Dear Editor:

The comment process for Sound Transit meetings is not easy.  These hints might help.  The vote on whether to go forward with light rail for West Seattle will be cast within the next few days.  The full board will be in attendance at the Sound Transit Board of Directors meeting (1:30-5;00pm, 24 October), and we expect them to vote on the West Seattle Link Extension light rail project at that time. To give the board members time to read about our concerns BEFORE they vote -  our comments should be sent to the individual members by; Saturday, October 19th.    

The agenda for the Board of Directors meeting will come out on Friday afternoon, Oct. 18th.  You can make a comment on an agenda item ANYTIME between then and the meeting ( 1:30pm, 24 October).   Go to their website, soundtransit.org  : Upcoming Events; Board of Directors Meeting.  You will have the option to send a written comment;  (meetingcomments@soundtransit.com).   These comments are sent as a group to “the board”.   It is important, therefore, to also send your comment to each, individual board member- at their office as well.  (For Dow Constantine and Bruce Harrell, you will be directed to their websites).  The board members need time to read and process our concerns BEFORE they vote.  These 18 members will be voting on our futures. Many have very little idea about the scope and impact of WSLE project.  Most of the information the board members, and we, the public receive about this project comes from Sound Transit and, in our opinion, a lot of it is not correct.

This is why local and regional transit experts have compiled a detailed alternative Environmental Impact Statement (EIS-C), (See the link below). specific to the West Seattle light rail project.  It is 17 pages-long, as opposed to the Sound Transit’s 900-page document.  This alternative EIS-C provides accurate statements about the impacts on the West Seattle economy, environment and social equity; replacing Sound Transit’s outdated statistics with current data. It also addresses other erroneous and/or vague statements made by Sound Transit in their Final EIS.  There is a link to this document below . 

To promote an informed discussion amongst themselves prior to the vote, we have sent the EIS-C all board members.

These members need to hear your concerns, ideas, and opinions about West Seattle light rail. Sound Transit has not hosted a community town hall.  At board and committee meetings, we are allowed to comment but there has never been a community discussion.  This is why your comments are important.  Commenting at/on/to the upcoming Board of Directors meeting and on Sound Transit’s Final Environmental Impact Statement gives you a say in your future.  

You can write anything you want. The important thing is that you write. 

It is our opinion that the route was determined early in 2024; that asking for a change in the preferred route is not going to happen.  We feel our only option is to call for a NO BUILD. This does not mean do nothing.

But you can advocate for a change to the preferred route by recommending they eliminate Avalon Station, for example. All concerns and opinions are valid. We don’t have to speak as one voice; in fact, a comment with 20 names on it, does not carry the same weight as 20 individual comments -  but send both!  Comments can be very simple - just a line or two. You can comment more than once. The important thing is to comment on both, (1) the board meeting on the 24th and on (2) the final EIS.  

https://www.icloud.com/notes/05bI2yPCHnLasm7nIFIytK_ag#Sound_Transit_Board_of_Directors_Members:

RethinkTheLink_Final_EIS-C_v45

Marilyn Kennell

www.rethinkthelink.org