The following is a release from Sound Transit:

Sound Transit is closing in on completing studies of candidate projects for the Sound Transit 3 ballot measure planned for November 2016, including major regional transit options for expanding mass transit in East King County. Next up is a Sound Transit Board workshop on Dec. 4 where study results for projects across the region will be released.

The completed studies will shed light on the benefits and costs, helping the Board narrow in on which projects should be included in Sound Transit 3. In March the Sound Transit Board is scheduled to release a draft system plan for public input.

“It is time for our region to respond to the rising demand for fast and reliable transit connections,” said Sound Transit Boardmember and Redmond Mayor John Marchione. “The work now underway sets the stage for important conversations about how to improve transit service in East King County. Service expansions will foster vibrant commercial and residential development around transit centers, and will support the Eastside’s continued growth as a dynamic, livable and economically thriving region.”

“East Link is ready to start construction and, in just a few years, will be providing fast and reliable transit options to East King County residents, including the fast-growing corridor between downtown Bellevue and Redmond,” said Sound Transit Boardmember, Bellevue Mayor and King County Councilwoman-elect Claudia Balducci. “But we can’t stop there. Our quality of life, economy and environment depend on expanding regional transit connections to multiple destinations on the Eastside. I am pleased to see Sound Transit hard at work on these studies that will help us pick the best projects to go to voters in November of 2016.”

“By 2040 our region will be home to a million more residents, many of whom will need to reach jobs and homes on the Eastside” said Sound Transit Boardmember and Issaquah Mayor Fred Butler. “We know that businesses and citizens alike rank transportation and mobility solutions among the most important needs of our region. The work now underway will help move these solutions closer to reality.”

In June and July Sound Transit received input from 70 jurisdictions and stakeholder organizations, nearly 25,000 online surveys, more than 1,000 letters and emails and testimony from community leaders. The input helped the Sound Transit Board finalize a list of candidate projects that are detailed on the soundtransit3.org website.

The upcoming Sound Transit Board workshop will take place from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 4 at Union Station, 401 S. Jackson St., Seattle. Potential Eastside options that will come into greater focus with the completed study results include:

· Bus rapid transit on the I-405 corridor: This project would establish bus rapid transit (BRT) service improving transit speed, reliability and connections between Lynnwood, Bothell, Totem Lake, Kirkland, Bellevue, Newcastle, Renton, Tukwila, SeaTac, Burien and other nearby cities. Service would operate primarily in HOV/managed lanes from Lynnwood to SeaTac/Airport Station via I-405, SR 518, and International Boulevard or west to Burien Transit Center. The BRT project includes a direct access ramp in Renton at North 8th Street that can proceed now that WSDOT received state funding for I-405 widening. Investments would include additional freeway stations and park and ride spaces.

· Light rail from Overlake Transit Center to downtown Redmond: This project would extend East Link to downtown Redmond, along the route selected by the Sound Transit Board. The project would include stations and multimodalaccess improvements at southeast Redmond and downtown Redmond.

· Light rail from Totem Lake to Issaquah via Bellevue: This project would build light rail from Totem Lake to the East Link Hospital Station in Bellevue with some sections at-grade and other sections elevated, utilizing the Eastside Rail Corridor. It would continue to downtown Issaquah generally following the I-90 corridor and would include examination of a station, transit center, and park and ride facility serving Issaquah’s newly designated urban center.

· North Sammamish Park and Ride Bus: This project would add a 200- to 300-stall surface parking lot in North Sammamish to provide East King County residents with access to bus and light rail service.

· BRT on the Eastside Rail Corridor from Kirkland to Bellevue: This project would build BRT from Kirkland to Bellevue using the Eastside Rail Corridor, providing transit service in exclusive right-of-way between the Totem Lake Urban Center and the Wilburton Station area in Bellevue.

· HCT Study: Issaquah Highlands to Overlake via Sammamish, Redmond HCT: This study would look at the potential for a ballot measure subsequent to Sound Transit 3 to improve connections along the corridor from Issaquah Highlands to Overlake via Sammamish/Redmond.

· 522/Northern Lake Washington Studies: These studies would analyze light rail, bus rapid transit, system access, and future Lake Washington crossing options along the 522/northern Lake Washington corridors.

· ST Express Bus Service: This project would fund operating and capital improvements that improve bus speed and reliability for ST Express regional bus service that supports high capacity transit.

Each of the identified candidate projects throughout the region will have estimates of ridership, capital, operating and maintenance costs; travel times and reliability; potential for transit-oriented development; and other factors including benefits, needs and potential risks.

The candidate projects are in the conceptual stage now in this phase of study.  Exact route alignments, access points, station locations and other details will be developed later, after funding is approved by voters.  Detailed route planning is done after extensive public involvement and environmental review.

Over the past 14 years Sound Transit has developed a strong track record delivering mass transit investments. The University Link light rail extension, with new stations on Seattle’s Capitol Hill and at Husky Stadium, is on track to open in early 2016, ahead of schedule and approximately $150 million under budget. In 2016 Sound Transit is also on track for a potential early opening of its extension to Angle Lake, one stop south of the airport.

Sound Transit remains on track to begin constructing the voter-approved East Link light rail extension in 2017 and complete it in 2023, expanding congestion-free travel to Mercer Island, Bellevue and Redmond’s Overlake area.  Other current projects include the 2021 extension of light rail service to Seattle’s Northgate area and 2023 extensions further north to Lynnwood and south to Kent/Des Moines. The extensions are expected to increase overall weekday ridership to more than 350,000 by 2030.