Sound Transit may still be waiting for authority from the Legislature to seek $15 billion in voter-approved funding for its third set of long-range capital projects, but planning for the future of public transportation remains on schedule.
The Sound Transit board last month released a draft list of potential ST3 projects it could ask voters to fund through a November 2016 ballot measure. That list will be shored up in August and the projects vetted over the next year, said Karen Kitsis, planning and project development manager for Sound Transit.
Kitsis said the agency added back several projects that were removed from ST2 funding due to the recession, as well as other light rail and transit investments on the Eastside.
Other interests include Eastside connectivity and supporting expansion — more maintenance facilities, services and studies — as Sound Transit looks down the road at ST4.
One project would extend East Link light rail past its current ST2 stopping point in Redmond — along State Route 520 — to the downtown sector. Light rail would also be extended north to Everett and south to Tacoma in other “enhancement” projects.
There is another project proposed for light rail from Totem Lake to Issaquah, using portions of the Eastside Rail Corridor in Bellevue.
Systemwide, the project list currently includes high-capacity transit studies to determine Lake Washington crossing options and going around Lake Sammamish to connect Overlake to the Issaquah Highlands.
Bellevue city councilmembers on Monday favored extending East Link to downtown Redmond, as well as proposed I-405 bus rapid transit projects.
Deputy Mayor Kevin Wallace said it’s important the council stress that subarea equity be considered, as Seattle projects currently outweigh those proposed on the Eastside. He said it’s important money raised on the Eastside be put toward projects here.
“We need to get our Eastside cities to stand with us to protect it,” he said.
Sound Transit will host a number of meetings over the next two weeks with King County Metro, which is developing its own long-range plan, so both agencies can partner to create a faster, more efficient transit system in the future. There is also an online survey.
Residents and municipalities have until July 15 to submit comments to the Sound Transit, which will be presented to the board on July 23. The city anticipates finalizing its comments on July 6.
Public Meetings
All meetings run 5:30-7:30 p.m., unless specified
• Seattle: June 16, Union Station, 401 S. Jackson St.
• Everett: June 18, Everett Station, 3201 Smith Ave.
• Redmond: June 23, Redmond Marriott, 7401 164th Ave. N.E.
• Tacoma: June 24, Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center, 1500 Broadway
• Seattle (daytime): 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. June 25, Union Station, 401 S. Jackson St.
• Federal Way: June 25, King County Aquatic Center, 650 S.W. Campus Drive