SEATTLE — The Sound Transit board has decided the light-rail line from SeaTac to Federal Way should be built mostly along Interstate 5.
The Seattle Times reports the unanimous vote Thursday gives the I-5 alignment preferred status in the final environmental-impact studies before a final board vote in late 2016. That’s about when the public is expected to consider a tax increase to fund more than $15 billion in regional transit extensions, including most of the Federal Way line.
A $1.4 billion freeway route is supposed to save $300 million in construction and land costs. It’s backed by all four suburban cities in its path, SeaTac, Des Moines, Kent and Federal Way.
However an I-5 route annoys pro-transit urbanist groups, who say the agency would miss the chance to promote transit-oriented development on both sides of the 99 strip.
