Sound Transit will host an open house next week as part of an alternatives analysis to seek public input on additional corridor alternatives for a potential project to expand the 1.6-mile Tacoma Link system that now operates between the Tacoma Dome and Theater District stations.

The open house follows a request by the City of Tacoma for Sound Transit to evaluate a “hybrid” corridor as the agency prepares to identify one or more corridor alternatives that could potentially advance to the environmental phase of the project. In addition to the city’s corridor alternative, Sound Transit is evaluating another “hybrid” corridor suggested by members of a citizens’ stakeholder roundtable group that convened as part of the alternatives analysis for the project. At the meeting, the public will have the opportunity to comment on five corridor alternatives currently under consideration.

Once the analysis of the five corridor alternatives is complete, staff will present to the Sound Transit Board of Directors recommendations for selecting the preferred corridor alternative(s) that will advance for further study in the environmental review phase of the project. While the board is prepared to take action as early as April, the additional work required to evaluate the hybrid alternatives and compare them against other corridor alternatives may require shifting board action to May.

A potential partnership to expand Tacoma Link was approved by voters in 2008 as part of the Sound Transit 2 ballot measure. The purpose of the expansion is to improve mobility and access to the regional transit system by connecting the existing Tacoma Link system with the city’s major employment, residential and activity centers.

Sound Transit is seeking federal monies and exploring options for securing additional funding partners for the expansion. The alternatives analysis underway supports efforts to narrow and define project alternatives, evaluate costs, benefits and impacts of the alternatives, and work to identify partners and develop a funding plan.

The open house will be held on Thurs., April 11 between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. at Tacoma Dome Station, located at 424 East 25th Street.

More information on the project can be found online at soundtransit.org/tacomalinkexpansion.