The Sound Transit Expert Review Panel consists of a group of transportation professionals selected by the State of Washington to examine and report to the State on assumptions and analysis that stand behind the forthcoming Sound Transit Phase 2. The Panel and its work are explained and available for downloading at www.wsdot.wa.gov/partners/erp/.
On April 5, 2007, John Niles made a formal, 20 minute presentation in the citizen comment period of the agenda. The Powerpoint graphics he displayed are available here in pdf.
A key area of focus in the presentation was the six-mile long Seattle Subway Tunnel for Link Light Rail between Pine Street in downtown Seattle and NE 75th Street. The first half of this Subway Tunnel -- University Link -- is planned to be implemented with Sound Move phase 1 resources, and the second half with resources that are hoped to result from passage of the ST2 proposal in November 2007. The Sound Transit Expert Review Panel was urged to investigate the impact of the November tax election on University Link. One linkage between the two halves of the tunnel exists because University of Washington does not want Husky Stadium Station at the midpoint of the six-mile tunnel to be the northern terminus of the Central Link light rail system for an extended period of time, which could be the case if ST2 fails to pass.
The final report, issued in September 2007, did not touch upon this subject.
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Last modified:
February 07, 2011