Will Easton/Cle Elum ever be a suburb of Seattle/Bellevue? (Yakima: sales, lawyer)

[jabogitlu]

It's a problem, but it's a question of risk acceptance. Contrast this to my 60's-something parents, who probably live at the very least 2 hours (if not 4 hours) from medical facilities that are comparable to Issaquah Swedish...

[Hemlock140]

Originally Posted by jabogitlu

It's a problem, but it's a question of risk acceptance. Contrast this to my 60's-something parents, who probably live at the very least 2 hours (if not 4 hours) from medical facilities that are comparable to Issaquah Swedish...

A lot of people manage with that situation. My Mom is 93, and being in Sequim has Olympic in Port Angeles but sometimes has to go to St. Michael Medical Center (Former Harrison) in Silverdale, over an hour away, or even Seattle, 2-1/2 hours away at times. It's not a big problem if young and still driving, and you only go for routine checkups. It's the urgent or emergency situations that can be costly and even dangerous when so far away. Even with good health a person never knows when something serious will come up.

[mayfair]

Originally Posted by Hemlock140

It's not a big problem if young and still driving, and you only go for routine checkups. It's the urgent or emergency situations that can be costly and even dangerous when so far away. Even with good health a person never knows when something serious will come up.

Yeah, I've seen that with my own elders. Living in the boonies works great...until it doesn't. And that moment can come suddenly and then it's a big ordeal. Many rural areas and small cities in WA are also lacking good services like transportation to doctor appts. or home care.

[jabogitlu]

Yep. This is the stone in my shoe as far as retirement plans go... I want to be in small town Alaska, but that's only if my ticker keeps ticking...lol

[LookinForMayberry]

Originally Posted by grega94

Do you Think that Easton/Cle Elum will ever be a suburb of Seattle/Bellevue in the next 50 years? It's only about an hour away and has arguably a nicer climate. ...

I don't know about the nicer climate remark -- that's a subjective thing. I do know that many people commute from Cle Elum to Bellevue, Redmond, and Issaquah now, and have for decades.

Also what do you think if a high speed rail was built along I-90 from Seattle to Spokane and there was a train station there or in ellensburg, would that change the equation, or would ticket prices be to high for people to move there. Or if there was good bus service, it takes an hour for people to take the ferry from Bremerton to Seattle, so do you think people would do the same to ride on a nice bus with great mountain views during the commute.

For people to move where? Spokane, or Ellensburg? The Amtrak ride to Spokane from Seattle is roughly 8 hours, and $391 one way. I'm not sure a high-speed train would be able to run the course over the existing rails.

[grega94]

Originally Posted by LookinForMayberry

I don't know about the nicer climate remark -- that's a subjective thing. I do know that many people commute from Cle Elum to Bellevue, Redmond, and Issaquah now, and have for decades.


For people to move where? Spokane, or Ellensburg? The Amtrak ride to Spokane from Seattle is roughly 8 hours, and $391 one way. I'm not sure a high-speed train would be able to run the course over the existing rails.

Something to keep in mind is that I wrote those questions seven years ago, so my opinions have changed quite a bit since then. For one I’ve come to the realization that a snowy winter isn’t necessarily better, and many people to Seattle specifically to escape snowy winters. I don’t love the thought of living in snow as much as I used to back then.

And secondly I don’t think HSR will ever be used for commutes as the fares will be more akin to airline fares rather than a commuter train. And in today’s age for many people commuting has become irrelevant with a big increase in WFH jobs post Covid.

[Hemlock140]

Originally Posted by grega94

Something to keep in mind is that I wrote those questions seven years ago, so my opinions have changed quite a bit since then. For one I’ve come to the realization that a snowy winter isn’t necessarily better, and many people to Seattle specifically to escape snowy winters. I don’t love the thought of living in snow as much as I used to back then.

And secondly I don’t think HSR will ever be used for commutes as the fares will be more akin to airline fares rather than a commuter train. And in today’s age for many people commuting has become irrelevant with a big increase in WFH jobs post Covid.

Yes, the buses going between North Bend and Seattle through Issaquah, Bellevue, and Mercer Island on I90 used to be packed at commute times, with standing room only. I used to take it from the Issaquah Transit Center to Westlake. Now I pass the ST554. Metro 216 or 218 and there are 2-3 people. I don't know how they stay in business without the fares, and the taxes will not be enough to pay for the current light rail expansion. Not only will they not expand to Cle Elum, I would even suggest that some current expansion could go on hold or be cancelled.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets...77&single=true

https://www.theurbanist.org/2022/10/...-county-metro/

[jabogitlu]

You realize King County Metro and Sound Transit are different agencies?

The spreadsheet shows a slow recovery, definitely there will be changes to assumptions, but that isn’t a factor only relevant to transit, but retailing, office buildings, etc.

I don’t recall either Sound Transit or King County Metro planning to expand to Cle Elum.

[pnwguy2]

Originally Posted by grega94

Something to keep in mind is that I wrote those questions seven years ago, so my opinions have changed quite a bit since then. For one I’ve come to the realization that a snowy winter isn’t necessarily better, and many people to Seattle specifically to escape snowy winters. I don’t love the thought of living in snow as much as I used to back then.

And secondly I don’t think HSR will ever be used for commutes as the fares will be more akin to airline fares rather than a commuter train. And in today’s age for many people commuting has become irrelevant with a big increase in WFH jobs post Covid.

I think many Seattle residents enjoy a brief snowstorm that usually melts within 2 days. Hey, we are not Buffalo but we aren’t LA!

[grega94]

Originally Posted by pnwguy2

I think many Seattle residents enjoy a brief snowstorm that usually melts within 2 days. Hey, we are not Buffalo but we aren’t LA!

Definitely agree there! I enjoy the occasional snow day, but more than a week or two and it gets old fast.