Seattle Post-Intelligencer Endorses Monorail Proposal

A monorail through the heart of Seattle would have a dramatic impact on the architectural and cultural fabric of the city.

1 minute read

October 21, 2002, 6:00 AM PDT

By Chris Steins @planetizen


Despite some reservations, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer comes out squarely in support the newest proposal for a monorail through the heart of Seattle. "The monorail won't solve the city's traffic congestion problem. It will allow those who ride it to ignore the congestion problem.The system's greatest advantage is that it would be grade-separated; that is, it would move not only in a different lane than the rest of the vehicle traffic but also on a different plane... It's a bold plan built from the ground up on the dreams and vision of Seattle folks. It's a brash fusion of nostalgia for the city's 40-year-old monorail landmark and the exciting, attractive advances in that technology.It adds transportation capacity in an urban core without adding vehicles or removing existing lanes. It can be built more quickly than other transportation systems and with less construction disruption for business districts and neighborhoods."

Thanks to Laura Kranz

Sunday, October 20, 2002 in The Seattle Post-Intelligencer

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 9, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Green vintage Chicago streetcar from the 1940s parked at the Illinois Railroad Museum in 1988.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails

Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

July 13, 2025 - WTTV

Aerial view of downtown San Antonio, Texas at night with rotating Tower of the Americas in foreground.

San Antonio and Austin are Fusing Into one Massive Megaregion

The region spanning the two central Texas cities is growing fast, posing challenges for local infrastructure and water supplies.

July 3, 2025 - Governing

White park shuttles with large Zion logo on side and red rock cliffs in background in Zion National Park.

Since Zion's Shuttles Went Electric “The Smog is Gone”

Visitors to Zion National Park can enjoy the canyon via the nation’s first fully electric park shuttle system.

5 hours ago - Reasons to Be Cheerful

Chart of federal transportation funding comparing Biden and Trump administration spending.

Trump Distributing DOT Safety Funds at 1/10 Rate of Biden

Funds for Safe Streets and other transportation safety and equity programs are being held up by administrative reviews and conflicts with the Trump administration’s priorities.

6 hours ago - Transportation for America

Close-up on yellow and black TAXI sign on top of beige car in central Munich, Germany.

German Cities Subsidize Taxis for Women Amid Wave of Violence

Free or low-cost taxi rides can help women navigate cities more safely, but critics say the programs don't address the root causes of violence against women.

7 hours ago - Bloomberg