February 2, 2004

Council Hears that Regional Transit System is Already Increasing Transportation Mobility
Improvements for Express Bus Service Moving Cars as Well

Officials with the agency responsible for construction of a three-county regional transit system today delivered a message to the Metropolitan King County Council: the system is already creating new capacity on county roads.

In a briefing before the Council’s Committee-of-the-Whole, Sound Transit officials said the agency had reached 26 of its 28 milestones set for 2003. Construction began on direct-access HOV ramps that will link I-405 to the renovated Bellevue Transit Center. Sound Transit broke ground on similar access ramps for Ash Way and the Lynnwood Transit Center in Snohomish County. Council Chair and Sound Transit Board Member Larry Phillips said that when completed, these projects will have a positive effect on traffic in the region.

“Money spent for Sound Transit’s projects goes a long way towards providing options for commuters frustrated with our region’s traffic,” said Phillips. “They not only benefit the riders on ST Express buses, but help everyone who uses those freeways by adding capacity to the entire regional transportation system.”

Sound Transit officials told Councilmembers that 20 million riders have taken advantage of the agency’s ST Express regional buses since the start of service. Other accomplishments include the launching of Sounder Commuter rail service between Everett, Edmonds and Seattle, adding a third Sounder round trip between Seattle and Tacoma, the start of service on Tacoma Link Light Rail, and groundbreaking on Central Link Light Rail.

“The success of ST Express regional bus service and Sounder Commuter Rail shouldn’t be overshadowed by Link Light Rail,” said Phillips. “The goal of the regional transportation plan was to present a number of alternatives to getting behind the wheel. We’ve done that and the benefits have a ripple effect for drivers and bus riders."