Proposed light rail project draws interest

A large crowd turned out for Monday’s City Council study session to hear Sound Transit staff update elected officials on a proposed East Link Light Rail project that would run from Seattle to downtown Bellevue and possibly to Overlake.

Sound Transit recently sent letters to more than 100 property owners in Bellevue whose land could be impacted by one of several route alternatives under consideration. The agency is drafting a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for the project.

Attention is also sharpened because the Sound Transit Board of Directors is expected to make a decision soon whether to ask voters in November to fund the light rail line, as well as other regional rail extensions and expanded bus service. A roads and transit plan that would have funded the project was voted down in November 2007.

On Monday, Sound Transit provided a preview of the draft EIS, which is expected to be released this fall. The presentation included information on ridership, travel times, potentially affected properties and cost estimates for the various alternatives. Officials described the information as a “snapshot” prior to release of the draft environmental review.

For the past year, a Light Rail Best Practices Committee appointed by the council has studied what works and does not work in other cities with light rail systems, and has made policy recommendations based on its findings.

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