Sound Transit Board approves shortening light rail timeline

The plan to speed up Sound Transit’s light rail extensions was unanimously approved by the organization’s board on Thursday.

The approved changes will quicken the pace on projects in Renton, Kirkland and North Seattle.

“The public sent us a clear message, ‘We want light rail and other high-capacity mass transit, and we want it as soon as possible.’ That’s exactly what the Sound Transit Board approved today,” said Sound Transit Board Chair and King County Executive Dow Constantine. “We’ll continue to work with cities, communities and other partners to deliver rail and bus rapid transit even sooner.”

Related: This is where Sound Transit wants to put future light rail

The final projects in phase three would build a total of 62 miles of light rail with 37 stations. The board will consider the final documents on June 23.

With the Board’s approval Thursday, light rail to Everett via Paine Field would open five years earlier than what was proposed in March. Extensions to downtown Redmond and Federal Way would be complete about four years earlier. Extensions to Ballard, West Seattle and Tacoma would open three years sooner.

Other changes include:

• Seattle’s light-rail extension to Ballard would be completely grade separated on 15th Avenue.

• A new light-rail line between Issaquah and Bellevue would extend farther to reach south Kirkland.

• New facilities in Kirkland and Renton would be added to the Bus Rapid Transit on I-405 between Lynnwood and Burien.

• A new station at Northeast 130th Street in Seattle would move from provisional to fully funded status.

• Expanded Sounder commuter rail capital investments in South King County and Pierce County would increase system capacity, enhance service, and extend the line to Tillicum and DuPont.

Voters will ultimately decide whether or not to support the expansion.

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