Sound Transit hosts open house on Tacoma Link expansion

Public invited to review and comment on narrowing down of corridor alternatives

Sound Transit will conduct an open house on Tuesday, Mar. 19 from 3:00 - 7:00 p.m. in the William Phillip Hall Conference Center at the University of Washington in Tacoma, 1918 Pacific Avenue.  The event is part of an alternatives analysis to seek public input on the narrowing down of corridor alternatives for a potential project to expand the 1.6-mile Tacoma Link system that now operates between the Tacoma Dome and Theater District stations.

The open house next week follows several public meetings the agency has held during the last eight months to gather citizen comment on a range of corridor options under study during the alternatives analysis process. At the meeting, the public will have the opportunity to comment on three corridor alternatives that have emerged as those most responsive to expansion goals. 

Following the open house, staff will present to the Sound Transit Board of Directors recommendations for selecting the preferred corridor alternative(s) that will advance for further study in the environmental review process. The board is scheduled to take action in April.

The Tacoma Link Expansion was approved by voters in 2008 as part of the Sound Transit 2 ballot measure. The purpose of the expansion is to improve mobility and access to the regional transit system by connecting the existing Tacoma Link system with the city's major employment, residential and activity centers. 

ST2 includes funding for a partnership to expand Tacoma Link. Sound Transit is seeking federal monies and exploring options for securing additional funding partners for the expansion. The alternatives analysis underway supports efforts to narrow and define project alternatives, evaluate costs, benefits and impacts of the alternatives, and work to identify partners and develop a funding plan.