Updating the vision for regional transit Sound Transit is beginning the process of analyzing transportation corridors throughout the region to identify which are most appropriate for future high capacity transit. ublic input is a critical part of the process. We want your answers to questions including: Where should future light rail extensions go? Should the region make more investments in commuter rail? Where should future regional bus service go? Where should future parking facilities go? How should we provide system access for pedestrians and bicyclists? Why is it important to update the Long-Range lan now? Transit can dramatically expand our region s transportation capacity, yet these major infrastructure investments take years to deliver. lanning and public involvement to shape ballot measure: 3 years Route decisions and environmental review: 4-6 years Final design and property acquisition: 2-3 years Construction: 5+ years Updating the Long-Range lan sets the stage for a future ballot measure. Starting the process now makes it possible to plan and design new transit expansions at the same time currently funded projects are under construction. This could speed up the delivery of new transit service to more communities.
The region is growing uget Sound is home to more than 40% of Washington state s population, and the region is becoming more and more crowded. The population of the uget Sound region is projected to increase by 30 percent by 2040. LEGEND 2000 population 2035 projected population Everett XX% ercent growth rate 525 99 5 62% Lynnwood 47% Snohomish County King County Bothell 40% 405 52% 26% 99 Kirkland Redmond 520 Seattle 5 Bellevue 90 28% 23% 405 16% Burien 27% Renton 36% Kent 20% 19% Federal Way 5 Auburn Tacoma King County ierce County 37% 167 51% uyallup Lakewood 29% 51% Duont 5 57%
The problem: Congestion With growth comes congestion. In 2012 In that time you could... Shoreline alone, the average uget Sound resident spent 33 hours stuck in traffic. Bike around Lake Washington Seattle Bellevue Make 198 omelets 6.5 times Renton Congestion also With that much money hurts our region s economy and environment through lost productivity and increased vehicle you could... Buy 2.85 million lattes emissions. In 2011, congestion cost Washington drivers and businesses over $1.14 billion. Buy the Seahawks for $1.08 billion and have $104 million left over for nachos Over the next 25 years, projected increases in population and jobs for the uget Sound region will result in more congestion. If growth trends continue, commuters could spend 300 percent What could you do with 100 hours? more time sitting in traffic.
A solution: Quick, reliable regional transit Regional transit will become even more vital to the region s transportation system as our population grows. Regional transit helps everyone by moving thousands of people who would otherwise drive. Congestion-free commuting options also protect our environment and make it more attractive for businesses to locate and expand in our region. Every day, Sound Transit trains and express buses provide more than 100,000 rides to work, school and community services. Did you know? Link service can accommodate up to 12,000 riders per hour in each direction
Sound Transit s role in the regional transportation system The regional transit system is a crucial part of the overall transportation network, providing additional capacity to help accommodate growth and reduce congestion. As directed by the Legislature, Sound Transit is responsible for planning, designing and building high-capacity transit to serve the greater uget Sound region. In addition, Sound Transit also coordinates with and provides connections to local transit options, including service operated by: King County Metro ierce Transit Community Transit King County Water Taxi Washington State Ferries Everett Transit Intercity Transit
Regional transit today Sound Transit serves 100,000 riders daily, offering quick, reliable transportation options and an alternative to congestion. Over the past year, ridership on Sound Transit has increased by eight percent. Link light rail Link trains run every few minutes, 20 hours per day, seven days a week, providing service between Sea-Tac Airport and downtown Seattle Most Link service is completely separated from vehicle traffic, providing a congestion-free commute option Tacoma Link serves downtown Tacoma and a study of potential expansion options is underway ST Express 26 routes, providing fast, limited-stop service to employment and activity centers throughout the region Sound Transit has built park- Sound Transit System Map 510 511 513 522 540 545 550 577 578 586 590 592 594 595 596 MA KEY Sounder Commuter Rail Everett Seattle Sounder Tacoma Seattle Sounder Link Light Rail Central Link (SeaTac/Airport Westlake/Seattle) Tacoma Link (Tacoma Dome Theater District) ST Express Regional Bus Bold = Route terminus Everett Seattle Express Ash Way Seattle Express Everett/Lynnwood Seattle Express Everett Seattle Express Woodinville Seattle Express Everett Bellevue Express Lynnwood Bellevue Express Kirkland University District Express Redmond University District Express Redmond Seattle Express Bellevue Seattle Express