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| These five cities sent a joint letter to the Sound Transit Board in favor of north end transit projects |
The letter — bearing the logos of Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Kenmore, Bothell, and Woodinville — voiced support for three key transit projects for the Sound Transit 3 (ST3) ballot measure.
Currently, Sound Transit is in the process of evaluating a large list of candidate projects and deciding which projects to include in its ST3 final system plan.
The three projects highlighted in the letter focus on relieving congestion and adding bus rapid transit along the State Route 522 (Bothell Way) and NE 145th Street corridor.
Currently, Sound Transit is in the process of evaluating a large list of candidate projects and deciding which projects to include in its ST3 final system plan.
The three projects highlighted in the letter focus on relieving congestion and adding bus rapid transit along the State Route 522 (Bothell Way) and NE 145th Street corridor.
As the joint letter states, “SR 522/NE 145th Street is a major east-west transit corridor that is a key to connecting riders to the light rail spine and making the overall transit system work — building a complete network that ensures transit system success.”
The SR 522/NE 145th Street corridor is already a well-traveled route, connecting north end communities to major regional employment centers in Seattle and on the Eastside, and SR 522 is currently projected to carry 20 percent of cross-lake trips by 2040.
Click to read the joint five-city letter to Sound Transit.
The first project would establish a continuous Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line along SR 522 / NE 145th St, connecting north King County residents to the future Shoreline light rail station at I-5 and 145th Street set to open in 2023. The second project asks Sound Transit to build structured parking facilities along the SR 522 corridor, while the third calls for a study of the corridor for future light rail implementation.
In addition, the letter states, these projects have a low cost-per-rider and have strong multi-jurisdictional support. This letter follows in the wake of a rare joint city council meeting held Tuesday, January 12. Four city councils—those of Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Kenmore, and Bothell —as well as the mayor of Woodinville -- met at Kenmore City Hall to express support for the ST3 projects. Also present at the meeting were two Sound Transit Board Members — King County Councilmember Claudia Balducci and Issaquah Mayor Fred Butler — and Sound Transit staff.
There was also a strong turnout from 522 Transit Now!, a local, grass-roots coalition that formed in support of transit projects along the SR 522 corridor.
Sound Transit plans to take ST3 funding package before voters in November 2016.
The mayors agreed these vital projects make sense for north King County and for the sustainable growth of the entire region. They cited the economic cost, existing infrastructure and rapid projected completion dates which will serve as an early win for Sound Transit.
In addition, the letter states, these projects have a low cost-per-rider and have strong multi-jurisdictional support. This letter follows in the wake of a rare joint city council meeting held Tuesday, January 12. Four city councils—those of Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Kenmore, and Bothell —as well as the mayor of Woodinville -- met at Kenmore City Hall to express support for the ST3 projects. Also present at the meeting were two Sound Transit Board Members — King County Councilmember Claudia Balducci and Issaquah Mayor Fred Butler — and Sound Transit staff.
There was also a strong turnout from 522 Transit Now!, a local, grass-roots coalition that formed in support of transit projects along the SR 522 corridor.
Balducci described the meeting in a Facebook post as “an amazing, and possibly unprecedented, gathering.”
Kenmore Mayor David Baker added, “The overwhelming support we heard for these transit projects from everyone involved was truly inspiring. Our communities have demonstrated that they know there’s a need here and that we are committed to working with Sound Transit to find a solution.”
Sound Transit plans to take ST3 funding package before voters in November 2016.
Once again, the Shoreline residential property owners and tax-payers have no real say in these decisions. The Shoreline City Council cares more about Kenmore, Bothell, and LFP residents than the Shoreline residents they represent. Hundreds of families will be displaced by the 6-lane plan for 145th they discussed. It is the light-rail and rezone debacles all over again!
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