The Future of Regional Mass Transit

Last fall, thousands of residents expressed interest in regional mass transit as Sound Transit kicked off a process to update the Long-Range Plan, a blueprint for future mass transit expansion in Puget Sound. Those comments helped shape the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (Draft SEIS), which is available for public review June 13 – July 28, 2014. The Sound Transit Board of Directors plans to update the Long-Range Plan later this year after the Final SEIS is issued. This plan will provide the framework for potential future mass transit expansion—a vital service for our growing population that is expected to grow by 30 percent by 2040.

Now is the opportunity to provide formal comments on the Draft SEIS and share your regional transit priorities – we’d encourage you to participate as a Chamber member. Sound Transit is currently on its way to completing 30 miles of light rail extensions that voters approved for funding in 2008. Your comments on the Draft SEIS will help the Sound Transit Board identify future transit expansions after the light rail extensions are complete in 2023. Comments will be shared with the Sound Transit Board and responded to in the Final SEIS.

Public involvement opportunities through July 28:

There are several methods to provide your feedback now – all details, including the full environmental document, is available at soundtransit.org/longrangeplan. Join the conversation by:
• Email: LongRangePlan@soundtransit.org
• Attending a meeting: Complete a comment form or provide verbal testimony at a public open house/hearing (see below)
• Mail: Sound Transit, Attn: Karin Ertl, 401 S. Jackson St., Seattle, WA 98104
• Going online: take an online survey at soundtransit.org/longrangeplan

There will be open house/public hearings in July 2014. At each meeting, an open house will be held throughout, and a public hearing will begin 30 minutes after the start of the meeting for those wishing to provide testimony directly to Sound Transit.

All meetings will be held 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. with public hearing at 6:00 p.m., except for a daytime meeting in Seattle.

Tacoma – Thurs, July 10
Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center |1500 Broadway

Federal Way – Wed, July 16
Truman High School | 31455 28th Ave S

DAYTIME: Seattle – Thurs, July 10
Union Station |401 S Jackson St
12:00 – 2:00 p.m. with public hearing at 12:30 p.m.

Questions? Call 206-903-7000 or email LongRangePlan@soundtransit.org