What's Happening with Buses and Light Rail?

DID YOU KNOW?

Sound Transit/Metro are eliminating ALL buses on the I-90 bridge.

In her email to Sound Transit, Islander Sarah Fletcher asks what happens if people don’t want to get off the westbound morning bus (in the rain), cross the street and wait for available space on a (full?) train from Bellevue to continue into Seattle? What happens if people are not interested to repeat the “disgorging“ from the train to a bus ride to their final destination at the end of a long workday? Many suspect this will incentivize single occupant vehicles, whose drivers previously rode the bus into Seattle and back home again, to now commute by car over the I-90 bridge.

Here’s some of Sarah‘s email interaction with Kurt Workman of Sound Transit:

“Hello, but what should happen with Metro's public outreach that people have absolutely no interest or desire to get off the buses at MI, trudge to the platform in order to wait for the next train only to take the train for 7 miles? So, basically, ST won't change their minds, so basically, should every person email the City telling them they don't want to transfer that ST will still go ahead with their plan for a roundabout? Northgate changed their mind. Northgate people were not happy about being forced onto a train mid-commute. They are now going to have buses continuing into Seattle.

And, where can I find the difference in times it will take via the various different modes of transport (all bus/part train) which is supposed to be part of the EIS?”

The window of opportunity for the public to be involved in these decisions is closing sooner than you think. Would you like to be part of the conversation with Sound Transit/ Metro about these decisions? (Unfortunately, the pandemic closed the public process of hearings on these issues.)

Below are some ways you can be heard.

The East Link Connections project is happening now, led by King County Metro. They are engaging the public to get input on the plans for bus connections to East Link, and we encourage you to look at their timelines and get involved with their process:

https://kingcounty.gov/depts/transportation/metro/programs-projects/fares-routes-and-service/east-link-connections.aspx

• SPRING 2021: Develop proposed concepts for service changes and collect public feedback through surveys, on board engagement, and at community events.

• SUMMER 2021: Present a proposed network of service changes to the public and gathered feedback through surveys, virtual community meetings and at community events (pending Healthy Washington – Road to Recovery).

• WINTER 2021-2022: Revise and finalize a recommended network based on public input and the Mobility Board’s recommendation.

• SUMMER - FALL 2022: Metro presents recommended changes to King County Council. Sound Transit presents recommended changes to Sound Transit Board of Directors.

• 2023 – 2024: Adopted changes to scheduled bus service will coordinate with the opening of Sound Transit’s Link extensions between International District/Chinatown Station and Redmond Technology Station in 2023 and the following extension to Redmond Town Center in 2024.

QUESTIONS? Here are a couple of FAQs developed recently:

1. https://letstalk.mercergov.org/Transit-Interchange/widgets/9517/faqs

2. https://www.soundtransit.org/sites/default/files/documents/miti-open-house-qa-20200801.pdf

3. https://www.mercerisland.gov/sites/default/files/fileattachments/city_council/meeting/packets/3431/cc20190430_packet_special.pdf

4. You can contact Kurt Workman directly.

Kurt Workman, Corridor Manager

Sound Transit Community Engagement

Office: 206-370-5664

Message: 425-610-9165