Seattle Express Northgate Express University District Northgate Express Bellevue Sea-Tac Airport / West Seattle Express Auburn Renton Overlake Express Lakewood Sea-Tac Airport Express Federal Way Seattle Express uyallup Federal Way Seattle Express Tacoma University District Express Tacoma Seattle Express Duont Lakewood Seattle Express Lakewood Tacoma Seattle Express Gig Harbor Seattle Express Bonney Lake Sumner Express Bus Fare Zone Boundary Limited Service Connector Service provided by other agencies ark & Ride Ferry Terminal Sea-Tac Airport Amtrak Seattle Edmonds ioneer Square International District/Chinatown & King Street West Seattle Fauntleroy 511 513 Green Lake Westlake University Street Stadium White Center Mukilteo Lynnwood Shoreline NE 145th SODO Tukwila/ International Blvd Burien SeaTac/Airport NE 45th 510 511 511 510 511 540 586 586 510 511 513 522 545 550 577 578 590 592 594 595 Beacon Hill Evergreen Way Ash Way Alderwood Mall 540 545 Mountlake Terrace University of Washington I-90/ Rainier 510 513 510 511 522 Lake Forest ark Northgate 522 Mount Baker Columbia City Othello Tukwila Montlake Rainier Beach Downtown Everett 510 550 Everett Lake City 513 522 540 545 Mercer Island Eastmont South Everett Kenmore Kirkland South Kirkland 550 550 540 522 Bothell 540 Evergreen oint South Bellevue Canyon ark 522 Brickyard Totem Lake Renton 545 Redmond Bellevue Newport Hills Kennydale Renton Landing Woodinville 545 545 Overlake/ NE 40th Eastgate Bear Creek Highlands Sammamish South Sammamish Downtown and-ride facilities as well as Kent- Des Moines direct freeway access ramps that Star Lake Kent increase bus speed and reliability Sounder 10 daily round trips between Seattle/Tacoma 6 daily round trips between Seattle/Lakewood Service to Gig Harbor and urdy is funded by ierce Transit 592 Duont Narrows 592 594 Lakewood Towne Center Lakewood 595 Tacoma Community College 595 South Tacoma 592 594 SR- Tacoma 590 594 590 586 594 Federal Way 577 578 Theater District/ S 9th Union Station/ S 19th Commerce Street/ S 11th Convention Center/ S 15th S 25th Tacoma Dome 578 uyallup Fairgrounds Red Lot South Hill 578 578 596 South Hill Mall Auburn ark & Ride Auburn Sumner Lakeland Hills 596 Bonney Lake 4 daily round trips between Seattle/Everett Sounder service operates during peak commute hours, largely on existing tracks owned by BNSF. Select service to weekend events, such as Seahawks games and Sounders FC matches.
Regional transit tomorrow By 2023, voter-approved, fully funded projects will expand the regional light rail system to nearly 50 miles and serve more Light rail projected travel times communities. Combined, these projects will increase 6 min Sound Transit daily ridership from 100,000 today to nearly 350,000 in 2030. UW to Downtown Seattle 2016 Service opens north to Capitol Hill and the University of Washington and south to South 200th Street in SeaTac 14-16 min Lynnwood to Northgate 2021 Service opens between the University of Washington and Northgate, with stations in the University District and Roosevelt neighborhoods 40 min Angle Lake to Downtown Seattle 2023 Service opens east to Mercer Island, Bellevue and Redmond s Overlake area; north to Shoreline, Mountlake Terrace and Lynnwood, and south to Kent/Des Moines 10 min Overlake Transit Center to Bellevue Transit Center In 2016 and 2017, Sounder service will increase with three new round trips between Seattle and Lakewood. 14 min Northgate to Downtown Seattle In addition, ST Express bus service is continually fine-tuned to direct bus hours where they are needed most. 20 min Downtown Bellevue to Downtown Seattle
Regional transit in 2023 The map below shows projects that have been fully funded by voters. These projects are: Already in operation, Under construction, or In the planning/design phase. This map represents the starting point for the Long-Range lan process. MA KEY Link Light Rail Everett Link in service Link in planning/construction Link planning study Tacoma Link Tacoma Link planning study Mukilteo Sounder Commuter Rail Everett Lakewood Sounder ST Express Regional Bus Express Bus Service Lynnwood Supporting Investments First Hill Streetcar (Opens 2014) Edmonds 2023 Mountlake Terrace Shoreline Bothell Woodinville Northgate 2021 Kirkland Redmond University of Washington 2023 Overlake Transit Center 2016 Bellevue Seattle Eastgate South Sammamish Mercer Island West Seattle Highlands Where should regional transit go from here? Burien SeaTac/Airport Tukwila Renton 2016 Angle Lake 2023 Kent/Des Moines Kent Tacoma Federal Way Auburn Tacoma Dome uyallup Sumner Bonney Lake Lakewood Duont
What is the Long-Range lan? The Long-Range lan is the vision for how the regional high-capacity system should grow over many decades. What are the goals of the Long-Range lan? rovide a public transportation system that helps ensure long-term mobility, connectivity and convenience for the citizens of the uget Sound region for generations to come reserve communities and open space Contribute to the region s economic vitality reserve our environment Strengthen communities use of the regional transit network Now is the time to decide where Sound Transit services expand after current voter-approved projects are complete in 2023.
