Bellevue hearing will give people chance to comment on Eastside light rail plans

January 22, 2009 7:59 pm

The Bellevue City Council will hold a public hearing Monday, Feb. 2, to give people another chance to comment on where they think Sound Transit’s new East Link light rail line should be located in Bellevue, how it should look and where stations should be sited.

The hearing will start at 8 p.m. in the council chambers at City Hall, 450 110th Ave. N.E.

Sound Transit released a draft environmental impact statement for East Link on Dec. 12, 2008, and set a 75-day comment period. The document is a detailed study of potential routes in Bellevue. The deadline to comment is Feb. 25.

The City Council plans to make its final decision on a preferred route for the rail line at its Feb. 23 meeting. That recommendation will be sent to Sound Transit, along with comments from the public hearing and a detailed analysis of the draft EIS by city staff.

Sound Transit’s Board of Directors is expected to cast its vote on a preferred route in April. The board’s final vote on a preferred route will come after the final Environmental Impact Statement is completed, probably in late 2010.

East Link is part of a package of transit improvements passed by voters last November. The project includes the extension of light rail across Lake Washington, through Bellevue, and on to the Overlake Transit Center in Redmond.

The draft EIS is available online at the Sound Transit website (http://www.soundtransit.org/x3245.xml). Printed copies are available to read at the Bellevue Regional Library, Newport Way Library, Lake Hills Library and the Library Connection at Crossroads. People also may express their thoughts by sending e-mails to eastlink.deis@soundtransit.org.

In addition to the City Council’s Feb. 2 public hearing, Sound Transit will hold its own public meetings in Bellevue from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 28 at Bellevue High School, 10416 Wolverine Way. The other is on Thursday, Jan. 29, 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. at City Hall.

Construction of East Link is projected to begin in 2013 and light rail service in downtown Bellevue is anticipated in 2020. Service to Overlake Transit Center is forecast to start in 2021.

For more information, visit the East Link website at http://www.soundtransit.org/x3245.xml. CDs (free) or printed copies (to purchase) can be requested from Elma Borbe at Sound Transit, 206-398-5445 or elma.borbe@soundtransit.org.

The Sound Transit staff contact is Ann Mueller at 206-370-5511 or ann.mueller@soundtransit.org.