We are writing this letter to express our discontent with how the entire Eastside will be ripped off by the current Sound Transit 3 proposal. The Eastside has a population nearly equal to that of Seattle at 630,000, and Interstate 405 — the highway running through this area — is the most congested freeway in the state of Washington, more congested, may I remind you, than I-5 running through Seattle.

Why is it then, that under the Sound Transit 3 proposal, the city of Seattle will receive numerous light rail extensions to alleviate congestion, while the I-405 “spine” of the Eastside will only receive “improved” bus service? The Eastside needs a light rail “spine” running along I-405, just as Seattle already has one running along I-5.

An “improved” bus service simply doesn’t suffice to alleviate congestion along I-405. Unless new lanes are built simply for buses, (the construction of which will wreak havoc on traffic) buses will be subject to the same debilitating congestion, which will only get worse as the region’s population grows with the region’s booming economy and population.

This proposal is seriously ripping off the entire population of the Eastside if it doesn’t add a light rail spine along I-405. The Eastside population is richer on average than that of Seattle. We will have to pay the majority of the $50 billion in tax increases because we spend more and own more property subject to property taxes. How can you expect us to approve the proposal, as it is, when it barely benefits us? Yes, we do get a line from Bellevue to Redmond and from Bellevue to Issaquah. But these won’t do much to help traffic: our biggest problem is not I-90 or SR 520, it’s I-405. Our biggest problem is I-405.

If you want the vote in November of the Eastside (you need our vote to get ST3 approved), whose population will most likely be paying for the majority of the $50 billion and whose population is nearly equal to that of Seattle, it’s simple: just add a light rail spine along I-405. If you really want solutions, look at the facts. We want to help solve the traffic problem as much as you do, and right now, our biggest problem is the most congested highway in the state — I-405.

Sincerely, the Eastside

Richard Li

Bellevue