{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/6577b61a32da910012a1f7fa/6ab3eb85d4c02b0e0db8a675?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Monorail! Monorail! Monorail!","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/6577b61a32da910012a1f7fa/1790177323874-03f27a02-31d7-42bc-8757-13e2e7ed1ed7.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p>In part two of their monorail retrospective, hosts Cari Simson and Elke Hautala dive into the grassroots effort that nearly brought an expanded monorail system to Seattle.</p><p><strong>If you missed it, go back and listen to Part 1 to get the deep dive into Seattle Monorail politics and advocacy!</strong></p><p><br></p><p>In this episode, we are joined by former campaign staffer <strong>Michael Taylor-Judd</strong>, transit advocate <strong>Rodney Rutherford</strong>, and Seattle Department of Transportation staff <strong>Brian Dougherty. </strong>The episode explores the ground-level advocacy, creative campaign tactics, and complex local politics surrounding Seattle’s monorail movement. The second half of the episode was recorded in the field with Rodney and Brian at 1st Avenue South and South Lander Street, which would have been the Lander Monorail station across from the old Sears flagship location.</p><p><br></p><p>We would love to hear from you about your own Seattle memories, so please <a href=\"mailto:invisiblehistoriespnw@gmail.com?subject=Monorail%20Memories!&amp;body=\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">email us</a> or send a message through our <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/invisiblehistoriespnw\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Facebook</a> or <a href=\"https://www.instagram.com/invisiblehistoriespnw\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Instagram</a> Direct Messages. </p><p><br></p><p>Images can be found at our social media: <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/invisiblehistoriespnw\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Facebook</a> or <a href=\"https://www.instagram.com/invisiblehistoriespnw\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Instagram</a>, including the plans for the Monorail station in SODO!</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Topics:</strong></p><ul><li><strong>Grassroots Campaign Tactics:</strong> How volunteers used plastic-wrapped A-frame petition boards left on city sidewalks and carried a PVC-and-canvas monorail float on foot from Ballard to West Seattle.</li><li><strong>Unforgettable Fundraisers:</strong> The 4th of July monorail train rental where supporters watched fireworks over Elliott Bay and Lake Union while tilted on a curved track.</li><li><strong>Why the Monorail Failed:</strong> Financial shortfalls tied to car tab motor vehicle excise tax projections, procurement bidding hurdles, political pushback, and friction regarding automated driverless transit.</li><li><strong>Lasting Legacy:</strong> How campaign organizers handed over the <u><a href=\"https://transitriders.org/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Transit Riders Union</a></u> domain to future Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson, and how monorail train designs created for Seattle eventually made their way to cities like Cairo, Egypt and São Paulo, Brazil.</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>Links:</strong></p><p><u><a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seattle_Monorail_Project\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Seattle Monorail Project Wikipedia</a></u></p><p><u><a href=\"https://www.historylink.org/File/4297\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">For the Monorail: A 1997 Op-Ed by Walt Crowley</a></u></p><p>Seattle Municipal Archives - Monorail documents:</p><p><u><a href=\"https://archives.seattle.gov/digital-collections/index.php/Detail/objects/236856\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">USCG final environmental impact statement for Seattle Monorail Project Green Line</a></u> and contains Appendix LL.</p><p><u><a href=\"https://archives.seattle.gov/digital-collections/index.php/Detail/objects/238084\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Seattle monorail project / final staff recommendation for alignment and stations</a></u> and includes a small amount about the Lander station and other stations.</p><p><u><a href=\"https://www.monorails.org/tMspages/HallofFame.html\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">The Monorail Society: Hall of Fame</a></u></p><p><u><a href=\"https://seattlechannel.org/videos?videoid=x28624\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://seattlechannel.org/videos?videoid=x28624</a></u></p><p><u><a href=\"https://youtu.be/VVQ-2lcBOjI?si=-w0wcYkvwwZ2xXFS\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Peter Dibble: How Seattle rejected the Monorail (youtube)</a></u></p><p><u><a href=\"https://seattlechannel.org/videos?videoid=x28624\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">The Seattle Channel City Inside/Out: Monorail Measure</a></u></p><p><u><a href=\"https://www.thestranger.com/features/person-of-interest-23716607/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Person of Interest: Dick Falkenbury (2016)</a></u></p><p><u><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4z_9NcIJXI\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Youtube clip of The Simpson’s Season 4: Episode 12’s Monorail song</a></u></p><p><u><a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marge_vs._the_Monorail\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Marge vs the Monorail</a></u></p><p><br></p><p>Subscribe to or Follow our podcast on whatever platform you listen, and please share this episode with a friend!</p><p>Leave us a review wherever you listen to podcasts!</p><p><u><a href=\"https://open.acast.com/networks/6577b3fe9ff7fa001280b253/shows/6577b61a32da910012a1f7fa/episodes/invisible-histories.com\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Learn more about Invisible Histories</a>.</u></p><p><br></p><p>If you are able, please <u><a href=\"https://ko-fi.com/invisiblehistories\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">support our podcast with a Tip</a></u> through Ko-Fi.com</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Credits:</strong></p><p>Episode recorded in Seattle, WA</p><p>Edited by Elke Hautala</p><p>Music - MONORAIL - The New Concert Orchestra - Dennis Farnon (Archive.org)</p><p>Newsreel audio - World of Tomorrow: Monorail by King TV (1962)<a href=\"https://archive.org/details/SMA_12807\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"> </a><u><a href=\"https://archive.org/details/SMA_12807\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://archive.org/details/SMA_12807</a></u></p><p>Courtesy of the Seattle Municipal Archive</p><p>Cover art design by Cari Simson</p><p>Cari Simson and Elke Hautala formed <em>Invisible Histories</em> to visually and viscerally connect the public to experiences from the past. Their <em>Invisible Histories podcast</em> unearths diverse local stories and forgotten places. 2026 <a href=\"https://open.acast.com/networks/6577b3fe9ff7fa001280b253/shows/6577b61a32da910012a1f7fa/www.invisible-histories.com\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"> </a><strong><u><a href=\"https://open.acast.com/networks/6577b3fe9ff7fa001280b253/shows/6577b61a32da910012a1f7fa/www.invisible-histories.com\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">www.invisible-histories.com</a></u></strong></p>","author_name":"Cari Simson Elke Hautala"}