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Mercer Island prepares suit over I-90; Sound Transit says it would delay light rail

MERCER ISLAND, Wash. — On Mercer Island, residents predict a big mess this summer.

"I think the traffic will be a bit crazy," said resident Delyse Dickinson.

The city expects backups on small island roads because single-occupancy drivers commuting to Seattle will no longer be allowed to use the Island Crestway on-ramp to I-90.

"This will make it exceedingly difficult and add like a half hour of sitting in traffic," said resident Esther Steege.

Also, drivers traveling alone between Mercer Island and Seattle, who can now use the express lanes, won't be allowed in the new HOV lanes that will replace them.

The federal government told the state that special access can't continue.

"By law, we are prohibited from taking a solo occupant driver and running them in an HOV lane on a permanent basis," said Travis Phelps, spokesman for the Washington State Department of Transportation.

The city of Mercer Island said losing single-occupancy access to the ramp and the lanes violates a longstanding agreement.

On Monday, the city council voted to sue to temporarily block light rail work on the bridge, which starts in June.

"Our intention is just to get an outcome that serves our community fairly, just as it serves other communities as well. Delaying light rail is not the goal," said Mercer Island Mayor Bruce Bassett.

But Sound Transit CEO Peter Rogoff said that's exactly what would happen.

He warned the agency would not be able to stay on schedule to open light rail to Mercer Island, Bellevue and Redmond in 2023.

"If we are stopped from gaining access to the I-90 bridge, all bets are off. The cost to the taxpayer is going to go up," Rogoff said.