Monorail talks are railed in the mire

Despite the fact that the technology proposed literally floats on air, discussions concerning the possibility of adding a magnetic monorail system from Olhava to Winslow are causing major friction at Poulsbo City Hall.

Despite the fact that the technology proposed literally floats on air, discussions concerning the possibility of adding a magnetic monorail system from Olhava to Winslow are causing major friction at Poulsbo City Hall.

City council members Jim Henry and Kathryn Quade have been working with Port Angeles resident Karl “Jerry” Lamb in hopes of using his breakthrough LEVX system to alleviate traffic headaches on Highway 305. In doing so, however, the duo are creating quite a few headaches among their fellow council members. So much so, that a presentation about the monorail that was slated to take place there tomorrow night has been canceled.

Will the brakes be put on this topic too soon, or are other members of the city council just being cautious since the issue will effect Poulsbo but has yet to be properly discussed at the city level?

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Critics of the proposal are quick to point the latter out but realists are also coming forward and pointing out that the financial need to create the monorail is far greater than the “rose-colored glasses” crowd is willing to admit. Even at $12 million per mile, which is big bucks for this neck of the woods, the local route would be approximately two-thirds less than the yet-to-be refurbished Seattle monorail. The old adage about something that sounds too good to be true may come into effect here.

Even if it doesn’t, this discussion should go through proper channels first and if the majority of city council isn’t seeing eye-to-eye on the concept, how excited should the public be getting about it?

Folks are already getting bent out of shape on this one — primarily because they feel it is being presented as a city cause, which isn’t the case.

In the midst of the push for the monorail, much-needed funding was finally obtained to add two lanes to Highway 305 through Poulsbo. If the city is already using its right-of-way in this regard, where exactly is the monorail going to be sited along that corridor? What sort of costs are associated when the monorail hits the Agate Pass Bridge? Are Bainbridge Island and the Suquamish Tribe on board with the proposal and, if so, how willing are they to donate right-of-way to the cause? Without government funding, which is scant anyway, where will the millions upon millions of dollars needed to get this project rolling come from? The list of questions goes on and on but the one that truly needs an answer is this: Is this a financially realistic idea for a city of 7,000 residents?

Given that the 305 widening money took several years to discover and finally unlock, we’re having some doubts.

Either way, until city council puts this one on its docket — or even in its chambers — and comes to a consensus, it could be a difficult concept for the public to buy into.

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