The Building a Better Bellevue alliance has several options for opposing Sound Transits current East Link routing. They can “persuade” the four Bellevue City Council members who oppose the 112th Avenue routing to deny Sound Transit the 10 permits Bellevue must approve before construction can begin.

They can support the Eastside Transportation Authorities (ETA) suit that asserts Sound Transit converting the bridge center section to light rail violates the state constitution. (Contrary to popular belief, the Federal Highway Administration was not part of any agreement allowing light rail on bridge.)

They can sue Sound Transit because all of the South Bellevue routes encroach on Mercer Slough Nature Park. Federal law allows encroachment only if there is no feasible or prudent alternative.

Sound Transit never evaluated the “no build alternative” of converting the bridge center section to two-way bus-only lanes with 10 times the capacity of light rail. The alliance would probably generate a lot of support from other Bellevue residents, the majority of who voted not to fund East Link in 2008.

Bill Hirt, Bellevue