SEATTLE – Sound Transit Board Member Rob Johnson issued the following statement following the Sound Transit Board meeting today, where a draft Sound Transit 3 (ST3) system plan was released for public input:
“Building out the next phase of light rail is a critical step to improve commutes, create tens of thousands of jobs, and make our region more affordable. Today’s plan puts forward an ambitious goal of building light rail to Ballard and West Seattle, as well as building a second transit tunnel in downtown Seattle. We still have work to do to refine this plan, so I welcome anyone to contact me with changes they’d like to see in the proposal.
“As we move toward a final plan adoption this summer, I’ll be working hard to speed up the opening of the proposed Graham Street and 130th Street stations, increasing funding for bike and pedestrian access to stations, and improving our bus/rail integration amongst other priorities. As a Sound Transit board member, I’ll also be working to ensure the ST3 plan we put in front of voters in November continues the vision we began in 1996 of building out a fast, reliable and affordable mass transit system throughout the three county region.”