An updated draft plan of Sound Transit’s $50.1 billion expansion does not include transit — buses or light rail — on the Cross Kirkland Corridor, according to a release by the transit agency on Tuesday.

Sound Transit’s 25-year expansion plan, ST3, will go on the November ballot following a 30-day period in which the agency will ask for public comment via an online survey and in public meetings.

The draft plan avoids the corridor altogether, with the exception of an environmental study of High Capacity Transit from Bothell to Bellevue, through Kirkland. For now, things won’t change.

The city of Kirkland, in its last proposal to Sound Transit, asked the transit agency to scrap early plans to build light rail on the corridor. The interim pedestrian trail is built on a former section of the old BNSF rail line bought by the city and initially intended for transit use.

In the so-called “Kirkland Compromise,” the city proposed shifting and improving the current interim pedestrian trail and preparing the corridor for bus rapid transit, but not light rail.

The latest draft plan includes neither, something Kirkland Save Our Trail, a local group opposed to transit along the corridor, was pleased to discover. Save Our Trail sent multiple letters to the Kirkland City Council and to Sound Transit asking for the corridor to be left as-is.

“One of the most important things [about ST3] was there is no transit on the trail,” said David Greschler, chairperson for Save Our Trail. “We got that. What came out were certainly items we had asked for.”

Greschler, who lives within a half-mile of the trail and uses it often, said he felt raising the issue of keeping transit out of plans for the corridor helped the trail step more into the public eye.

The projects connected to Kirkland aren’t likely to be finished until around 2024, but local residents might already have a picture of what the finished project could look like.

The biggest impact for Kirkland would be to the current bus rapid transit (BRT) system running along I-405, which would receive a vast multi-billion dollar face-lift.

For the most part, the BRT system would run in the express toll lanes on the freeway, especially between Lynnwood and Renton. The proposal would improve and expand a handful of existing BRT stations, construct two new stations for a total of 10 stops, and make other transit improvements along I-405.

According to the release, the I-405 BRT project would cost between $687-$735 million, and would carry a projected 11,000-13,000 riders per day by 2040.

The plan calls for the purchase of a fleet of 34 new three-door articulated coaches, but would not include new direct access ramps to the HOV and toll lanes or expand bus service on additional surface streets.

Among the larger projects affecting Kirkland in the I-405 stretch would be a new in-line BRT station at Northeast 85th Street, expected to cost between $243 million and $260 million.

The new station would provide a link from city surface transit to the regional network, and would include pedestrian access to bus stops on both directions of Northeast 85th Street. The station would not include a parking lot, and would provide 17 hours of service on Sundays and 19 hours of service on all other days.

The proposal listed a handful of concerns for the 85th Street station, including the speed and radius of I-405 on ramps. The proposal calls for tightening the radius of the on-ramps in order to widen I-405 to fit the in-line station. On-ramp speeds would need to be lowered from 25 mph to 20 mph.

The plan would add two-way, outside-only bus lanes along Northeast 85th Street between I-405 and Northeast 6th Street. The bridge carrying 85th Street over the Cross Kirkland Corridor would need to be widened, as would large sections of 85th Street leading westward into Kirkland.

The Kingsgate Park-and-Ride would look decidedly different with the construction of a 1,000-stall parking garage. Minor improvements, mostly signage, would also be made to the existing in-line station at Totem Lake on Northeast 128th Street.

North of Kirkland, the plan calls for major improvements to the Canyon Park, University of Washington-Bothell and Brickyard BRT stops. The stations would receive improvements in signage, lighting, shelters and benches, an off-board fare system and displays showing real-time bus arrival information.

The BRT station pair at the Lynnwood Transit Center would improve signage improvements, as would stations at the Bellevue Transit Center, Tukwila International Boulevard Link Station and Burien Transit Center.

At South Renton, 700 parking stalls would be constructed along with a transit center and bus layover.

One problem with the planned BRT system, as noted in the March 29 release, is a dependency on the Washington State Department of Transportation to keep express toll lanes at appropriate speed. Should traffic back up and the lanes fill up, the BRT system would grind to a halt — unlike a comparable light rail system.

In addition to changes made to the 85th street section of I-405, Sound Transit would need three major bridges to be widened to accommodate the BRT system: crossings at SR 518, SR 509 and Des Moines Memorial Drive.

Full ST3 overview

While light rail will not traverse Kirkland, should ST3 pass in November, light rail is a major component of the upcoming ballot measure.

Most notable for Kirkland residents, Link light rail would be extended to downtown Redmond and from Bellevue to Issaquah on the Eastside. Light rail would also extend from Kent to the Tacoma Dome, and from downtown Tacoma to Tacoma Community College.

Light rail would expand from Seattle to West Seattle, and from Lynnwood to Everett. Three new stations would also be added to the current system.

The BRT system would be expanded outside of the I-405 corridor, including on NE 145th and SR 522 between I-5 and Woodinville, and improvements to provide service to Ballard and West Seattle.

Also included in the plan is a proposition to allow buses to use shoulders on freeways should congestion in general traffic or HOV lanes impede the flow of bus routes, among other bus-related projects.

The Sounder commuter rail system would also see improvements, namely extension of rail from Lakewood to Tillicum and DuPont.

The ST3 draft also included plans to study additional extensions, including light rail connections across northern Lake Washington.

A public open house will take place from 5:30-7:30 p.m. with a presentation at 6 p.m. on April 27 a the Old Redmond School House Community Center.