Eastsiders on traffic: "We need to do something"

Sound Transit open houses are usually relatively sedate affairs, with opponents and supporters of the agency writing their comments or speaking one-on-one with staffers.

But the event Wednesday night to discuss the multibillion-dollar "Roads & Transit" package on the ballot this fall was more lively.

For three hours, including a public question-and-answer session, some of the 120 people in attendance at Bellevue High School raised concerns about everything from why existing Eastside railroad tracks aren't in the plans to why more of the package isn't devoted to mass transit.

Just about everyone expressed frustration with the current road system, but answers varied whether the new transportation package was worth the cost.

"I agree with what they're trying to do. Traffic is terrible," said Mary Florence, 63, who lives in downtown Bellevue. "We need to do something, and nothing's going to be perfect."

John Anderson, 48, who lives in the Surrey Downs neighborhood just south of downtown Bellevue, said the city and Sound Transit haven't looked enough at alternative routes that would place the proposed Eastside light-rail line farther from homes.

"They're more concerned about not impacting businesses," he said. "I don't want my neighborhood to go down."

The open house was the second of five organized by Sound Transit and the Regional Transportation Investment District (RTID). The district is taking public input this month on joint measures on the November ballot that could expand light rail to Redmond, Lynnwood and Tacoma and build numerous road projects, including a new Highway 520 bridge and a widening of Interstate 405 from Bellevue to Renton.

Sound Transit and RTID will approve next month a final package of projects to go to voters.

Voters in King, Snohomish and Pierce counties within the two taxing districts would pay an extra 6 cents of sales tax on a $10 purchase, and a motor-vehicle-excise tax of $80 for every $10,000 worth of value of each car.

Recent estimates put the cost of the transit portion, including current taxes and inflation, at about $17 billion, and the road measure at $14.3 billion. Unless voters approve both of the ballot measures, both will fail.

Connie Marshall, vice chairwoman of the Sound Transit board and a Bellevue city councilwoman, told the open-house crowd that the Roads & Transit package would greatly improve mobility and that people should spread the word.

"An educated voter is what we need," she said. "If you tell your friends, who tell their friends, this will pass."

Dennis Neuzil, a retired engineer from Clyde Hill, said the package is a step "in the right direction" but that Sound Transit should have focused on bus rapid transit, which is cheaper and could be built faster than light rail. "It's not as sexy, but it's affordable," he said.

Sound Transit said there's no guarantee the Eastside light-rail line would reach any farther than the Overlake neighborhood of south Redmond. Several city residents at the open house said the line should go to downtown Redmond, to help alleviate nasty backups on Highway 520, Novelty Hill Road and Highway 202.

"I'm going to support anything [on the ballot] ... but we do need to include this now," said Maureen Albi, 46.

Ashley Bach: 206-464-2567 or abach@seattletimes.com