It's that time of year again, and with COVID vaccines and boosters readily available, this holiday season is feeling a little more "normal". This may look like a work party, family dinner, or even a public event or two.
A couple weeks ago, T and I went to see Trans-Siberian Orchestra at the newly remodeled and renamed Climate Pledge Arena (formerly Key Arena). (We were encouraged by the vaccine mandate, requirement to wear masks when not actively eating, and the show only selling about half its seats.)
However, the sheer cost of parking caused us to reevaluate our options. The cost for parking was $30, if you prepaid as a bundle with your tickets, and rumors of $50 if you paid when you arrived.
So we decided to give light rail + monorail a try. (See here for more Seattle Metro rail options.) It's been several years since we've taken the monorail, but with the renewed arena and new hockey team, it's been upgraded and well promoted.
Overall, it was a great experience. We're already fans of the light rail, and a 35 minute ride gets us from the park and ride to downtown. Then from Westlake Mall, we can transfer from the light rail to the monorail. A pleasant surprise was the the ORCA card (multi- system transit pass for those outside the Seattle area) includes the monorail, understood the transfer, and we were only charged for a single ride ($3 total vs $3 for light rail and $3 for monorail). The monorail drops you about a block from the arena and is also open for extended hours on arena event nights.
Here's how the costs broke down:
Me: free due to work-provided bus pass.
T: $6 ($3 each way)
Max potential savings: $44 (assumes we would have paid $50 at the door).
Min potential savings: $18 (assumes we prepaid $30 and I didn't have a work-provided bus pass).
These savings just account for the parking and not vehicle fuel.
Beyond the sheer cost savings - the value of one of our tickets or concessions! - there's an added safety factor. If you want to partake in some night out drinks or edibles, please stay off the road. And on holidays, there are usually plenty of other people who shouldn't be on the road. So sit back, relax, and let a professional do the driving.
Public transportation not a great option for your route? Don't forget that you can turn "pooling" on for your favorite rideshare to save a few dollars ans get the eco benefits of carpooling.
So enjoy your holidays, and best to your and yours. Stay safe, save $$$, and make sustainable choices. :)
