Plotting future Eastside transit

If given a chance to decide what type of mass transit comes to the Eastside, Kenneth Barr would prefer to see a monorail gliding over Bellevue. Trent Fisher, on the other hand, wants the option to ride light rail from the city to far-flung communities and to his job as a software engineer.

Both say they think the region's future should include more ways to connect to destinations throughout Puget Sound. And last night, they joined several dozen others to learn more about potential projects in Sound Transit's pipeline.

The gathering at a Bellevue church marked the second of 10 public meetings the agency has scheduled this month to share its latest environmental study on potential regional transit projects and to gather public opinion.

Sound Transit public meetings Sound Transit has scheduled a series of public meetings this month to present and gather comments on possibilities for the next round of regional transit projects. The Sound Transit board will begin assembling a proposal later this year to be submitted to voters as early as 2006. All meetings will run from 5 to 8 p.m. The dates and locations: • Shoreline: Today, Shoreline Conference Center, Shoreline Room, 18560 First Ave. N.E. • Everett: Tuesday, Everett Station, Weyerhaeuser Room, 3201 Smith Ave. • Tacoma: Wednesday, Washington State History Museum, mezzanine, 1911 Pacific Ave. • Lakewood, Pierce County: Next Thursday, Lakewood City Hall, 6000 Main St. S.W. • Federal Way: Jan. 24, Federal Way Regional Library, 34200 First Way S. • Lynnwood: Jan. 25, Lynnwood High School, cafeteria, 3001 184th St. S.W. • Issaquah: Jan. 26, King County Libraries Service Center, 960 Newport Way N.W. • Auburn: Jan. 27, Auburn City Hall, 25 W. Main. Source: Sound Transit

Sound Transit is assembling a second round of projects and taxes to submit to urban voters in King, Snohomish and Pierce counties as early as 2006. The first round, approved by voters in 1996, included a starter Seattle light-rail line now under construction, two commuter rail lines and a host of regional bus routes. These projects are scheduled to be finished by 2009.

While Seattle, South King County, Snohomish County and Pierce County are receiving light rail, commuter rail or a combination, the Eastside's projects are bus-related. Given this, the agency is conducting a separate study to determine what type of transit could best serve Eastside commuters in the future.

Sound Transit policy and planning officer Paul Matsuoka said the agency will study three options:

• A light-rail or monorail line across Interstate 90 to Bellevue, with spur lines north to Kirkland and Totem Lake, northeast to Overlake and Redmond and east to Eastgate and Issaquah.

• "Busways" — bus-only lanes or roads — perhaps including one in the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad's Eastside right of way between Coal Creek Parkway and Totem Lake.

• Improved bus service using freeway high-occupancy-vehicle lanes (HOV), including new bus-only ramps directly linking the HOV lanes on Interstate 405 with those on I-90 and Highway 520.

Elements from each alternative could be combined as the board determines a package of projects and taxes to put before voters. Sound Transit's board is schedule to decide on a proposal in spring 2006.

Fisher, 37, of Bellevue said he likes Seattle's mass-transit network for the most part. But he said he's noticed holes, especially in the suburbs.

"It would be nice to see light rail connecting everything. I think you have to look at rail because the freeways are getting jammed up," Fisher said.

Barr, 76, no longer commutes, but said he remains interested because of how future projects could affect his community and his wallet.

"It's going to cost the public a lot of money, and I'm part of the public," Barr said.

Seattle Times staff writer Eric Pryne contributed to this report.

Karen Gaudette: 206-515-5618 or kgaudette@seattletimes.com