Attention golfers: Sound Transit begins planning for US Open in 2015

Joni Earl, CEO Corner

I was pleased to join Pat McCarthy, Pierce County Executive and Sound Transit Board Chair, and other local officials last week for a behind-the-scenes look at the U.S. Open golf championship at Merion Golf Club near Philadelphia.

We were in Pennsylvania to learn all we could in preparation for the 2015 U.S. Open, which is being held at Chambers Bay in the City of University Place near Tacoma.

The U.S. Open at Chambers Bay is expected to bring in an estimated 50,000 people a day during the week of the tournament. The trip last week gave us a chance to better understand the logistical challenges and how they were handled.

Thanks to the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) leadership for giving us a tour of their services and showing us their planning for the U.S. Open. Between weather challenges, huge crowds and various issues that arose, they did a fabulous job. We learned a great deal that will help us, along with the USGA, in planning and preparing for Chambers Bay.