Green Light for ST2 Package

Submitted by Paul Ellis

Sound Transit today adopted a draft planning package, including extension from SeaTac to the Port of Tacoma, that would construct more than 40 new miles of light rail. Other proposed expansions would extend light rail north from the University of Washington to Lynnwood and east as far as Redmond’s Overlake Transit Center via downtown Bellevue. These and other proposed projects in the draft package are projected to increase the number of people who use the regional transit system to more than 350,000 by 2030.

Sound Transit will seek more public input during February and March before adopting a final package that will go to the voters in November as part of the regional Roads & Transit package. In addition to the light rail expansions, the draft package:

• Adds parking and other enhancements at Sounder commuter rail and ST Express bus facilities;
• Sets aside funding for future service enhancements to existing ST Express bus routes; and
• Identifies further light rail extensions in downtown Redmond and downtown Tacoma subject to securing unanticpated additional funding or cost savings during construction of other parts of the package (the package provides up-front funding for planning, engineering and property acquisition for these extensions).

The draft package would be funded with a sales tax increase of 0.5 percent--five cents on a $10 retail purchase; the increase would cost a typical household approximately $125 each year.

Paul Ellis is lead staff for RAMP; an employee of the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber, Ellis led the Pierce County Transportation Advisory Committee (PCTAC), the community's largest transportation planning effort.