Project update: SR 522/NE 145th Bus Rapid Transit

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Project update

Sound Transit Board realignment action

As a project stakeholder, you’ve heard a lot about the Sound Transit Board’s ongoing work to advance our voter-approved projects in a challenging fiscal environment.

In early 2020, the Board launched a process called realignment to review options for addressing the significant affordability gap affecting our future transit expansion projects not yet under construction. Most recently forecasted at $6.5 billion, this gap means that completing many of these projects on their original schedules won’t be affordable.

On Thursday, Aug. 5, the Board adopted a new flexible framework to support moving forward with projects as rapidly as possible. Learn more about the Board’s action in our Platform blog post.

Updated SR 522/NE 145th BRT project timeline

Based on current revenue projections and cost estimates, the Board’s adopted plan identifies:

  • 2026 as the timeframe we can afford to begin service on the SR 522/NE 145th BRT project.
  • 2034 as the timeframe we can afford to provide additional parking in Kenmore and Bothell.
  • 2044 as the timeframe we can afford to provide parking in Lake Forest Park.

We’ll track project costs very closely as we work with partner jurisdictions and stakeholders to advance this project. The project’s ultimate timeline will come into greater focus as we advance project design and property acquisition, including examining cost-saving options.

Our path forward will be shaped by determined efforts to secure expanded funding. Close collaboration with partners will be required to deliver projects as rapidly as possible.

Learn more about the realignment process and increased construction cost estimates at soundtransit.org/realignment.

Next steps

Upcoming work to advance the SR 522/NE 145th BRT project includes:

  • Board selects project to be built (scheduled September 2021).
  • Begin final design phase.
  • Board authorizes project to begin property acquisition (scheduled September 2021).

We hope you’ll continue to participate in our work to move this important project forward.

Questions? Please feel free to reach out to Ivonne Rivera Martinez at ivonne.riveramartinez@soundtransit.org or 206-553-3412.

Thank you,

Bernard van de Kamp
East Corridor Development Director

If you do not wish to receive future emails, please update your preferences here.


More project info: soundtransit.org/sr522brt
Get in touch: brt@soundtransit.org or 206-553-3412