Sound Transit is set to release a report, produced in cooperation with the federal government, that will help the agency move forward with planning a light rail extension farther into Snohomish County and to Everett.
The decision allows project planners to begin discussing formal plans in the coming weeks to expand light rail service north toward Everett.
The proposed 16-mile extension in Snohomish County is estimated, according to Sound Transit, to cost nearly $12 billion.
That cost is several billion dollars more than some initial projections. Sound Transit is forging ahead with the light rail plans despite years of budget adjustments and project delays across the agency’s regional rail network. The agency also said on its website that voters approved these plans in 2016.
Commuters who currently rely on multi-leg trips stand to see changes to their daily routes.
Jacob Pierce, a resident of Arlington, has several steps that include driving to Everett from Arlington before even setting foot on public transit: “Yeah, I park at Everett, then take the bus and then the light rail to Seattle…. Yeah I would no longer have to take the bus; I would just take the light rail,” Pierce said.
Local transit connections in Snohomish County have often focused on connecting buses to light rail stations, and many light rail stations across the network feature bus stations alongside the railway stations.
Buses have often adjusted or focused efforts to direct passengers toward current rail terminals. For many commuters trying to use light rail, getting from Everett to Lynnwood requires taking a bus or driving to catch the light rail, since the Lynnwood stop currently serves as the end of the line.
Previous construction timelines across the region have created skepticism among some commuters regarding project schedules.
Eli Foonberg, a commuter, noted that past light rail developments experienced significant delays. “With the Bellevue line, it took a long time to get that done for a whole lot of reasons,” Foonberg said.
In an official statement, Sound Transit emphasized the economic importance of expanding service to the area. An agency spokesperson said, “This is an exciting step forward in expanding high-capacity transit in our region approximately 16 miles north from the existing Lynnwood City Center Station to a new Everett Station.
Everett is a major job center and growth hub, and this project would provide a fast, reliable connection between Everett, surrounding communities, and the rest of the region served by Link light rail.
The rail extension will be within the city of Lynnwood, the city of Everett, and unincorporated Snohomish County. The full project includes the light rail alignment and six stations (plus one provisional station), two parking facilities …”
The Federal Transit Administration and Sound Transit prepared the Draft Environmental Impact Statement, which is set for release this Friday. A 45-day public comment period will begin Sept. 18 and conclude Nov. 2. Sound Transit schedules the completion of phase one to southwest Everett by 2037, with full service extending to Everett Station scheduled for 2041.
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