Comments on: New Burien Transit Center Opens Saturday May 30th

By: brooke

brooke — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 18:33:04 +0000

please realize that there are two polarities at work here: 1] providing amenities to a redeveloping community and 2] safety.

safety is so relative. you assume a risk no matter what you do. there is greater risk driving our car then walking down the street. just walking down the street [when is burien going to get more sidewalks west of ambaum?], then staying in your living room watching television.

please be careful to realize, and state, these two polarities so you don't add to fear-mongering.

while my family is new to burien, i think the demographic is quickly shifting to a younger demographic. we aren’t afraid to use public transportation. the transit center is good for a redeveloping community and for local burien business.

burien has been a great neighborhood so far, and the new transit center only makes it more desirable!

By: Wanker

Wanker — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 02:44:10 +0000

I dont think you realize my point. Look at any city, and the transit center is the center of crime and drug dealing (How many shootings and stabbings at the Fed Way transit center?). I agree that public transportation is a great thing, I used to love being able to take the bus when I worked in an area that was well served by public transportation.Why would you give an open invitation into a revitalized area of town for the illicit behavior.

It does affect me, I live in Des Moines, if I want to take a bus, most likely I have to park, or ride to the BTC. It will be a beutiful transit center, but wait a week you wont feel safe their either.

By: andrea

andrea — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 01:00:02 +0000

Why so negative? I think it's a great thing for Burien. My family is trying to do our best to cut back on our carbon footprint, and only owning one car and relying on public transportation is something very important to us.

Thank you, Burien, for giving us a beautiful Transit Center! We look forward to our bus waiting:)

By: Maxine

Maxine — Sun, 31 May 2009 03:57:44 +0000

wanker, I too share many of your concerns. Are you aware that there are also plans to build a parking garage with apartments on the top at the Transit Center? I think once we have people living there and in Town Square some of the vandalism and other problems we have seen at the old Park and Ride will not be happening so often. There will be people around 24 hours a day who consider it their neighborhood and who will, hopefully, call the police whenever they see anything amiss.

By: in response

in response — Sun, 31 May 2009 00:07:17 +0000

if you don't live in burien, why are you complaining so much about this? normandy park?

By: in response

in response — Sat, 30 May 2009 17:35:37 +0000

maybe you shouldn't be such and elitist. bus stops need good people too.

By: in response

in response — Sat, 30 May 2009 17:33:37 +0000

obviously you have some fear issues. you'll find your life gets richer when you abandon those issues. or, maybe you should just move to bellevue.

the issue of 'riff-raff' doesn't lie in the 'riff-raff,' the problem resides in people who think they are better than everyone else.

By: wanker

wanker — Thu, 28 May 2009 19:58:48 +0000

Sorry- It got a little long, had to break up my response

By: wanker

wanker — Thu, 28 May 2009 19:58:24 +0000

____3) Saftey- this may have been improved, but it is not mentioned. What have they done to improve lighting? The article says "it has lighting" but so did the old transit center, albeit poor lighting. 24/7 Monitored security. What does that mean? Some kid in a room with a bunch of monitors, who isnt paying attention to them? When my wife takes the bus to and from work, and parks at the BTC, she will call me to come meet her if she has to work past dark. My wife is not the type of person to be easily intimidated, but if she doesnt feel safe to get off a bus and walk a hundred feet to her car by herself, there is an issue. ____Ultimately, I am all for public transportation improvements. I used to love it when I could bus to work, and read a book rather than stare at tailights. I just feel that there needs to be accountability to the taxpayers regarding reasonable spending. ____I apologize for misguiding my dissatisfaction towards Burien. ____Thanks for letting me vent____

By: wanker

wanker — Thu, 28 May 2009 19:58:19 +0000

.____2) How much of the $12 Million was spent on non-essential items for the project? The last time I saw glass at a buss stop, it was already etched with grafitti. Why do we need to pay an artist to come and do it, when we know that in 3 weeks, it will be defaced, and be an eyesore. More than likely, the cost of etched glass could have covered multiple ADA improvements, and additional cross walks. I, as many others do too, like art in public works projects, but when you have a budget, and a recession there are some things you need to do without. I think functionality is much more important than astetics.