Metropolitan King County Councilmembers Dwight Pelz and Larry Phillips call today’s unanimous decision by the Sound Transit Board of Directors to place the Link light rail station in Roosevelt on 12th Avenue a choice that will help accomplish the goal of building density around the light rail line.

“This decision is about building community,” said Pelz, Chair of the Council’s Transportation Committee and Sound Transit Board member. “Over the past several months I have worked closely with the Roosevelt neighborhood. The Roosevelt community has clearly embraced a station location that will create a walkable neighborhood which provides density at its core while preserving single family homes in the surrounding area. Their slogan, ‘Yes, In My Front Yard’ shows their commitment to building a quality mass transit system which builds communities along the line rather than simply moving people through.”

“Sound Transit is providing transportation options that attract people to urban communities and reduce sprawl,” said Phillips, Chair of the County Council and a member of the Sound Transit Board. “We’ve seen again and again that people tend to live, shop, work and entertain themselves around light rail lines. Today’s decision will bring to the Roosevelt neighborhood a chance to create a vibrant business district in the heart of their community that will attract people from around the region.”

The board chose a route that will have light rail travel in a tunnel between Brooklyn Avenue to an underground station between NE 65th and NE 68th with the Roosevelt Station being between NE 65th and NE 67th. The 12th Avenue station was the preferred route of The Roosevelt Neighborhood Association, the Roosevelt Neighbors Alliance and the Northeast District Council, representing 20 neighborhood and business groups in Northeast Seattle. The groups said the line would encourage economic development more than the option that would have place an elevated station along 8th Avenue on a route that would parallel Interstate 5.

“We have made a 100-year decision,” said Phillips. “We’ve selected a route that will breathe new life into the neighborhood and be a catalyst for redevelopment. We are cost conscious, but we are also quality conscious, because this is a move that will help define a neighborhood for the next century.”

“As we continue to make future decisions on transit options it is my hope that the Roosevelt decision will be a model for community groups and Sound Transit in building a mass transit system which promotes great neighborhoods and smart development,” said Pelz.