August 18, 2003

Opinion: Monorail images don't show the real picture

Editor,

Worse than the until-now missing visualization studies for the monorail (Web site offers preview of Seattle Monorail Project, Aug. 12, 2003) and its hulking stations is the danger of misleading images that the Seattle Monorail Project is currently generating. I just looked at their website (www.elevated.org) and its new images for their Environmental Impact Statement. Very nice pretty pictures.

But where are the true depictions with realistic shade and shadow underneath? Where are the views that really matter? How about the view down Pike Street from 3rd Ave toward the public market sign and clock? Or the view toward the sound from University Street at 3rd Ave? Or a view of the Smith Tower façade from the west side of 2nd Ave? And what will the public open space adjacent to the historic Union Station and King Street Station look like?

Everything in their view portfolio pretends there will be no shade or shadows under the rails and stations. They show shadows under trees but nothing cast by the monorail hardware: a good trick to play down the day-into-night effect of essentially a lid over major portions of the street and sidewalk blocking out sunlight all along the route and especially at stations.

And what of the visual impact of the monorail on key public views and open spaces? The rails alone running through key view corridors obliterating traditionally and legally protected views will be bad enough, but the downtown stations will severely clutter or cast into permanent shadow many treasured places at the Pike Place Market, Pioneer Square and the International District.

When Sound Transit was studying elevated light rail and stations in the Roosevelt neighborhood a number of years ago, they tried to push unrealistic shade-and-shadowless images of the proposed mega-structures over the streets and sidewalks. Access to sunshine and views were big issues with the public then. The planners couldn't defend the elevated system on these grounds and they subsequently dropped the idea.

Here we are again now facing the same attempted deception! The public needs to hound these monorail schemer/dreamers to make sure they show us the true effects of the elevated rails and their accompanying gigantic station platforms-in-the-air: 24-hour shade and shadow on our sidewalks, streets and public spaces and the forever-lost views that we've worked so hard over so many years to preserve!

Mike Moedritzer,
Seattle

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