Tell Sound Transit Where to Go Next

2023 seems like it's a long ways off right now, but in the big picture world of regional transit planning, it's right around the corner.

Sound Transit currently serves 100,000 riders every weekday. By 2023 Link light rail will have grown to nearly 50 miles, with an accompanying ridership increase projected to be in the neighborhood of 350,000 by 2030. Populations in the Puget Sound area will continue to grow, and Sound Transit needs to know where to go next.

Last updated in 2005, the Long-Range Plan that guides the vision for the Sound Transit system over the course of decades is due for an update, and ST is working to prepare a supplemental environmental impact statement.

The update will attempt to reflect current public priorities and take into account land use plans and growth projections. To that end Sound Transit is undertaking a scoping phase, in which it is asking for public input on where the next round of transit service improvements should go once current projects are completed.

Between October 25 and November 25 the public will have the opportunity to learn about the project, provide comments, and help Sound Transit identify and consider potential alternatives and their potential effects on the environment. 

You've got some options on how you participate, with several public meetings scheduled around the Sound, including a Tacoma meeting on November 18. You can also take an online survey at soundtransit.org/LongRangePlan, or email or snail mail your comments. Download the ST Long-Range Plan Update Folio (pdf) for more information.

Where do you want to see Sound Transit to go next? (Hint: Asking them to head south to Tacoma is one possibility...)