Open house/public hearing attendees review information, mix with Sound Transit officials at Nile Shriner Golf Course in Mountlake Terrace on Wednesday

Sound Transit officials heard concerns, complaints, criticisms and compliments in regards to their varying plans for an 8.5-mile light rail extension between Northgate and Lynnwood Wednesday night at an open house/public hearing held at the Nile Shriners Golf Course in Mountlake Terrace. The event was the first of four scheduled opportunities for the public to comment on the transportation agency’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) that will help shape final decisions on the Lynnwood light rail link route and station alternatives.

The meeting drew residents of both King and Snohomish County as the light rail extension will run a route through Shoreline and Mountlake Terrace before ending at or near the Lynnwood Park and Ride.

Sound Transit released its DEIS for the Lynnwood light rail link in July. Although the rail line will generally follow the I-5 corridor, the DEIS outlines 72 potential alignment combinations and six potential stations between Northgate and Lynnwood. Cost of the project ranges from $1.2 to $1.7 billion; Sound Transit hopes to begin operating light rail service along the line in 2023

The Mountlake Terrace open house/public hearing included numerous maps and charts informing of route and station alternatives, various Sound Transit officials available to accept comments and answer questions, and a time for open public comment.

Three more Sound Transit Lynnwood Link open house/public hearings are scheduled for next week:

Seattle
Tuesday, Aug. 20
5:30-8 p.m.
Northgate Community Center, Gymnasium
10510-5th Avenue NE, Seattle

Lynnwood
Wednesday, Aug. 21
5:30-8 p.m.
Embassy Suites, Rainier and Baker rooms
20610-44th Ave. W., Lynnwood

Shoreline
Thursday, Aug. 22
5:30-8 p.m.
Shoreline Conference Center, Shoreline Room
18560-1st Ave. N.E., Shoreline

Public comment can also be submitted via e-mail at mailto:LynnwoodLinkDEIS@soundtransit.org. The DEIS public comment period closes on Sept. 23.

The Sound Transit Lynnwood Link DEIS is available for viewing on-line at https://www.soundtransit.org/Projects-and-Plans/Lynnwood-Link-Extension. Hard copies of the document are available for review at various area libraries, including Mountlake Terrace, Lynnwood, Edmonds, Shoreline and Seattle Central libraries. Hard copies can also be purchased from Sound Transit for $25.

— Story and photos by Doug Petrowski