More than 9,000 people responded to Sound Transit’s call for public feedback to help shape the future of mass transit in the Puget Sound region, according to a statement released last week.
“The strong response we received to our call for input shows the urgency people feel about expanding our regional transit system,” said Sound Transit Board Chair and Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels. “With light rail on track to open next year from Seattle to the airport we are making progress on regional transit, but people want more expansion in the years ahead. The public input we received will help the Sound Transit Board identify the top priorities for a revised plan.”
The public input shows support for expanding the regional transit system, a perspective that is mirrored in a scientific telephone survey in which the same questions were posed to 800 randomly selected residents. The results of both surveys are available at soundtransit.org/future.
In November 2007, voters turned down a large package of road and transit investments. Now, the Sound Transit Board of Directors is responding to the public’s support for voting on a transit-only measure by taking a renewed look at what transit service expansions can be accomplished soonest as part of a package with a lower cost.
The options under review span the entire region and focus on meeting current demand as well as future population and employment growth through a package of rail and express bus expansions, targeting investments for the right corridors.
Today, Sound Transit’s system of regional express buses, commuter rail and light rail carries about 50,000 riders each day, a number that will more than double following the 2009 opening of light rail service between downtown Seattle and Sea-Tac International Airport. Construction of that light rail line is moving forward on schedule and is now 85 percent complete. Expansion of Link light rail between downtown and the University of Washington is slated to begin this year and be completed in 2016.