We in Ballard tried to get an innovative monorail system only to have it shot down because of gross incompetence of the monorail leaders and rejection by the city's political leadership more beholden to downtown business interests and the light rail system being built by their baby, Sound Transit.

The Alaskan Way Viaduct rebuild or replacement issue then took center stage ending in a $1 million "election" that said what common sense already had: A tunnel costs too much and a badly (and politically) designed above-ground replacement was not what the citizens wanted.

Since that election saw rejection of everything, it has been eerily quiet about any transit help for Ballard. It is almost as though the city and state powers figure, "well, they rejected our advice so let them suffer."

The good news is the viaduct is holding its own structurally, giving new rise to thoughts fixing the two badly damaged sections near Colman Dock and strengthening of the rest and let it go to another day. The other idea of a through-the-city surface alternative is so laughable that we are certain it will never gain traction.

So, while the issue remains a constant problem hovering over the future, it seems to be dormant.

But Sound Transit is looming folks; with a huge bill they want us to pay, much bigger than the other current boondoggle, a "sports center" for Renton.

According to Center for Transportation Policy at the Washington Policy Center, voters agreed 11 years ago to raise sales taxes and motor vehicle excise taxes to pay $3.4 billion over 10 years to start the light rail system. But, surprise! They apparently were just joking, because they no say it will take up to $15 billion and until 2020 to complete. Not only that, but they plan to collect the 0.4 percent sales tax forever, even when the system is complete - if it ever is.

In addition to that, Sound Transit plans to ask voters to increase the sales tax to 0.5 percent for another $20 billion to complete the second phase.

The study notes that the finished Sound Transit plan would carry only 351,000 riders by 2030, leaving 850,000 additional newcomers to struggle onto our already overburdened and often neglected highways.

What a deal, and remember Ballard gets absolutely no help or relief from any of this grand plan. It serves the eastern side of the city, not us.

Perhaps there is some truth in the old fashioned idea that we should fix up and expand where possible our current freeway and road system. Or, maybe we should just lease the roadways out to a good solid parking lot operator so we get something for our failed leadership.