Video: Sound Transit plan to appear on November ballot

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SEATTLE - The Sound Transit board voted Thursday to put a new transit plan on the ballot this November.

It's a 15-year plan with a multi-billion dollar price tag.

The debate got rather heated over what's in the package. At the heart of the measure is light rail, but critics say it does not do enough to increase bus service at a time of increased ridership.

Light rail construction is well underway in neighborhoods like Seattle's Rainier Valley. Sound Transit 2, the sequel to last year's failed Proposition 1, would add another 34 miles north to Lynnwood and south to Federal Way, along with more Sounder commuter trains and some buses too.

The total cost: $17.6 billion.

"We've worked together to build a plan that is cheaper, faster, smarter than last year's measure," Mayor Greg Nickels said.

Critics say the plan puts too much money into rail down the road and not enough into increasing bus service now.

King County executive Ron Sims led the charge to expand bus service in King County next year at a cost of an additional $120 million.

"The idea of telling voters we're going to give you another five or six years before there's a seat for you on the bus is just too long to wait," he said.

But Sims' amendment failed, possibly amid concerns that it increased bus service only in King County, and possibly because of concerns it jeopardized projects in Snohomish and Pierce counties.

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The plan aims to add 34 miles of light-rail line north to Lynnwood and south to Federal Way.

The next stop for Sound Transit 2 will be the November ballot.

SurveyUSA

We asked people who live in the Sound Transit district what they think would do the most to relieve congestion.The results were split:

-25 percent say add new lanes on the freeway.

-22 percent say increase light rail

-20 percent say increase bus service.

-14 percent said more commuter trains are the way to go.

-10 percent said we should build new roads.