Renton city leaders push for bigger piece of Sound Transit expansion

The City of Renton is expected to sound off about Sound Transit as city leaders push for a bigger piece of the pie of the multi-billion dollar light rail expansion.

KIRO 7's Jeff Dubois is live in Renton. Watch on air through 7 a.m. and online through 8 a.m. http://kiro.tv/LiveNews

Taxpayers there have paid about $23 million a year for the last 20 years, but they only have two RapidRide bus routes within the borders of Renton.

In addition, Renton was left out of Sound Transit 3, the agency's 25-year, $50 billion package that voters will approve or reject in November.

In that proposal, light rail could be expanded to Everett, West Seattle and Issaquah, but Sound Transit made big cuts to a robust bus rapid transit system on the Eastside.

On Thursday, Renton leaders are expected to go on the record during a public comment hearing, before Sound Transit makes a final decision on who will get what.

The Renton City Council is asking for $300 million in the plan for two bus rapid transit stations along I-405, 2,700 park and ride spaces and bus-carpool roadways.

Renton is not alone. A letter from half-dozen Eastside cities are pushing Sound Transit to beef-up the bus rapid transit plan in the Sound Transit 3 plan.

Sound Transit board member and current King County Council member Claudia Balducci told the Seattle Times she'll propose some amendments to the plan that will lead to more investments on the Eastside, specifically in Renton.

A hearing about the plan is happening at 1:30 p.m.

Cox Media Group