The public will have another chance to weigh in on potential changes to the design of East Link light-rail at an open house June 5.

Several changes that could put a large dent in the city’s contribution toward the project will be on display. Bellevue could be responsible for as much as $160 million in project costs. $100 million of that will come through projects and contributions over the next few years, and the remaining $60 million could be eliminated if the cost of the project is reduced enough.

The changes have come about as part of the collaborative design between Bellevue and Sound Transit. Elected representatives and staff have met countless times over the past few months to start pencilling out possible changes. Some of the changes on the table are:

WINTERS HOUSE – The Historic Winters House is among the most delicate pieces of property on the line. Currently, the plan is to bring the train into a trench just to the west of the property, leaving the building unharmed and entry ways as is. This area has been a topic of conversation throughout the design process, and several ideas that take the train up to ground level could save money. Moving Bellevue Way to the west, and having it cut into the adjacent hill with retaining walls could save between $5 and $8 million. Moving the Winters House 40 to 50 feet east could save $3 to $6 million.

NEIGHBORHOOD ACCESS – Currently, the train dips into a trench, to cross Southeast Fourth Street, allowing the road to remain open. Bellevue and Sound Transit have suggested opening Southeast Eighth Street to neighborhood access in exchange for closing Southeast Fourth, a plan that would save between $5 and $9 million.

DOWNTOWN TUNNEL – The biggest savings possibilities come from making changes to the tunnel. Bellevue and Sound Transit representatives have discussed many aspects of the tunnel, including its size, location of entry points, and the placing and design of the tunnel station. As planned, the tunnel station features two entrances, one at the northwest corner of 110th Avenue Northeast and the other in between Northeast Fourth and Sixth Streets, near City Hall. The elimination of a mezzanine floor could save $4 to $7 million and place the two entrances closer together. A stacked tunnel with trains running on top of one another would take up less underground space and could save between $8 and $13 million. The other idea would have the tunnel station near Northeast Sixth Street, across from the Bellevue Transit Center. It would have the station located at the very end of the tunnel. Two options, a station in the middle of the City Hall property (savings between $14 and $23 million) and a station bordering Northeast Sixth ($10 to $17 million in savings) have been discussed.

Following the open house, the ideas will brought to Bellevue City Council and the Sound Transit board in June to endorse spending more time and resources investigating them. Further study of any of these new options does not make it the preferred route for the project.