Upthegrove: Sound Transit route should align with I-5

April 10, 2015

Summary

Story

Metropolitan King County Councilmember Dave Upthegrove sees the future of light rail in the City of Des Moines along Interstate 5.

Today Upthegrove, a member of the Sound Transit Board, submitted public comments to Sound Transit voicing his support for an alignment along I-5 from Angle Lake to the Kent/Des Moines Station as the best choice for extending light rail south of SeaTac.

“It’s an option where everyone benefits,” said Upthegrove. “The I-5 alignment is cheaper than running the tracks down Highway 99 and travel times would essentially be the same.”

The Federal Way Link Extension project will extend light rail from the future Angle Lake Station at South 200th in SeaTac, which is under construction, to Kent/Des Moines by 2023.

In his comments, Upthegrove points out that an alignment along Interstate 5 through the city of Des Moines is cost effective and respects the City of Des Moines long-term economic development plans.

Upthegrove also states that using the I-5 alignment would maintain estimated ridership levels while still encouraging economic and transit oriented development along the light rail line.