A monorail system running alongside I-5 might just be the best bet we could make.

In the crapshoot that's become mass transit plans, a monorail system would not only carry passengers, but the public's imagination along with it.

Light rail? Please. Over-budget and underwhelming.

More busses? Been there, hasn't done that.

New and bigger freeways? If that's the total solution we might as well wait for a Star Trek-like 'transporter' to be invented.

But a monorail system...

Running right alongside I-5....

No significant property to buy.

No tunnels to dig.

Relatively quick and easy to build.

And oh, did I mention it'd be cheaper?

Pardon the pun, but how do we get this idea off the ground?

People who have the vision for a freeway monorail system don't have the power. And of those with the power, most don't have any vision.

So: how do we light a fire under the politicians and the State Department of Transportation?

We've been led like sheep long enough.

We've stayed stuck in gridlock long enough.

One way or the other, our tax dollars will go to pay for some form of mass transit.

I say freeway monorail.

What do you say?

Want to share your thoughts with Ken Schram? You can e-mail him at kenschram@komo4news.com