In 1996, when the Sound Transit Board adopted Sound Move - the Regional Transit System Plan, they also adopted a Long-Range Vision for regional transit. This Vision is the Long-Range Plan for Sound Transit and was based upon many years of study and analysis. That work culminated in the production of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that evaluated several different options for improving mobility in the region. Those options included enhanced transportation system management (TSM) and transportation demand management (TDM); busways; and rail alternatives to address transportation needs through 2020.
The EIS was completed in April 1993. The regional policy organization committee, then adopted the Regional Transit System Plan. This set the stage for the creation of the Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority (later renamed Sound Transit) to implement the plan. Sound Move is the first phase of this plan.
- Original Map of 1996 Long-Range Vision Plan -
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The Long-Range Plan can be thought of as the map or blueprint for reaching the region's long-term transportation goals. As such, it does several things:
- It describes a system that will be included as the High Capacity Transit (HCT) component of any state or regional long-range transportation plan.
- It provides long-range goals, policies, and strategies to guide the long term development of the regional transit system during each phase of implementation.
- It looks at opportunities for making additional HCT investments, including rail extensions, in future phases.
Possible additional HCT corridors and potential rail lines are identified in the Plan and include:
- University District to downtown Everett
- Sea-Tac (S. 200th) south to Fort Lewis/DuPont
- I-405 between 164th S.W. (Swamp Creek) and SeaTac Airport
- I-90 between downtown Seattle and Issaquah
- Downtown Seattle to downtown Bellevue and downtown Redmond
- Downtown Seattle to Ballard to the University District
The Plan concludes that the HCT system best matched to the region's 2020 growth patterns, policies, and travel needs is one that combines commuter rail and light rail together with a ST Express Bus system. Such investments are designed to:
- Increase the people-carrying capacity of the region's most congested travel corridors;
- Support the region's growth management policies;
- Help assure a vital economy; and
- Help protect the region's environment.
