07/06/2008

Associated Press

A brand new Sound Transit train parked next to Interstate 5 at Tukwila to show off to the public for next year's grand opening of the light-rail system has been hit by graffiti taggers.

The train was parked on an elevated guideway near the southbound freeway lanes — just north of exits to South-center and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, where 131,000 vehicles pass each weekday in the southbound direction alone.

A passerby, Mike Muller of Tacoma, says he phoned South Transit last week to complain the train looked like a prime target and was assured the agency has 24-hour security. He says he worried taxpayers would be stuck with a cleanup bill.

Sound Transit spokeswoman Linda Robson says the damage and its costs will be assessed on Monday. The vandalism was reported early Saturday.

Light rail is scheduled to start from downtown Seattle to Tukwila next July and to the airport by the end of 2009.

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Information from: The Seattle Times, http://www.seattletimes.com