What s in the current Long-Range lan? The Long-Range lan for regional transit was last updated by the Sound Transit Board in 2005. It identifies corridors and modes for potential future expansion of high-capacity transit. Sound Transit current Long-Range lan This map reflects projects included in the 2005 Long- Everett Range lan, as well as Mukilteo projects funded by voters as part of the 2008 Sound Transit 2 ballot measure. Mill Creek Lynnwood Edmonds Bothell Woodinville Shoreline Northgate Kirkland Redmond Overlake Seattle Bellevue Mercer Is. Sammamish Tukwila Burien Renton SeaTac Des Moines Kent MA KEY Tacoma Federal Way Auburn Light rail service Future light rail service otential rail extensions Commuter rail service Lakewood uyallup Sumner Regional Express bus service Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) High Capacity Transit Duont Local bus service Orting Sound Transit district boundary
Corridor studies already underway To help gather information on possible transit corridors and inform potential updates to the Long-Range lan, Sound Transit is conducting studies of several corridors. Options for updating the plan include but are not limited to these corridors. Ballard to Downtown Seattle Transit Expansion Study South Corridor Alternatives lanning Study (Federal Way to Tacoma) Lynnwood to Everett Downtown Seattle to West Seattle to Burien Renton to Tukwila, SeaTac to Burien I-405 Bus Rapid Transit Redmond to Kirkland to the U District Ballard to the U District Kirkland, Bellevue, Eastside Rail Corridor Ongoing corridor studies
We Are Here The process ahead Scoping Oct. 25 - Nov. 25, 2013 What is scoping? Scoping is the first step in the process and helps Sound Transit identify and consider potential alternatives and Identify alternatives to study Dec. 2013 their effects on the environment. Scoping also provides an important opportunity for the public, local jurisdictions and other agencies to learn about the project and provide comments. What is an SEIS? Draft SEIS development Jan. - Jun. 2014 To prepare for updating the Long-Range lan, Sound Transit will prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) building on previous environmental analysis. An SEIS is a document that provides comprehensive information about a project s purpose and need, proposed Draft SEIS comment period Jul. - Aug. 2014 plans and potential environmental effects, and is required as part of the State Environmental olicy Act (SEA). Before an SEIS can become final, it must be released in draft form for public review, comment and question. The SEIS will consider potential alternatives and their effects Final SEIS on the environment including, but not limited to:ansit development Sep. - Nov. 2014 Adoption of the updated LR Dec. 2014 Long-Range Traffic Transit Air quality/greenhouse gases Ecosystems Water resources Geology and soils Noise and vibration Visual effects Land use Energy Hazardous materials ublic services and utilities Environmental justice Cultural, historic and archeological resources arks Construction impacts Cumulative impacts lan SEIS Fall 2013 - Late 2014 When could we vote on another regional transit expansion? The Sound Transit Board will decide whether and when to Future ballot development Timing to be determined by Sound Transit Board initiate a ballot measure on proposed expansions. The majority of existing taxes are committed through the 2030s for operating current services and building the extensions that are now underway. Any significant new expansion before the 2030s will require new revenue sources. Updating the Long-Range lan now Vote will help set the stage to explore future funding options.