Metropolitan King County Councilmembers Julia Patterson and Dow Constantine today announced that the proposed Roads and Transit ballot measure will include a comprehensive study on linking the cities of Burien, SeaTac, Tukwila and Renton by light rail.

“We need better east-west connections in South King County,” said Patterson, who serves as a member of the Sound Transit Board of Directors. “As the cities of Burien, SeaTac, Tukwila and Renton continue to grow, improving travel between these cities becomes even more important. We need to make it easier to get around South King County in addition to making it easier to get to major job centers like Seattle and Bellevue.”

The study was added to the Roads and Transit plan through an amendment sponsored by Patterson. The Burien/Renton light rail study will evaluate alternative light rail routes, stations, terminals and maintenance facilities connecting Burien, SeaTac Tukwila and Renton. Additionally, the study will examine cost and ridership estimates for each of the route alternatives.

The Roads and Transit plan would also fund construction of light rail between SeaTac Airport and Tacoma, a study of light rail between Burien and West Seattle and construction of a transit center in the city of Burien.

“With the information from these studies and the Roads and Transit investment in the Burien Transit Center, Southwest King County is well poised for future light rail extensions,” said Constantine, who serves as a member of the Sound Transit Board of Directors.

In 2005, an initial examination of light rail connecting Burien and Renton conducted by Parametrix and Parsons Brinckerhoff showed strong ridership projections. By 2030, daily ridership along the line was estimated at 24,000. Sound Transit’s long range plan calls for development of light rail along this corridor.

Potential light rail alignments would connect the planned Burien Transit Center, the Light Rail Station currently under construction in Tukwila at 154th Street, the Tukwila Sounder Commuter Rail Station and the Renton Transit Center.

The Burien/Renton light rail segment could also connect directly to the Central Link Light Rail line, currently being constructed between downtown Seattle and SeaTac Airport.

“This comprehensive study means we are one step closer to fast and reliable transit service that will make it easier to get around South King County,” said Patterson.

“Once light rail serving SeaTac Airport and Downtown Seattle opens in 2009, the region will want to move as quickly as possible to add to the network,” added Constantine.

The King, Pierce and Snohomish county councils are expected to decide this summer whether to put the Roads and Transit package on the November ballot.