Bellevue residents need to recognize what the City Council is proposing routing East Link via a tunnel along 110th Avenue Northeast.

First of all, it’s unlikely Sound Transit will dig a tunnel along the route as they are doing for their University extension. Instead, they will probably construct the light rail system in a deep trench that will eventually be filled in upon completion. Thus, surface transportation in the central business district will be severely disrupted throughout the construction process.

Those living south of where the tunnel begins will still be exposed to the disruption associated with light rail operation even after construction. East Link will also still encroach on the Mercer Slough Park, a violation of federal environment laws.

The council is proposing paying the additional tunnel costs by contributing back additional sales-tax and business-tax revenues the city receives as a result of the light rail project. Sound Transit already gets 10 percent of the areas sales tax revenue and it’s hard to believe those businesses along the trench will benefit.

What is clear is their intent to save money from other parts of the line to make up part of the added tunnel costs by eliminating the elevated tracks in the Bel-Red corridor. Thus, anyone traveling along 140th, 148th, and 156th avenues will have to contend with light rail interruptions every 4-5 minutes, a sure recipe for gridlock for east Bellevue residents.

Bill Hirt, Bellevue