SOUND TRANSIT TO HOLD COMMUNITY OPEN HOUSES ON TACOMA-TO-SEATTLE COMMUTER RAIL PROJECT

Citizens in communities along the commuter rail corridor between Tacoma and Seattle will have the opportunity to ask questions and share their comments about developing Sounder commuter rail service at a series of open houses being hosted by Sound Transit - The Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority. The open houses - which are set for late October and early November - will provide an opportunity for neighborhood residents, business owners and others to learn more about the commuter rail project, including project schedules, potential station sites, the environmental assessment, traffic circulation and parking considerations, and the station design process.

The gatherings will be informal with no scheduled presentation, so citizens are welcome to drop in at any time during the open house. RTA staff will be on hand to answer questions and receive comments on the project. The public's comments will assist Sound Transit in finalizing its environmental assessment on the Sounder commuter rail service scheduled to begin operation between Tacoma and Seattle by the end of 1999. Environmental assessment on routes north to Everett and south to Lakewood will get underway next year, with service scheduled to begin in 2001.

All open houses will be from 4 to 8 p.m., and will be held in the following locations:

• Tue, Oct. 28 - King Street Station, S. King St & 2nd Ave. S., Seattle
• Tue, Oct. 28 - Puyallup Recreation Center, 808 Valley Ave. NW
• Wed, Oct. 29 - Auburn City Hall, Council Chambers, 25 W. Main St.
• Wed, Oct. 29 - Sumner City Hall, Council Chambers, 1104 Maple St.
• Thu, Oct. 30 - Kent Junior High School Library, 620 N. Central Ave.
• Mon, Nov. 3 - Tacoma Freighthouse Square, Phoenix Rm., E. 25th St. near G St.
• Wed, Nov. 5 - Hampton Inn at Southcenter, 7200 S. 156th St., Tukwila

The Sounder commuter rail system, which will serve major travel corridors between Lakewood and Everett with passenger service on existing tracks, is a key component of Sound Move, the ten-year regional transit system plan. Sound Transit is in the process of completing the environmental review process for the Tacoma-to-Seattle commuter rail project, which was begun prior to voter approval of the RTA in November 1996. The environmental assessment is scheduled for completion by the end of this year.