The Sound Transit Board of Directors introduced its proposal for the next phase of Puget Sound transit expansion Thursday -- and it's big. The $50 billion dollar package would result in $27 billion in new property and excise taxes over the next 25 years. In exchange, people from Tacoma to Everett, Puget Sound to Issaquah, would see 108 miles of new light rail, roughly equivalent to the BART in the bay area.
And in case you were wondering, yes, it will include another tunnel through downtown Seattle.
Some projects, like a West Seattle to Ballard route, won't be completed for more than 20 years. King County Executive Dow Constantine admitted the plan was "ambitious."
But for anyone who witnessed last weekend's openings of the Capitol Hill and University of Washington light rail stations, there is certainly an enthusiasm in the air for a more mobile region. In short, people are tired of traffic. Sound Transit is clearly hoping to capitalize on that combination of optimism and frustration and win the day on next fall's ballot measure.
As a regional measure, more conservative voters from outside tax-happy Seattle will also have their say. $50 billion is a large number and success is not a slam dunk. The PR machines at Sound Transit are already churning.
In the meantime, the public will get the next few months to weigh in. Check out Mike Lindbloom at the Times for more details.
