To the Sound Transit Board of Directors:

Our Kirkland Community Wildlife Habitat Team, officially sanctioned by the National Wildlife Federation and recognized by the city of Kirkland as part of the Green Kirkland Partnership, strenuously opposes any motorized public transit on the Cross Kirkland Corridor and Eastside Rail Corridor. Our team got Kirkland certified as the 37th Community Wildlife Habitat in the nation in 2009, and we have promoted habitat enhancements and public education throughout Kirkland since then.

Putting transit on the trail would destroy the recreational (walking/biking) nature of the existing trail that goes through many wildlife habitats, woodlands and wetlands; be nearly impossible to construct in accordance with new, more rigorous wetland, stream, and salmon-run buffering requirements; cause huge safety and congestion problems due to 40 at-grade crossings with city streets just in Kirkland; and cost much more, with less ridership by Kirkland residents (as opposed to pass-through riders) than your E-02 option.

Please incorporate ONLY E-02 (bus rapid transit on I-405), with a freeway station at Northeast 70th Place near the Park and Ride, in your ST3 proposal for the Kirkland area.

John and Beth McCaslin, Kirkland