads the Elevated Transportation Company, says he supports the new monorail initiative out of desperation. "In a way, a new initiative is a step back. But it may be the only way to convince the city council that voters were serious about the monorail in the first place."
The ETC's job is to get this system built, and the original monorail initiative required the ETC to seek out private funding first. "To find those private funds, we need the enthusiastic support of the mayor and the city council," says Carr. "That support isn't there now. Maybe this will help."
Sherwin and Stockmeyer want their new monorail initiative, titled I-53, to qualify for the ballot this November, which would require them to gather roughly 18,000 signatures in the next two to three weeks--a tall order. "We're going to go for it," says Sherwin, "and aim for this November. But if we don't make the cut-off for the ballot this November, we will go on gathering signatures until we have enough, and force it onto the very next ballot." If the men can gather 37,000 signatures in the next four months--which may be a more realistic goal than gathering 18,000 signatures in the next three weeks--the city would have to hold a special election.
Proof that this initiative isn't some left-field ploy from a bunch of hippies living in a yurt--and that it has political traction--is evidenced by the fact that mainstream candidates believe in its viability.
Patrick Kylen, a 33-year-old local businessman and a candidate for the city council, has agreed to serve as treasurer on the new monorail campaign.
More significantly, respected King County Council Member Greg Nickels seems very supportive: "I have been disappointed that the city hasn't stepped forward on the [original] initiative," says Nickels, who has announced his intention of running for mayor next year.
Nickels wanted to read the new initiative before he took a position, but liked the idea of going to the voters twice--once to fund the study, and again to fund the construction. "Clearly this technology has public support," he says. "And I think the unresponsiveness of the mayor and the city council to the original initiative--to the voters, really--is an example of where the city has not listened well to its citizens. It will be an issue in the election."
To get involved with the Seattle Popular Transit Initiative, visit their website, www.riseaboveitall.org.
