Gresham, Oregon’s central business district lost the financial prosperity brought by light rail because the city council routed the tracks away from their CBD. Bellevue could be making the same mistake because their latest proposal (Bellevue Reporter, Jan 23, City working on Compromise light-rail) routes light rail through the South Bellevue park-and-ride, the Mercer Slough, and along the BNSF railroad bed on the east side of I-405 which avoids the CBD entirely.

The following paragraph, extracted from the link listed below, highlights the mistake Gresham’s made when routing their light rail in 1981.

http://world.nycsubway.org/us/portland/max.html

“Gresham City Council pushed for (and got) light rail to veer away from the traditional downtown area of Gresham. Civic leaders and Businesses were fearful that the trains would bring more crime and the undesirable types associated with it. These fears proved to be unfounded as light rail brought attention and riders to areas around the Gresham alignment. Property values rose and none of the rampant crime that was expected materialized. Gresham has since relocated its city hall to near the MAX line, and retail and residential developments have followed.”

Hopefully, Bellevue will not repeat Gresham’s mistake.

Paul R. Perkins, Bellevue