Sound Transit kicks off East Link light rail public workshops

Sound Transit kicks off a series of five public workshops on Tuesday, March 27 seeking public involvement in designing and reviewing options for a Link light rail extension that connects the Seattle, Bellevue and Redmond areas.

“The long-awaited light rail line linking the Eastside and Seattle is coming,” said Sound Transit Board Vice Chair and Bellevue City Council Member Connie Marshall. “The East Link project will connect our biggest job centers and enable riders to glide past the rising congestion as our population grows more than 40 percent by 2030.”

“East Link represents a centerpiece of the Roads & Transit ballot measure that will go to voters in November,” Marshall said. “That’s why we got an early start on the design and environmental process. We are nearly a year into the planning and at the time of the vote we’ll have moved this project along further than all but one of the other light rail extensions forming our expanded 60-mile system.”

The route and station workshops offer community members the chance to learn about the proposed East Link light rail system and provide input to inform conceptual design work. Each workshop will focus on light rail options and design issues particular to nearby communities. Design work and community involvement continuing into 2008 will inform the preparation of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for East Link and the Sound Transit Board’s selection of a preferred alignment.

East Link light rail will connect the region’s biggest job and population centers with high-capacity light rail service that will operate 20 hours a day and every few minutes during peak times. Trains will operate in their own right-of-way, free of congestion. Estimated travel times include 10 minutes from Redmond’s Overlake Transit Center to Downtown Bellevue; 30 minutes from UW to Downtown Bellevue; and 20 minutes from Downtown Bellevue to Seattle/Qwest Field.

The workshops will take place at the following times and locations. Community members are asked to RSVP for the workshops to ensure staff are prepared to accommodate everyone who wants to attend. Please RSVP by calling (206) 370-5516 or emailing eastlink@soundtransit.org. RSVPs are not necessary but appreciated. Participants should arrive at the start time.

More information>>>

4-7 p.m. Tues., March 27
Bellevue City Hall, 450 110th Avenue NE., Bellevue

5-7 p.m. Wed., March 28
Rainier Vista Neighborhood House, 4410 29th Ave. S, Seattle

5-7 p.m. Wed., April 4
Community Center at Mercer View, 8236 SE 24th St., Mercer Island

4-7 p.m. Thurs., April 5
Highland Community Center, 14224 NE Bel-Red Rd., Overlake

4-7 p.m. Tues., April 10
Redmond City Hall, 15670 NE 85th St., Redmond