Editorial support for light rail has changed to opposition at Seattle Times . Light rail was never fairly analyzed against express bus alternatives in the environmental review process in the early 1990s. Still, many political and business leaders, and concerned citizens generally, continue to believe that light rail is an important transportation system to build in Seattle and the central Puget Sound region. Light rail is a replacement for bus service in the densest part of Seattle. Light rail provides travelers with an alternative to driving in congestion.
Light rail operates successfully in many other cities.
Light rail is cheaper and faster to build, and more environmentally friendly, than adding more freeway lanes. Light rail in Seattle is projected to carry thousands of riders every day, more than any other light rail line in America. All of these points about light rail are true, but portray an incomplete story. Because there is now a better transit alternative available than light rail. Because of new technological developments and service concepts in the professional field of public transportation, a major expansion and modernization of bus service would provide the region with more passenger capacity, more geographic coverage, and more new transit riders than light rail would, sooner and at lower cost.