News releases
Read the latest Sound Transit news, expansion developments, and more here.

Public Asked to Weigh In On Major Regional “Roads & Transit” Proposal

Publish Date
Body

 

 

 

Community Meetings Scheduled Around Region

The region’s first comprehensive proposal for reducing freeway congestion and improving mass transit service moved into the home stretch today with the announcement of a series of open houses around the region. The open houses will gather final public input on the “Roads & Transit” package before it goes to voters in November 2007.

The draft Roads & Transit plan calls for dramatic new investments to extend light rail and make significant freeway, HOV and bridge improvements, to build more park and ride lots, and to add express bus service.

The public is invited to provide feedback on the draft plan at five open houses that will take between February 22 and March 20 (see below for details). People can also visit Sound Transit and RTID’s websites to comment: www.soundtransit.org, www.rtid.org.

“Imagine jumping on a train in downtown Bellevue and stepping off about 20 minutes later in downtown Seattle regardless of the traffic,” said Sound Transit Board Chairman John Ladenburg. “This plan calls for extending light rail from Seattle north to Lynnwood, east to Redmond and south to the Port of Tacoma, along with more commuter rail and express bus service in all three counties.”

The Draft Roads & Transit Plan: An Investment in Our Region’s Future


The Roads & Transit package will present to voters a unified program of investments in freeways, light- and commuter-rail, HOV lanes, park/ride lots, and express and local bus service. Key features include:

  • Reduction in traffic delays
  • Faster travel times
  • 42 miles of new light rail
  • Major improvements to “highways of regional significance” and chokepoints- I-5, I-405, SR 167, SR 9, SR 509, US 2, SR 522
  • 10,000 new park-and-ride stalls
  • New HOV lanes
  • Bike lanes, side walks, better connections
  • Major freight routes improved

“These improvements are long overdue and will provide welcome relief for all of us who depend on our freeways to get to and from work, school, and home to our families,” said RTID Executive Board Chairman Shawn Bunney. “Whether you drive a car or truck or take transit, this plan has something for you.”

The Roads and Transit plan is a combined effort by the Regional Transportation Investment District Board (RTID) and Sound Transit. Both agencies are governed by local elected officials in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties.

“Band-aids and quick fixes won’t cut it anymore. We are one region and need one comprehensive plan for improvements,” said King County Councilmember Julia Patterson, a member of both the Sound Transit and RTID boards. “It’s time to get moving on our transportation problems. We can’t wait any longer.”

After the road projects are finalized by RTID in April, they will be advanced for Snohomish, Pierce and King county councils’ approval. With their endorsements, they will be placed on the ballot for voters to consider in November 2007. Sound Transit will adopt final transit projects in April and in June will vote to place them on the November ballot.

Open Houses

All open houses are from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. with a presentation at 6 p.m.

Printable Schedule (pdf, 36KB) >>>

February 22
Union Station
401 S. Jackson St., Seattle

February 28
Bellevue High School
10416 SE Wolverine Way, Bellevue

March 5
Washington State History Museum
1911 Pacific Ave., Tacoma

March 15
Lynnwood Convention Center
3711 196th St. SW, Lynnwood

March 20
Highline Community College
2400 S. 240th St., Des Moines

 

# # #

Sound Transit’s regional network of express buses, commuter rail, light rail and transit facilities connects communities in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties.