Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transportation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council debates resolution urging light rail extension to Library Square
Summary
Councilors debated a draft resolution asking that planned light rail across the new interstate bridge continue to Library Square rather than terminate at the waterfront, with supporters arguing the extension is needed for a functional multimodal hub and opponents reiterating broad opposition to light rail.
Councilors discussed but did not adopt a resolution urging that regional light rail extend to Library Square instead of ending at the waterfront.
Jordan Bogey, policy analyst, presented a draft resolution modeled on one passed by the city of Vancouver and said the intent is to "ensure the county receives the best benefit out of this project and not a fragmented system." Councilor Young said the resolution "is not about light rail or no light rail" but about functionality: ending at the waterfront would leave insufficient space for a multimodal hub and poor bus transfers, she said, arguing the extension would allow proper bus-rail connections.
Councilor Belcott said she opposed light rail “in any form or fashion” and would not sign the resolution. Others, including Chair Marshall and Councilor Little, supported asking that the terminus be sited where it can function as a hub, not at the waterfront, and urged stronger language describing the operational problems if the line terminated at a waterfront station that is elevated and lacks real estate for bus connections.
Council members asked staff to refine the whereas clauses and add clearer justification about the connectivity problems that would result from a waterfront terminus; Jordan was directed to "wordsmith" the draft to make the case that the extension improves regional transit functionality. No formal vote to adopt the county resolution occurred.
Next steps: staff will revise the draft resolution to tighten the rationale for an extension and return with recommended language; council did not take a final position on whether light rail should be built, only on where a terminus should be located if it proceeds.
