The Sound Transit Board unanimously approved on July 25 placing a 15-year mass transit package on the November ballot.

The plan rapidly increases express bus and commuter rail service and creates a 53-mile regional light rail system.

"Today we heeded the public's call to deliver a mass transit system that responds to high gas prices and rising congestion. This faster, better and cheaper plan will provide serious relief for our commuters," said Sound Transit Board Chair and Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels. "It's the right plan for us, our kids and our planet."

"Expanding ST Express, Sounder and Tacoma Link service will keep Sound Transit's double-digit ridership growing and stimulate our regional economy," said Board Member and Pierce County Executive John Ladenburg. "Getting light rail to Federal Way five years sooner than last year's package will also support the long-term goal of getting light rail to Tacoma as soon as possible."

"Every day thousands of Pierce County and South King County residents depend on Sounder to make their commutes sail by painlessly," said Board Member and Sumner Mayor Dave Enslow. "The problem is that the system is so popular we don't have nearly enough parking. This package makes room for thousands more by expanding service 65 percent and providing funds to create expanded station access and parking."

The package's capital projects cost $13.5 billion in year-of-expenditure dollars that include inflation estimates. Adding operations, maintenance, reserves and debt service through 2023, the cost is $17.9 billion including inflation.

Funding would come from a 0.5 percent increase of the local sales tax, or five cents on a $10 purchase. The approximately $69 annual cost of the increase for each adult is around the cost of a single tank of gas at current pump prices.

This transit-only package delivers transit projects significantly faster than last year's Proposition 1 measure. The construction costs are 50 percent lower than Proposition 1, which included both roads and transit projects, and 23 percent lower than the 20-year transit package that was part of Proposition 1.

While the packaged was forwarded to the ballot by a unanimous vote, the underlying plan as it was amended today passed on a 16-2 vote.

Details of the 15-year plan include:

Southward expansion of light rail to Highline Community College by 2020 and Federal Way's South 272nd Street area by 2023, five years earlier than Proposition 1.

Improved station access: Funding to increase access to transit facilities in Auburn, Edmonds, Kent, Lakewood, Mukilteo, Puyallup, South Tacoma, Sumner, Tacoma and Tukwila. Projects will be tailored to the needs of each location and may include expanded parking; pedestrian improvements at or near stations; additional bus/transfer facilities for improved feeder service to stations; bicycle access and storage; and new and expanded drop-off areas to encourage ride-sharing.

Partnerships for expanded transit: Partnership funding for Eastside passenger rail on existing freight tracks; as well as for potential extensions of Tacoma Link light rail and projects in Bothell and Burien.

Planning studies: The plan provides funds for studies to evaluate further mass transit expansions in future phases. These studies will focus on future extensions from Lynnwood to Everett; the University District to downtown Seattle via Ballard; Burien to Renton; downtown Seattle to Burien via West Seattle; South Bellevue to Issaquah; and along the SR 520 corridor between Redmond, Kirkland and the University of Washington and further west into Seattle. Funds for preliminary engineering and right-of-way acquisition are included for the future continuation of light rail from Federal Way to Tacoma.

Northward expansion of light rail from the University of Washington to Northgate by 2020, with a further extension to Lynnwood by 2023, five years earlier than last year's Proposition 1 measure.

Eastward expansion of light rail to Bellevue and onward to Overlake Transit Center in Redmond by 2021, seven years earlier than Proposition 1.

Major ST Express bus service improvements, including an expansion of 100,000 bus service hours for 2009, overall increases of 10 to 30 percent in key corridors, and bus rapid transit service on State Route 520.

Sounder Commuter Rail service expansions including a 65 percent in service between Lakewood and Seattle, with longer trains and more trips.

More information on the plan is available at www.soundtransit.org.

"Completing a 53-mile light rail system will forever move our region beyond a car- and bus-only paradigm," said Board and King County Council member Larry Phillips. "It's na