Last Thursday, Sound Transit and the City of Seattle hosted an open house to see the latest options for possible future rail transit service between Ballard and downtown Seattle. Over 160 people attended to learn how input from the March public meeting was incorporated into the study and review options for Sound Transit light rail to Ballard.
There were 8 options presented, and a 9th has been added – and this addition is key, as option 9 is one of 3 plans that will serve Uptown and Queen Anne too, not just Ballard. And, it’s not included in the voting questionnaire – so you have to write it in the comments.
You can view all of the proposed plans online, and then vote here. And, here’s your brief “Voter’s Guide” to the options that best serve our neighborhood, with input from the Uptown Alliance:
Option 2: Interbay/West Ship Canal Tunnel (via Interbay, not Queen Anne)
Option 5: Queen Anne Tunnel – serves Uptown and Upper Queen Anne directly
Option 9: Write-In Plan – if you want this option, include it in your voting comments
Funding for the final option won’t happen until 2016, but these things take time and Sound Transit needs to limit the options to 4 at this point. [note: funding is also not guaranteed – a light rail line would be part of a new ballot measure] Now is the time for the public to have a voice. While the plan is ultimately about connecting Ballard to downtown, a stop along the way for Queen Anne and Uptown would serve more Seattleites.
So, vote by Friday July 5th – take a few minutes today or tomorrow before you head out for a long weekend, vote, and pass along the info to your neighbors!