Sound Transit trying to convince Legislature to allow $15B ballot measure

Sound Transit hopes area voters will approve a new $15 billion tax package next year. But the agency can’t even ask until the Legislature gives its approval, and so far, there’s plenty of resistance.

The Sound Transit 3 ballot measure would fund a wide variety of future projects. Planners are just starting to craft the potential package, but the key component would be the expansion of light rail extending from Tacoma all the way to Everett.

The state Senate granted approval for Sound Transit to seek $11.2 billion in new taxes in its recently passed transportation bill.

Related: Senate passes $15 billion transportation package

A parade of local officials testified in the first hearing on the measure in the House Thursday, imploring lawmakers to grant the full $15 billion.

“Without it, we just can’t get there in terms of the transit system or the board or the voters,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine.

Tacoma Mayor Marilyn Strickland told the committee the full funding is critical to bring light rail to the South Sound and keep people and freight moving.

Strickland referenced a poll of 1,500 people throughout the Sound Transit service area last December that found 68 percent approve of the Legislature granting Sound Transit the full $15 billion authority. The poll said 70 percent approved the hypothetical package.

“They have told us unequivocally that they need more transit,” Strickland said. “If we had done this 25 years ago, we’d be having a different conversation today. But we don’t have the luxury of waiting any more.”

The new package could include extending light rail to Seattle neighborhoods such as West Seattle and Ballard. Mayor Ed Murray told the panel having the additional lines could help alleviate some of the gridlock like that experienced Tuesday when an overturned truck snarled traffic for over eight hours around the city.

But even if the House grants the full authority, the measure would return to the Senate, where many Republicans have made clear they have no interest or intention in granting any more taxing authority to Sound Transit.

Some critics say Sound Transit should first prove it can deliver on all of its currently funded projects including finishing light rail to Northgate.

Senator Mark Miloscia (R-Federal Way) said he voted no on the full taxing authority as a message to Sound Transit that the Legislature is not giving the agency a free pass.

“I’m not interested in giving them the full amount unless they are well-run and they are guaranteed to serve all the citizens, especially of south King County,” Miloscia said.